McGee, Sam McGee, probably a name familiar to you, couldn’t know he crossed paths, albeit a half century ahead of them in time, with the soldiers of the 18th Engineering Regiment. The soldiers, building Alaska Highway through Yukon, certainly didn’t know they’d crossed paths with him. Sam McGee, the real Sam McGee, not the one …
Category Archives: Alaska Highway
The Swamp Claimed a Dozer
Big Devil Swamp immortalized Captain Pollock, Company B commander, in June 1942. Read More about Getting to the Teslin River Racing to the Teslin River early in the month, the soldiers of the 93rd had passed Summit Lake and plunged through the swamp—left a barely passable trail. The soldiers of the 340th had worked through …
We Fought the Road and A Different Race
We Fought the Road and now A Different Race tell an important and fascinating story that too many people don’t know. In early 1942 the rampaging Empire of Japan advanced on America through the Aleutian Islands and Alaska. America couldn’t get enough men and material to Alaska to defend it without a land route from …
Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way
Lead, follow or get out of the way. The first weeks in March 1942, before work on the Alaska Highway even started, set the tone for the whole eight-month project. March saw the enormous effort to get the Corps’ juggernaut in place and making road. Some of the regiments in that juggernaut didn’t even exist …
Sometimes Funny
Sometimes funny, the exploits of bush pilot Les Cook on the Alaska Highway Project make great stories. Most stories portray Les as a hero. Cook flew when no one else could or would. He and his plane saved lives. Cook’s plane brought food, mail, emergency equipment and doctors to places no other mode of transportation …
Paul Raso–Guest Post
Paul Raso’s father served as a company commander in the 97th Engineering Regiment—appears several times in our new book, A Different Race. And I posted a story about him and a pack mule here just a few days ago. Captain Paul Raso commanded a company of black soldiers who played a major part in constructing …
The Fairbanks Freight
The Fairbanks Freight would, if senior officers had anything to say about it, make scheduled runs north to Fairbanks from the Dawson Creek railhead through the winter of 1942/43. Convoys making their way over the brand new road that winter traversed a very rough draft of a Highway. Link to another story, “Awards, Celebrations and …
Pack Mule
Pack mule out front, soldiers of the 97th Engineering Regiment started their road out of Slana, Alaska in 1942. Technically the mule didn’t lead them because a Lieutenant named Razo led him—but close enough. A few days into the woods, the Lieutenant made the mule extremely unhappy. Link to another story “Blazing the Path of …
Two Books
Two books, We Fought the Road and A Different Race, available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and your local bookstore will appeal to people who enjoy my stories. Christine and I wrote them. An Epic project comparable to the construction of the Panama Canal, the construction of the Alaska Highway left behind a treasure trove …
Scrapers–or Carryalls
Scrapers or carryalls, in 1942 in Northern Canada the Army called them both. The big machines scraped mud and dirt, but the soldiers also pressed them into service to carry almost anything. The big machines, most from LeTourneau, made the Alaska Highway Project possible in 1942. This story consists of photos because photos tell it. …