Rough draft or not, the Army proposed to use its new Alaska Highway. Cpl. Gronke and Pvt. Bowie had thrilled reporters and their readers by driving its length in a half-ton weapons carrier. The convoys of 2 ½-ton cargo trucks that followed got far less attention.
Awards, Celebrations and Giving a Damn
A good thing for the Army’s Public Relations people.
Trainloads of brand new 2 ½-ton cargo trucks pulled into the depot at Dawson Creek—1700 of them–ready to take on the rough draft Alaska Highway. Drivers and mechanics from engineer units along the Highway set up a convoy system. Experienced engineers, not experienced truck drivers, they struggled. Wrecked and broken trucks outnumbered trucks arriving in Fairbanks.
The Army had a lot to learn about operating and maintaining trucks in bitter subarctic cold. The young drivers had a lot to learn about driving the rough grades in snow and ice. And ice washed bridges and culverts away faster than the soldiers could rebuild them.
Billy Connor, a civil engineer, remembered the greatest danger in travelling the pioneer road. “If your vehicle breaks down, walking a few miles can actually cost you your life”. And the extreme cold increased the probability of a breakdown.
Beyond the danger of frost bite and freezing to death, the treacherous winter road caused wrecks that killed and maimed. Relatively good traction, in severe cold, disappeared when temperatures warmed toward freezing. “I have seen tools, chains, men and even trucks sliding down [a hill] faster than a man could run.”
A soldier’s truck did not usually kill or maim him; but, sooner or later, it would roll to the side of the road and refuse to continue. Truckers carried motley collections of scrounged tires and spare parts, and they actually made major repairs on motors, transmissions and rear ends alongside of the road.
Enjoyed it very much highly interesting
Thank you very much.
Fascinating information. We take so much for granted not knowing what goes into these grand projects. I will drive that road one day with great respect!
It definitely belongs on your bucket list.