September 25, 2012
Senator Bettye Davis speaks during celebration
(photo to be added soon)
From left to right Jean Pollard Anchorage School District retired educator, Pam Orme- Social Studies Coordinator for the Anchorage School District, Senator Bettye Davis and Bishop Dave Thomas. The Alaska Project worked closely with the Anchorage Park to establish a Memorial in an Anchorage park honoring the African American engineer soldiers of WWII who helped build the Alaska Highway. Bishop Dave Thomas is Chairman and Jean Pollard is Co. Chair and Public Relations Rep. The Alaska Highway Project will be working closely with the Anchorage Parks Foundation to bring more monuments to the city of Anchorage. The Alaska Highway project is working closely with the Anchorage schools in educating the students about the African American Engineer Soldiers. The Alaska Highway Project will be putting on celebrations in October in Anchorage and in Fairbanks Alaska, we will be at the University of Alaska and the University of Fairbanks, putting on a lecture and having many guest speakers, speaking on the soldiers. In the month of May we will be in Fort St. John BC, Canada. For information on upcoming events you may visits our web site: AlaskaHighwayProject
The Alaska Highway(or ALCAN Highway), was constructed after the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II to make Alaska by road to the contiguous United States through Canada. The ALCAN begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon. It was completed at a length of approximately 1,700 miles long.
(photo to be added soon)
Left to right LTC Mark D. Nadig 2d Engineer Brigade XO, Senator Bettye Davis, and SGM Ronnie J. Evans 2d Engineer Brigade. They lead Engineer troops over at Fort Richardson Alaska, JBER LTC Nadig gave a speech about the Soldiers that needs to be put in the Anchorage Museum.
Three African-American units-the 93rd, 95th, and 97th Engineers-were be sent to Canada to work on the road with minimal supplies and in terrible weather conditions. The men were not used to arctic conditions. One hundred and sixty two miles out of Dawson Creek they faced a fast-moving river 300 feet wide, but their heavy equipment had been sent to white divisions. The officers said there was no way the men could build a bridge across it on schedule.
The black solders bet their paychecks that they could finish the bridge in less than three days. With hand tools, saws and axes, they prepared the lumber from nearby trees. Tied to the shore with ropes, they plunged chest-deep into the rapid, freezing water and set the trestles. They sang work chants and chain-gang songs. They used the headlights of trucks to keep working in the dark.
(photo to be added soon)
Left to right Elder Glenn Ratcliff Pastor of Calvary Community Church of God in Christ in Anchorage Alaska, Senator Bettye Davis, Bishop Dave Thomas of Jesus Holy Temple in Anchorage Alaska, LTC Mark D. Nadig 2d Engineer Brigade XO, Anchorage Alaska School Superintendent Dr. Jim Browder , SGM Ronnie J. Evans 2d Engineer Brigade. They came out, to speak and celebrate the achievements of the African American Soldiers.
They won the bet and completed the Sikanni Chief Bridge, and the commanding officer Col. Heath Twichell ordered his white officers to eat with the black enlisted men. Because it was the
First time in the history of the US Army something like this happened, the achievement is also credited with helping to desegregate the US Army.
The Alaska Project worked closely with the Anchorage Park Foundation in installing a memorial celebrating this historic contribution to Alaska.
