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The Alaska Highway Veterans were a group of more that 3,600 African American soldiers from the 93rd, 95th, and 97th Engineer Regiments, who were part of a larger force of more than 10,000 soldiers sent to build the Alaska-Canadian Highway. The more than 1,500 mile road was completed in just under eight and a half months.[1]
Racial prejudice among Army leaders of the 1940s dictated that African Americans should not be involved in combat missions. These beliefs carried over into the work being performed by the soldiers.
In many instances the African American soldiers were given hand tools to clear the wilderness, whereas white soldiers were given heavy machinery to do the same tasks.
Origins
editIn 1942 President Franklin Roosevelt authorized the construction of the Alaska-Canadian Highway. The highway would connect the contiguous United States of America with Alaska for the purpose of mitigating the threat of Japanese attacks to the west coast of the nation. Although most of the highway would exist in Canada, the United States of America was responsible for the full cost of construction.[2]
Mission
editMore than 10,000 U.S. Army soldiers consisting of three African American regiments and four white regiments were tasked with the highway's construction.[3]
Racism During Construction
editDespite being allowed to join the U.S. military, African American soldiers continued to experience racism and segregation within the Army's ranks. While the African American soldiers possessed more experience using the construction equipment, white soldiers were given the equipment, often leaving African American soldiers to do work by hand.[3]
References
edit- ^ Ellis, Tim; Fairbanks, KUAC- (2017-06-05). "African-American soldiers who helped build Alaska Highway honored". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
- ^ "Alaska Highway", Wikipedia, 2021-02-17, retrieved 2021-02-22
- ^ a b "Famous Black Engineers Throughout History". HowStuffWorks. 2013-07-09. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
http://ouralaskahighway.com/?portfolio_item=african-american-regiments
https://www.northtoalaska.com/AlaskaHwy75/AfricanAmericansRole.aspx