Black soldiers who built Alaska Highway recognized

Gov. Bill Walker, at the Veterans Memorial in Anchorage, signed into law on April 30 legislation honoring the contributions of black soldiers in four African American Army Engineers regiments who helped build the Alaska Highway during World War Two. Photo courtesy of Gov. Bill Walker’s office.

Legislation designating Oct. 25 of each year as “African American Soldiers’ Contribution to Building the Alaska Highway Day” was signed into law on April 30 by Gov. Bill Walker.

The measure commemorates the extraordinary efforts of soldiers from the 93rd, 95th and 97th Engineer General services Regiments and the 388th Engineer Battalion who were deployed to Alaska to help build some 1,500 miles of road during World War Two, while enduring severe winter weather conditions, in addition to racial segregation and discrimination.

Although they were provided poorer quality materials and tools to complete their work than other regiments, they exceeded expectations and completed, and completed their sections of the highway faster than other troops.

On Oct. 25, 1942, the 93rd and 95th regiments met at Contact Creek to connect the two segments of the highway.  Their accomplishment served as a catalyst for desegregation of the military in 1948.  Because of its ultimate impact on racial desegregation, the Federal Highway Administration has called the Alaska Highway “the road to civil rights.”

“The accomplishments of the regiments of African American soldiers and their work on the Alaska Highway are truly extraordinary,” Walker said. “These men overcame incredible barriers and hardship as well as abject racial discrimination to complete one of the engineering marvels of the world in just over eight months.”

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