ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Thousands of Black soldiers performed the backbreaking work of transforming rough-hewn wilderness in extreme weather swings during
FILE - This Oct. 25, 1942, photo provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office of History, shows Corporal Refines Slims, Jr., left, and Private Alfred Jalufka shaking hands at the,"Meeting of Bulldozers," for the ALCAN Highway in the Yukon Territory in Beaver Creek, Alaska.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Thousands of Black soldiers performed the backbreaking work of transforming rough-hewn wilderness in extreme weather swings during World War II to help build the first road link between Alaska and the Lower 48. The work of the segregated Black soldiers is credited with bringing changes to military discrimination policies. The state of Alaska honored them by naming a bridge for them near the end point of the famed Alaska Highway. Now, eight decades later, the aging bridge needs to be replaced. Instead of tearing it down, the state of Alaska intends to keep two of the bridge’s nine trestles in place as a refashioned memorial. The others will be given away.The state of Alaska will replace the 1,885-foot bridge that spans the Gerstle River near Delta Junction, the end point of the Alaska Highway about 100 miles south of Fairbanks. Seven of the bridge’s trestles are being offered for free to states, local governments or private entities who will maintain them for their historical features and public use. The two remaining spans from the old bridge, renamed the Black Veterans Memorial Bridge in 1993, will honor the 4,000 or so Black soldiers who built the first wooden bridge over the river while completing the Alaska Highway. These two sections, the first trestles on either end, will retain the name of the memorial bridge. The new Gerstle River Bridge will unofficially carry the memorial name unless the Legislature also makes it official. The old bridge will remain in place until the new one opens in 2031.Mary Leith, a former Delta Junction mayor and member of the historical society, said she’s pleased some of the history will be saved, but she wants the state to have proper signage and a highway pullout area near the historic bridge to allow people to walk on it.The Black Veterans Memorial Bridge sign will remain and the two sections will be visible from the new bridge, but both will be blocked off to prevent people from climbing or vandalizing them, said Angelica Stabs, a spokesperson for the state transportation department. No pullout is planned. The new bridge will parallel the existing bridge to the east, leaving about 50 feet of space between it and the old bridge’s location, Stab said.The project to build a supply route between Alaska and Canada used 11,000 troops from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers divided by race, working under a backdrop of segregation and discrimination. Besides transforming the rugged terrain, the soldiers had to deal with mosquitoes, boggy land, permafrost and temperatures ranging from 90 degrees F to minus 70 F . “Though conditions were harsh for all, they were nearly unbearable for black soldiers. From the Deep South, most of these soldiers had never encountered anything approaching the severe conditions of the far north. Moreover, since black troops were not typically permitted to use heavy machinery, they made do with picks, shovels, and axes. In addition, they were prohibited from entering towns and were confined to wilderness assignments,” according to a historical account by the National Park Service. It took Black soldiers working from the north just over eight months to meet up with white soldiers coming from the south to connect the 1,500-mile gravel road, then called the Alcan Highway, from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to Delta Junction Oct. 25, 1942. “In light of their impressive performance, many of the black soldiers who worked on the Alcan were subsequently decorated and sometimes deployed in combat. Indeed, the U.S. Army eventually became the first government agency to integrate in 1948, a move that is largely credited in part to the laudable work of the soldiers who built the Alcan,” the National Park Service says.Alaska was still a territory, and officials long wanted such a road to the Lower 48. However, battles over routes and its necessity led to delays. Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and Dutch Harbor in Alaska, along with the Japanese invasions of the Alaska islands Kiska and Attu signaled urgency for the road since the ocean shipping lanes to the West Coast could be vulnerable. Black soldiers working near Delta Junction built a temporary bridge over the Gerstle River in 1942. Contractors finished the steel structure two years later.The Alaska transportation department is accepting proposals until March 6 for the seven trestles, but you don’t have to take them all. The state will consider all proposals, even those seeking one or two trestles for uses such as a walkway over a creek in a public park. Winners will have to abide by certain restrictions including not allowing vehicular traffic, paying for removal, transportation and lead abatement, and maintaining the features that make the bridge historically significant.ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Thousands of Black soldiers performed the backbreaking work of transforming rough-hewn wilderness in extreme weather swings during World War II to help build the first road link between Alaska and the Lower 48. The work of the segregated Black soldiers is credited with bringing changes to military discrimination policies. The state Eric Dane, the celebrated actor best known for his roles on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria” and who later in life became an advocate for ALS awareness, died Thursday. He was 53.WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he’s directing the Pentagon and other government agencies to identify and release files related to extraterrestrials and UFOs because of “tremendous interest.” Trump made the announcement in a social media post hours after he accused former President Barack Obama of disclosing “classified information” when Obama recently FORT WORTH, Texas — Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas on Thursday urged supporters to look at experience in a heated U.S. Senate primary with state Rep. James Talarico, who is riding a burst of wider attention in the race’s pivotal final stretch over his unaired interview with late-night host Stephen Colbert. The March HOUSTON — U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas claimed Thursday he was being “blackmailed” following a report he allegedly had an affair with a former staffer who later died after she set herself on fire. The claim by the married Republican congressman comes after the San Antonio Express-News reported that it had obtained text The recovery of skiers killed in the deadliest U.S. avalanche in almost 45 years is dragging out because of what experts say is a prime rule for rescuers: Don’t make yourself a victim. A storm that continued lashing California’s remote Sierra Nevada wilderness Thursday meant more avalanches were possible in the backcountry area where authorities Chrystal Ortega's tireless dedication recently earned her the WSECU Community Champions Award and a $1,000 grant to further the mission.When Shawn Tibbitts opened Tibbitts FernHill, he was just trying to survive. The small Tacoma restaurant has since earned culinary awards and praise.Wilcox Family Farms is continuing its cherished holiday tradition of giving back by donating nearly one million eggs to food banks across the South Sound region this season.Matthew Ballantyne has transformed that early awareness into action, embodying the organization's mission:"No Kid Sleeps On The Floor In Our Town."Discover Kitsap County’s creative soul: Where Nordic charm meets gothic gardens and ancient traditions thrive Kitsap County is full of wonderfully weird, authentically artsy, and unexpectedly magical corners that make visitors become locals and locals never want to leave.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Opinion: Honoring Jesse Jackson’s legacy of hope and justiceAs Alaska reflects on a civil rights giant’s life, the Alaska Black Caucus invites the community to carry his vision forward at the Bettye Davis African American Summit.
Read more »
‘Bright spark of hope’: Alaska Native Languages second most common language for Alaska youthAccording to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Alaska Native languages were the second-most common language for Alaskans 65 and older and for youth ages 5-17.
Read more »
Trump's Black History Month Message Promotes Voter ID Bill Criticized as Suppressing Black VotesThe Trump administration used a Black History Month announcement to promote the SAVE America Act, which critics say would disenfranchise millions of Black voters by implementing strict voter ID requirements. The bill, already passed by the House, faces criticism for potentially creating obstacles for marginalized communities to obtain necessary identification.
Read more »
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 76 granted $2 million federal investmentSAN ANTONIO - A historic local Veterans of ZForeign Post post is set to get a major renovation boost after a new federal investment.On Tuesday, Congressman Greg
Read more »
Celebrate 50 Years of KAKM: Three Night LIVE Festival | February 22, 26 & 28Join Alaska Public Media for a three-night TV Festival celebrating 50 years of KAKM with unforgettable programs that honor the heart, heritage, and future of public media in Alaska.
Read more »
Black mental health is Black History and part of the conversation we can’t skipWe talk about mental health, but too often the Black community can sometimes be left out of the conversation. During Black History Month, we’re shining a light on The Harris Center on the signs of depression that can be easy to miss, how stigma shows up in families, and why early support can change a child’s entire future.
Read more »