The Black soldiers who built the Alaska highway : a history of four U.S. Army regiments in the north, 1942-1943

Virtue, John.

Book 2013

"This is the first detailed account of the 5,000 black troops who were reluctantly sent north by the U.S. Army during World War II to help build the Alaska Highway and install the companion Canol pipeline. Theirs were the first black regiments deployed outside the 48 states during the war"--Provided by publisher.

Item Details & Discovery

Explore Topics & Themes:

Alaska Highway History 20th century

United States. Army African American troops History 20th century

World War, 1939-1945 Regimental histories United States

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ISBN:

9780786471171
0786471174

Description:

vii, 220 pages : illustrations, map ; 26 cm

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Contents:

Introduction
Pondering a pathway to Alaska
Highway and pipeline approved
The second emancipation order
Blacks rush to enlist
Black soldiers voice their complaints
Army reluctantly assigns Black regiments
Heading north
Japanese attack justifies the Alcan highway
The 93rd and the 95th start off with picks and shovels
The 97th completes the highway
The 388th does the heavy lifting
An unexpectedly severe winter
Surviving isolation
The highway is praised, the pipeline criticized
Identifying problems
News coverage of Black troops suppressed
Epilogue

LCCN:

2012044142

Control Number:

954899

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