Involved People.

Vilhjalmur Stefanson: Pioneering Arctic explorer. Proposed a fourth route for the highway that paralled the Mackenzie River, which, being too remote, was rejected. Met with the US Army's Marshall to give strategic information regarding the climate and problems with construction in Northwest Canada. A friend of Charles Lindbergh, he heavily favored the use of the highway to aid the Northwest Staging Route.(Picture from Twichell)

Brigadier General Clarence L. Sturdevant: Assistant to the Chief of Engineers, signed the original highway plan in 1942. Represented the project in Washington, but visited in summer of 1942 to inspect progress. Ordered the PRA to make road improvements and later finish the pioneer road. Called the "father of the Alaska Highway". (picture from Twichell)

Major General Brehon B. Somervell: The Army's G-4 and Chief Logistician. Weilded lots of power in a quick and often heated manner. Nicknamed "Dynamite in a Tiffany Box". Chief supply buyer and head of production for the Army. Time called him "the man of the hour" of the War Department for his quick purchases and orders. (picture from Twichell)

General William M. Hoge: Selected to command the project in the field of operation. Chosen by Sturdevant. Build roads on the Bataan Peninsula from 1935-1937, gaining skills that later helped him lead ALCAN. Relieved fall of 1942 and replaced by James O'Connor. Later led armored division across Europe. (picture from Twichell)

Colonel Robert D. Ingalls: Head of the 35th Engineers. Later put in charge of the southern sector of the highway. Many complaints from his men filtered into Washington, referring to him as too tough and one with extremely high standards. (picture from Twichell)

Colonel Heath Twichell: Executive officer of the 35th Engineers, later the commanding officer of the 95th. Stationed in Dawson Creek. Left Canada in May 1943 and went on to serve in the Army in the US, Japan, and Europe. Began a well - documented account of the building of ALCAN, which his son later completed.

Key Locations:

Dawson Creek, British Columbia: Mile 0 on the highway. Was the base for troops, supplies, and equipment. Grew rapidly because of its location aside the highway following the war (see link), unlike its counterpart, Dawson City, which fell away as the leading locale of the Canadian Northwest. (Picture from Twichell)

Fort Saint John, British Columbia: Mile 47 of the highway. The population boomed from 200 to 6,000 temporary occupants during construction. A center of troop housing. (Picture from Twichell)

Fort Nelson, British Columbia: Mile 300 of the highway. Home to 2000 troops during the construction project. (Picture from Twichell)

18th Engineers: The 18th began their work in the middle of ALCAN, at Whitehorse, and moved towards Alaska to link up with the PRA. They were led by Colonel Earl Paules. (Picture from Twichell)

35th Engineers: The 35th originated at Fort Nelson and headed to Watson Lake. Their commander was Colonel Robert Ingalls. (Picture from Twichell)

93rd Engineers: The first of the three black regiments, the 93rd were led by Colonel Frank Johnson. Beginning their work at Teslin, they helped Lyon's 340th Engineers on the road to Whitehorse.

95th Engineers: Colonel David Neuman was the commander of the 95th, who upgraded the pioneer road to Fort Nelson behind Lane's 341st. (Picture from Twichell)

97th Engineers: Colonel Stephen Whipple led the 97th, the last of three black regiments, who accounted for 10,607 of the workers on ALCAN. The 97th worked in the northern third, helping the PRA and the 18th between Whitehorse and Big Delta, Alaska. (Picture from Twichell)

340th Engineers: Colonel Russel Lyons and the 340th, like the 18th, began at Whitehorse and headed opposite the 18th towards Watson Lake.

341st Engineers: Lieutenant Colonel Albert Lane and the 341st began at Fort Saint John and blazed the pioneer road to Fort Nelson.

Prime Minister Mackenzie King and the Canadian Government: On March 5, 1942 King approved the US government's plan to build the ALCAN in the Canadian northwest. King urged the Canadian people that the road would be built wholly with American funds and maintained during the war by the US. After the war, King foresaw the economic benefits of ALCAN in the lives the Canadian Northwesterners. With King's cooperation, the US was allowed to construct the military highway.

PRA (Public Roads Administration): The PRA was an organization of civil engineers who surveyed, constructed and supplied the ALCAN effort. Their work began in Alaska and they linked up with the 18th along the border with the Yukon at Big Delta. After the war, the PRA aided in maintenance and road improvement to what began as a primitive pioneer trail. (Picture from Twichell)