Ordinary Men Build A Legendary Road
Black Engineers & The ALCAN Highway
Alaska Highway. H&S Company. Born: 15 December 1916, Baskerville, Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Died: 25 December 2003, Roanoke, Virginia. Education: Virginia Polytechnic Institute. His father was Samuel Wesley Land, RFD mail carrier, tobacco farmer (1872-1951). His mother was Mary Beatrice Buchanan (1887-1974). He married Eunice Gray Caroon on 6 July 1941 in Kinston, Lenoir, NC. Civilian…
Alaska Highway, Company C and H2 (Second Battalion). Born: 6 January 1913, McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Died: 22 July 2000, La Verne, California. Education: 4 years at McKeesport High School. His 1940 draft card listed him as a Clerk in a pipe mill, National Tube Company. His father was George E. Kirk (1875-1970), office clerk. His mother…
Alaska Highway. Dental Corps. H&S Company. Born: 18 June 1913, Philadelphia, PA. Died: 18 September 1978, Philadelphia, PA. Enlisted: 15 September 1941 and discharged 18 January 1946. Education: Graduated from Overbrook High School in Pennsylvania. His hobby listed was playing the saxophone. He attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry and also joined the…
Alaska Highway, H&S Company, Medical Corps. Born: 7 August 1910, New York City, NY. Died: 11 August 1996, Harrisburg, Dauphen, PA. Education: College 5 years. Medical Doctor. The 1940 census has William listed as a physician in private practice. His parents were born in Russia and immigrated to the U.S. His father was Max Doctorowitz,…
African American. Alaska Highway. Chaplain. H&S Company. Born: 7 January 1910, Wheeling, West Virginia. Died: 1 January 2000, Gainesville, FL. Enlisted: 21 October 1941 and discharged 23 July 1945. Education: He graduated from Washington Dunbar H.S. In 1930 he graduated from Morgan State University and in 1933 graduated from Yale School of Divinity. In 1941…
Alaska Highway. Company E. Born: 28 February 1915, Ripley, Jackson, West Virginia. Died: 13 January 1993 Beckley, Raleigh, West Virginia. Education: Graduated from Woodrow Wilson HS. Attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and graduated as an engineer. His father was Cecil Gay Casto, a dentist, (1896-1945) and his mother was Freda Cornelia Sayre Casto (1895-1999). His spouse…
Alaska Highway. Regimental Supply Officer. H&SÂ Company. Born: 2 December 1916, Alpha, Iron County, MI. Died: 15 June 2004 Kauai County, Hawaii. Education: BS degree civil engineering in 1938 and mining engineering in 1939. In 1940 census he is listed as a mining engineer at the Oliver Iron Mining Company. He married Janet Van Orden…
Alaska Highway. Medical Corps. Born: 29 March 1910, Missouri. Died: 25 August 1963, Los Angeles, CA. Enlisted: 15 November 1941 and discharged with disability in line of duty on 31 January 1946. Education: Graduated in 1934 from Tulane University, New Orleans, LA with a medical degree. He was an expert Bridge player and a life…
African American. Alaska Highway. Company A. Born: 19 September 1918, Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, PA. Died: 2 May 1995, District of Columbia. Enlisted: 29 July 1941, Ft. George G. Meade and discharged 11 December 1945. Education: one year college. Civilian occupation: transportation. His father was James K. Roberts, 1872-1948, and he worked as a carpenter….
African American, Alaska Highway, Company A. Born: 13 October 1919, Weldon, North Carolina. Died: 28 September 1995, District of Columbia. Enlisted: 1 August 1941, Baltimore, MD and released 13 October 1978. Education: 4 years high school. Civilian employment: Employer Mr. T.O. Toman. He worked at the Navy Yard Lunch Room, District of Columbia. His wife…