Tagish, Yukon

73rd Pontoon Company attached to the 93rd Black Engineers built a pontoon ferry to transport equipment across the Tagish River. 1942 — Heavy Equipment Ferried Over Tagish River. Timberlake Collection

The 93rd Engineers arrived June 1942 and crossed the Tagish River, 1275 feet, on a pontoon ferry. Tagish, a small village, was the traditional home of the Carcross/Tagish Tlingits. It is 23 miles southeast of Carcross. The Tagish river, known to the Tlingits as the Six Mile River, was a popular fishing hole for the soldiers.

Black soldier operating a 23 ton bulldozer onto a permanent ferry, a 50 ton scow, to cross the Tagish River. 1942 — Black Dozer Operator Drives a 23 Ton Dozer onto the Tagish River Ferry. NAR

One soldier attached a hook to a string, tied the string to his rifle barrel and caught a trophy size trout. Lieutenants Timberlake and Bonaparte caught four trout for dinner. According to Lt. Tim, one weighed 19 pounds. It was a welcome change from Spam, Vienna Sausage or Chili.

PRA arrived in August 1942 at Carcross to work on the Alaska Highway. Like the Black Engineers, they had to haul equipment on the Tagish River Ferry. — Public Road Administration Equipment Loaded on Tagish River Ferry Followed by a Cabin Boat, August 1942. NAR

Unloading a D8 dozer off the Tagish Ferry to work on the Alaska Highway. 1942 — Unloading a D-8 Bulldozer Off a Tagish Scow. Timberlake Collection

Bulldozers and graders from the Alaska Highway parked outside the small village of Tagish. 1942 — Equipment Lined up at Tagish Village. Timberlake Collection.

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