I think it might be very interesting to know if there are people remembered by posterity for building a road. The Romans certainly are, and the SeaBees will be too
After the Japanese took control of the Burma Road from Burma to China the Hump initiative was started in April of 1942 to keep military supplies flowing to China. Joe Stillwell and other top Army brass became fearful that the tonnage flown across the Hump was insufficient, so an alternate road was proposed. In December of 1942 construction of the Ledo road commenced. I have to wonder if the picture represents that effort. One year later 15,000 servicemen and civilians had punched out a 1000 mile pathway through the Asian jungles and mountains. By all accounts it was crude, but serviceable.
Likewise the Alaska Highway was a military project. As with the Ledo road the Alaska project was challenged by extremely inhospitable conditions. Nevertheless, a mere 233 days after starting the Army Corps of Engineers defeated the elements, the mountains and rivers of British Columbia, the Yukon and Alaska, and had cleared a path of 1700 miles for vehicular traffic. The road wasn't pretty, but with difficulty it worked. At various places in Alaska today anniversary celebrations of the highway take place. I'm certain that those whose livelihoods depend on the road remember its history with fondness.
After the Japanese took control of the Burma Road from Burma to China the Hump initiative was started in April of 1942 to keep military supplies flowing to China. Joe Stillwell and other top Army brass became fearful that the tonnage flown across the Hump was insufficient, so an alternate road was proposed. In December of 1942 construction of the Ledo road commenced. I have to wonder if the picture represents that effort. One year later 15,000 servicemen and civilians had punched out a 1000 mile pathway through the Asian jungles and mountains. By all accounts it was crude, but serviceable.
ReplyDeleteLikewise the Alaska Highway was a military project. As with the Ledo road the Alaska project was challenged by extremely inhospitable conditions. Nevertheless, a mere 233 days after starting the Army Corps of Engineers defeated the elements, the mountains and rivers of British Columbia, the Yukon and Alaska, and had cleared a path of 1700 miles for vehicular traffic. The road wasn't pretty, but with difficulty it worked. At various places in Alaska today anniversary celebrations of the highway take place. I'm certain that those whose livelihoods depend on the road remember its history with fondness.