Whistler, Clyde C.
Alaska Highway, H&S Company
Category: Regiments
Vercellino, Louis
Alaska Highway, H&S Company
Vecchio, Anthony C.
Alaska Highway, H&S Company
Schindler, Vincent J.
Alaska Highway, H&S Company
Sapp, Floyd E.
Alaska Highway, H&S Company
Upper Liard River, British Columbia
After meeting with the 35th Regiment the 340th moved to Liard River. The 73rd Pontoon Company attached to the 340th established a six-ponton outboard motor ferry across the Upper Liard River at Watson Lake. The pile bridge was in its early stage of construction.
Lower Post, British Columbia
The 340th’s lead bulldozer broke through to the Lower Post Road on September 3rd. Lower Post, just south of Watson Lake, was a small Indian village with log cabins, sod roofs and an old Hudson Bay trading post-still operating. At Lower Post, Hoge modified his plan again. The second battalion turned around and headed back toward the oncoming 93rd, upgrading as they went. The 1st Battalion raced on east toward their historic appointment with the 35th.
Watson Lake, Yukon
The 340th arrived in Watson Lake on 1 September 1942. The 93rd was 63 miles behind them at Pine Lake. Fourteen year old Frank Watson had come with his father during the gold rush. The two of them wound up on the shores of a lake near the Upper Liard River. When his father returned home, Frank stayed to work their claims. Frank built a cabin, married a local Indian girl and lived a quiet life. In 1941 when an airfield came to the shores of the lake, it became “Watson Lake”.
Little Rancheria River, Yukon
At the end of August the 340th encamped at Upper Rancheria River, 80 miles from Nisutlin Bay. Their truck trail continued another 50 miles to Little Rancheria River where they stopped and built a bridge.
Swift River, Yukon
Fifteen miles from base camp, the 340th was way behind schedule. Hoge told them to forget about pioneer road standards and make their road a single lane ‘truck trail.’ The 93rd would follow, bringing the road up to Pioneer standards.