Photo of Pvt. William L. Draper in uniform

Photo of Pvt. William L. Draper in uniform

WWII
World War II
Army
Decatur, IL.

WWII - Herald and Review Library; Draper, Pvt. William L., 4/22/1943. Article on back of photo: "Life in the Frozen North, Pvt. W. L. Draper Works on Alcan Highway: High adventure in the frozen North has been the army career to date of Pvt. William L. Draper, a son of Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Draper, 254 W. Leafland Ave. A worked on the Alaska highway, he will return to duty Sunday after a 15-day furlough. Draper was member of a company of 250 soldiers who last September completed a tough 256-mile links of the highway from Fort St. John to Fort Nelson in British Columbia. ...'terrific job,' the gold-....ungster? said today experience was worth the dollars.' Miles of Muskeg: The crew began work in May and was immediately locked in battle against time. The ...running north from Ft. St....moved over many miles of ....a baby moose which the men adopted as a mascot, and and was grieved at its death, occasioned by its wolfing too many powdered eggs. Colorful Youths and Country. Draper worked behind the bulldozer-known as a land battleship--with grading crews that roughed out the roadway with motor graders and pull blades. The road was covered with gravel, much of which had to be hauled long distances. The company was made up of youths from all sections of the country whose diction was as colorful as the country through which they passed. The entire Alaska highway--also known as the Alcan project --stretches 1,600 miles in all, threading its way north from Fort St. John to Fairbanks, Alaska. The highway was officially opened in 30-degree below temperatures on Nov. 28, 1942. Throughout the remainder of the winter Draper helped in the erection of campsites. On his return to Fort St. John later this month, he expects to be assigned to improvement work on the highway."

Herald and Review

Decatur, IL.

Decatur Public Library, Decatur, IL.

4/22/1943

Decatur Herald and Review

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unknown

.jpg
600 dpi

English

photograph

AF170

World War II

photograph

8 x 6"