Honoring the Soliders of the Army's Black Corps of Engineers
HONORING THE SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY'S BLACK CORPS OF ENGINEERS -- (House of Representatives - February 17, 2005)
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The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Alaska?
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, however, I do not intend to object, I yield to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) for an explanation of the resolution.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Alaska.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) for introducing this resolution.
This resolution honors the soldiers of the Army's Black Corps of Engineers for their contribution in construction of the Alaska-Canada Highway during World War II.
There is no doubt about the enormous contribution made by these soldiers and the lasting legacy they left to Alaska and the security of our Nation.
This is long overdue and I strongly support the gentlewoman's resolution and appreciate her efforts.
Mr. Speaker, may I suggest somebody should read the great story of this Corps of Engineers brigade and what they were able to do, the work they put in, the time they put in, and the excellent job they did in building a highway of approximately 1,400 miles in less than 365 days of a year.
Again, I commend the gentlewoman for introducing this resolution. It is long overdue. And for those who do not understand this, drive this highway someday and you will understand the work they put in.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Further reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk a little bit about the legislation that we are considering. The construction of the Alaska-Canada Highway from Dawson Creek, Canada to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1942 was heralded as one of America's greatest public works projects of the 20th century.
The emergency war measure, made necessary by the bombing of Pearl Harbor, was authorized by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on February 11, 1942. The construction of the 1,522 mile long road through rugged unmapped wilderness and extreme temperatures ranging between 80 degrees below and 90 degrees above zero was completed in an astonishing 8 months and 12 days. Upon completion, the road was the only overland route that strategically linked Alaska and the lower 48 States and facilitated the construction of airstrips for refueling planes and vital supply routes during World War II.
Critical to the construction of the Alaska-Canada Highway were the men of the 93rd, 95th, and 97th regiments, in addition to the 388th battalion of the Army Corps of Engineers. Segregated by race and seldom recognized, members of the Black Corps of Engineers comprised over one-third of the total troop strength in this project.
In spite of severe racially discriminatory policies and detestable living and social conditions, the soldiers of the Black Corps of Engineers performed notably and unselfishly on this project.
Regretfully, since 1942, their contributions toward this country's Western defense during World War II and subsequent integration of the military have been excluded from many of the footnotes of history; but this being the last day we can make presentations during Black History Month, I am delighted and thankful that the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) knew about them and is cosponsoring this resolution.
It is with great pride and honor that I, with the cosponsorship of the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this group of soldiers whose works have existed in the shadows of the Nation's history since 1942, the Army's Black Corps of Engineers; and the Congressional Black Caucus joins me in supporting this. Let me thank again the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
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