Legislature(2017 - 2018)GRUENBERG 120
03/21/2017 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB94 | |
| SB46 | |
| HB163 | |
| HB1 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 94 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 46 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 163 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 46-OCT 25: AFR-AMER SOLDIERS AK HWY DAY
3:13:11 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the next order of business
would be SENATE BILL NO. 46, "An Act establishing October 25 of
each year as African American Soldiers' Contribution to Building
the Alaska Highway Day."
3:13:45 PM
GARY ZEPP, Staff, Senator David Wilson, Alaska State
Legislature, presented SB 46 on behalf of Senator Wilson, prime
sponsor, with the use of a PowerPoint presentation. He began by
saying that there is no disrespect intended in the use of the
terms "blacks" or "African Americans" in discussing SB 46, as
the terms are interchangeable.
MR. ZEPP paraphrased from his written testimony, which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
Good afternoon Mr. Chairman and members of the
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committee. Thank you for hearing SB 46 October 25
- "African American Soldiers' Contribution to Building
the Alaska Highway Day"
Also Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I'd
like to encourage all Alaskans and visitors to attend
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this summer's Alaska Highway 75 Anniversary
celebration events taking place throughout the state.
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The 75 anniversary celebrations are a tribute to all
of the troops and civilians for their contributions to
building the Alaska Highway. All of the troops are
all deserving of recognition! This legislation is not
meant to ignore nor disrespect any of the troops or
civilians who worked on the Alaska Highway.
There are so many amazing stories related to Alaska's
history yet to be discovered and shared, this is just
one of them. We believe the African American Soldiers
deserve to have their story told!
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• Did you know that the all African American 97
Engineer Regiment was responsible for building
the original Alaska Highway from the Alaska-Yukon
border all the way to Delta? It's true! Not
many people know that fact.
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• African American Soldiers from the 97Engineer
Regiment worked on the entire portion of the
rdth
Alaska Highway. The 93 and 95 Engineer
Regiments worked on various parts of the Alaska
Highway within the Canadian border.
• It's about the historical context, during the Jim
Crow area (which meant states and local laws
enforced racial segregation up until 1965), the
racist environment they endured and the
segregation imposed upon them, they were poorly
supplied and equipped because of their race, the
US Army's own assessment at that time was that
the African American troops' were substandard
when compared to whites, and the many examples of
the lack of press or mainstream media coverage of
the African American troops' contributions to
building the Alaska Highway until now.
• The African American Soldiers were asked to risk
their lives for their country, yet the country
didn't value them as equals to other races, at
that time.
Army regulations at the time mandated that African
Americans [sic] soldiers had to live in segregated
camps, and eat separately from the whites. African
American troops were not only segregated from white
troops, they weren't allowed near any Alaskan or
Canadian settlements and very few residents in
Fairbanks or Delta Junction ever realized they were
there. They were under orders not to talk or visit
with white citizens as they entered Alaska.
3:16:56 PM
MR. ZEPP began a PowerPoint presentation. He referred to Slide
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1, titled "Senate Bill 46 - 'October 25 - African American
Soldiers' Contribution to Building the Alaska Highway Day'". He
said three African American regiments were sent to Alaska and
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Canada to work on the highway: the 93 Engineer Regiment, the
thth th
95 Engineer Regiment, and the 97Engineer Regiment. The 97
Engineer Regiment worked exclusively on the Alaska section.
MR. ZEPP directed attention to Slide 2, titled "Why October
thth
25?" He relayed that on October 25, the 97 Engineer Regiment
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heading south met the white troops from the 18 Engineer
Regiment heading north and completed the road's last link. He
said that The New York Times reported what happened when the two
regiments met head-on in the spruce forests of the Yukon
Territory. The article read as follows [original punctuation
provided in the PowerPoint slide]:
Corporal Refines Sims Jr., an African American from
Philadelphia, who was driving south with a bulldozer
when he saw trees starting to topple over on him,
slamming his big vehicle into reverse, he backed out
just as another bulldozer, driven by Private Alfred
Jalufka of Kennedy, Texas, broke through the
underbrush.
MR. ZEPP stated that an Engineering News-Record magazine
photographer, Harold Richardson, captured the image of the
African American soldier and the white soldier standing on their
respective bulldozers. He relayed that this meeting occurred 20
miles east of the Alaska-Yukon border at Beaver Creek. He
quoted an article in the Engineering News-Record describing the
meeting as "two races working together to build a lifeline to
Alaska's defenders amidst spectacularly rugged terrain and
horrendous weather conditions."
MR. ZEPP referred to Slide 3 and related that the Alaska Highway
is considered one of the biggest and most difficult construction
projects ever completed by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. It
stretches 1,422 miles from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to
Delta Junction, Alaska, at a cost of $138 million dollars, which
would be $2.1 billion today.
MR. ZEPP said to add perspective, on March 30, 1867, Secretary
of State William Seward reached agreement with Russia to
purchase Alaska for $7.2 million, which would be $112.2 million
in 2017.
3:19:10 PM
[MR. ZEPP turned to Slide 4 of the PowerPoint, titled "Alaska
Highway - 'The Road to Civil Rights,'" and played a National
Park Service video on the building of the Alaskan Highway.]
3:23:41 PM
MR. ZEPP expressed his appreciation to the National Park
Service, U.S. Department of Interior, for the video.
MR. ZEPP referred to Slide 5 and relayed that the African
American Army regiments that built the Alaska Highway
established a reputation for excellence, especially in the field
of bridge building; however, their accomplishments were ignored
by the press and mainstream media. He said it took decades for
these soldiers to receive proper recognition for their
achievements. He added that some say they were as legendary as
the Tuskegee Airmen and the Buffalo Soldiers.
MR. ZEPP mentioned that the Sikanni Chief River Bridge building
project, shown in the video, was amazing because the African
American soldiers worked with hand tools - saws and axes - to
drive pilings into the riverbed, to fell spruce trees, and to
sawmill the trees into planks, boards, and pilings. He added
that the project was finished in record time.
3:24:38 PM
MR.ZEPP turned to Slide 6, titled "Why the recognition of the
African American Soldiers?" and said, "It's about the historical
context." He stated that race relations in America were very
different in 1942. Opportunities for African Americans were
rare, and expectations were low. He said that racial
segregation existed in housing, medical care, education,
employment, and transportation, and social segregation existed
regarding restaurants, drinking fountains, and bathrooms.
MR. ZEPP related that the documentary, titled Alaska at War,
describes Alaska's role in World War II, including the opening
of oil fields, the Japanese bombing of Dutch Harbor, the
struggle to recapture the Aleutians Islands, and the
construction of the highway. He mentioned that Eugene Long, who
was enlisted in the 95th Engineer Regiment deployed to Alaska to
assist in building the Alaska Highway, said, "Not one African
American soldier was shown in the movie."
MR. ZEPP relayed that the bestselling book on the building of
the Alaska Highway, titled The Trail of 1942, has three photos,
taken at a distance, of African American Soldiers out of 178
photos, or 1.6 percent, even though the African American
soldiers represented one-third of the troops.
3:25:42 PM
MR. ZEPP referred to Slide 7, also titled "Why the
recognition of the African American Soldiers?" and relayed
the timeline for the safeguards of civil rights as follows:
In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. In 1868,
the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted
U.S. citizenship to former slaves. In 1870, the 15th
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provided African
American [men] the right to vote. In 1875, the Civil
Rights Act of 1875 was passed, which forbid racial
segregation in accommodations.
However in 1896, the U.S. Supreme Court sustained the
constitutionality of Louisiana's requirement that
railroad companies provide "separate but equal"
accommodations for white and black passengers. Over
the next 25-35 years, equality in racial relations
progress was lost, particularly in the South. By
1910, segregation was firmly established across the
South and most of the border region.
In 1954, legal segregation in schools was banned in
the U.S. after a series of rulings in the U.S. Supreme
Court. And in 1964, all legally enforced public
segregation was abolished by the Civil Rights Act.
The U.S. War Department's tradition and policy
mandated the segregation of African American troops
into separate units led by white officers. During the
construction of the Alaska Highway, African American
troops were ordered not to leave camp and not mingle
with the locals, while the whites were allowed to
mingle. They were treated unequally, and yet defied
expectations in many situations with even fewer
resources.
3:27:19 PM
MR. ZEPP reiterated, "It's about the historical context." He
referred to Slide 8, again titled "Why the recognition of the
African American Soldiers?" He said that little press or
mainstream media has been given to the African American soldiers
for these efforts. He relayed examples of the lack of press
coverage of the African American troops as follows:
The National Archives contains only a few dozen photos
among the hundreds taken of the Alaska Highway
construction. African Americans were edited out of a
1991 National Geographic feature on the highway,
despite the fact that the magazine obtained interviews
of seven men who served building the Alaska Highway.
A souvenir booklet, the Alaska Highway, Armed Service
Forces published in 1944 includes 100 photos but only
one of an African American soldier. The official 759-
page U.S. Army history of [the] Corp covers African
American troop involvement with a one sentence
footnote.
MR. ZEPP maintained that the African American soldiers not only
helped build the Alaska Highway, but their performance and
efforts helped change the course of discrimination in America.
He referred to Slide 9, also titled "Why the recognition of the
African American Soldiers?" He said that the African American
soldiers' contributions during World War II influenced American
leaders, and this point in history was considered a turning
point in race relations in America. He relayed that by 1948,
President Harry Truman signed into law a desegregation plan for
the armed services.
MR. ZEPP mentioned that after seeing Ms. Lael Morgan's exhibit
in Fairbanks in 1992, Colin Powell, Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, stated, "I had no idea black men had done anything
like this. They are deserving of recognition." Mr. Zepp added
that Douglas Brinley, a Rice University historian, stated, "The
Alaska Highway was not only the greatest feat of World War II,
it was a triumph over racism." Mr. Zepp quoted General James
O'Connor speaking at the Alaska Highway dedication, "Someday the
accomplishments of the African American troops, achievements
accomplished far from home, will occupy a major place in the
lore of the North country." Mr. Zepp added, "And this happened
in Alaska."
3:29:16 PM
[MR. ZEPP played from slide 9 of the PowerPoint a video of Mr.
Reginald Beverly briefly describing his experience as a soldier
in the 95th Engineer Regiment working on the Alaska Highway.]
3:30:23 PM
MR. ZEPP relayed that the U.S. Army's official assessment at
this time in history was that African American soldiers were
substandard in performance and literacy; they were usually
delegated to labor projects and not sent to the battle front.
He related a few examples of how African American soldiers were
treated, as follows:
General Clarence Sturdevant, who was apologetic to
General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr., who was the head
of the US Army in Alaska at that time when he stated,
"I have heard that you object to having colored troops
in Alaska, and we have attempted to avoid sending
them; however, we have been forced to use colored
regiments and it seems unwise for diplomatic reasons
to use them in Canada, since the Canadians also prefer
whites." To placate Gen. Buckner Jr, it was agreed
that black troops would not be allowed near any
Alaskan or Canadian settlements.
There was also a concern about African Americans
settling after the war, and they would interbreed with
Indians and Eskimos and produce an astonishingly
objectionable race of mongrels.
A military study from the Army War College stated,
"The Negro is careless, shiftless, irresponsible,
secretive, he is best handled with praise and by
ridicule. He is unmoved and untruthful, and his sense
of right-doing is relatively inferior."
A field inspection noted during 63 degree below zero
weather indicated that the Big Delta's black regiment
was found to be living in wretched conditions and
poorly supplied. But things started to change after
the original construction of the Alaska Highway. It
is believed that the achievements and the performance
of the African American troops and white troops
working together were considered a turning point in
America's race relations. And this happened in
Alaska.
MR. ZEPP asked for the committee's support for SB 46.
3:32:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH expressed his appreciation for the
presentation and said he was happy to support the proposed
legislation.
3:33:15 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS opened public testimony on SB 46.
3:33:34 PM
VERDIE BOWEN, Director, Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA),
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), testified in
support of SB 46. He said that the first time he learned of the
African American soldiers who built the [Alaska] Highway was as
a young man in Cape Pole, Alaska. He relayed that his
construction boss was one of the soldiers who had constructed
the highway. Mr. Bowen mentioned that he assumed this was part
of Alaskan history education. He said that later in life, he
read an article in which General Colin Powell said he did not
realize that any African American soldiers worked on the highway
to Alaska. Mr. Bowen offered that he was surprised that General
Powell was not aware of this, since one-third of the soldiers
constructing the highway were African Americans.
MR. BOWEN went on to say that in considering the accomplishments
of the African American soldiers, he thought about the
conditions that they lived under. He said that during the time
they built the road, they were not allowed to leave, not allowed
into the communities, and not allowed time to relax. He
asserted that they had great adversities to overcome. They did
not have mechanized equipment. He said that what they
accomplished with what they had proved to those in authority
that not only were they equal to the soldiers who had all the
equipment, they were much better. He said that he can't imagine
building a bridge over a river with just hand tools and not
having the ability to plane planks or use a pile driver to put
holding beams into the water.
MR. BOWEN concluded that naming October 25th after those
soldiers, who went through that adversity, would ensure that
youth would be aware of this history. He offered that this
event was a huge factor in the execution of the Executive Order
[Executive Order 9981: Desegregation of the Armed Forces] of
1948.
3:37:22 PM
MARK FISH testified in opposition to SB 46. He relayed that his
grandfather, James D. Fish, worked on the construction of the
Alaska Highway. He said that the story of the Alaska Highway is
how a divided and segregated nation, in a time of great stress
and danger, worked together under extreme conditions to
accomplish a great thing in a short period of time. He stated
that in the proposed legislation, the contributions of other
workers including his grandfather are being ignored because of
the color of their skin. He asserted, "We cannot make up for
past injustice by creating a future injustice." He emphasized
that segregation was not right then, and it is not right to
segregate workers now by way of the proposed legislation. He
maintained that all workers' contributions should be
commemorated. He quoted from the PBS website on the Alaska
Highway construction, which read, "Regardless of race issues,
the War Department's plan required enormous efforts from
everyone who worked on the highway. The grueling schedule and
extreme conditions were a tremendous challenge."
MR. FISH said that from his grandfather's stories, the equipment
was not new but was second and third rate, and some was from the
'20s. He said that everyone who worked on the highway shared in
the conditions; the mosquitos didn't know the color of the
person whose blood they were sucking. He relayed that there was
very little sanitation. He added there was not much time off
for anyone to go into town after a 16-hour shift, as they were
in the middle of the Yukon wilderness. He maintained that all
veterans who worked on the highway have a lot for which to be
proud. He said, "Instead of celebrating segregation and
division, we should celebrate a day without division and call it
the Alaska Highway Day." He maintained that doing so would
focus on all who participated and not prevent anyone from
observing their own people's contributions. He asked that the
proposed legislation be amended to read "Alaska Highway Day" and
that corresponding changes be made to the bill language.
3:40:51 PM
CLAUDIA ROLLINS paraphrased from her written testimony, which
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
My name is Claudia Beverly Rollins and I am the
daughter of Mr. Reginald Beverly who lives in Ruther
Glen, Virginia. My dad is one of over 4,000 black
soldiers who built the Alaska Highway in 1942. He is
now 102 years old. Throughout my lifetime, he has
shared many of his experiences with my sisters and me.
When he went to build the Alaska Highway, he was a
rarity because he was a black recruit with a
university degree. He said, "I was drafted December 5,
1941, two days before Pearl Harbor. I was a high
school math teacher. Once drafted, I only had time to
report to school the next morning, call the class roll
and bid my students and administration goodbye. From
there, I traveled two miles to Bowling Green, Virginia
to catch the bus to go to Fort Meade, Maryland. I was
twenty-six years old."
My Dad, Mr. Beverly had received a Bachelor of Science
Degree from Virginia State University, one of the
first fully state-supported four-year institutions of
higher learning for blacks in America. He was assigned
to the 95th Regiment.
3:42:57 PM
While serving in Alaska as a regimental surveyor
building the Alcan Highway, Mr. Beverly had to endure
the treacherous weather while living in substandard
conditions such as living in tents with ice
approximately one inch thick on the inside while white
soldiers lived in actual buildings.
During this time, while instructing other soldiers
using his surveying skills and sophisticated
instruments, Mr. Beverly had no stripes while white
soldiers that he was instructing wore strips [sic].
When a Colonel Thompson saw Sargent Beverly and
observed that he [sic] no stripes, he said, "Give that
man some stripes!" Mr. Beverly said stripes were
delivered to him on the very next morning!
I do approve Senate Bill 46. I support this Bill to
recognize the contributions of African American
Soldiers who worked extremely hard on the Alcan
Highway and completed this task in record time! I also
support making October 25th of each year the official
"Alaska African American History Soldier Contribution
Day." This day is befitting since this was the day
that a Black Soldier and white soldier shook hands
upon completion of such a tremendous project!
Thank you Gary Zepp and Legislators for giving me this
opportunity to communicate with you in support of
Senate Bill 46.
3:45:02 PM
REGINALD BEVERLY expressed his appreciation for the proposed
legislation honoring the African American soldiers who worked on
the Alcan Highway.
3:46:08 PM
LEONARD LARKIN testified that he entered military service on
April 12, 1941, and enlisted for one year. He relayed that
after [the bombing of] Pearl Harbor, he had to stay in the
service. He said he was sent to serve in the 93rd Engineer
Regiment in Alaska to work on the ALCAN Highway, which lasted
about one year. He related that the soldiers did not have
enough tools - picks, shovels, and bulldozers; much of the work
had to be done by hand. He said the weather was cold and
"sloppy," and there were mosquitos. He added that the men had a
difficult time working. He stated that they were mostly black
men, and the few officers in charge of them were white men.
3:48:03 PM
BERT LARKIN testified that Leonard Larkin is his father. He
said he heard many stories over the years from his father about
his experiences on the Alcan Highway. He relayed that he always
tried to research what his father told him, but he never found
anything written about it. He said, "That's what makes this all
so important; that the story be told about these soldiers who
overcame adversity, racism, and hard work." He reiterated that
he and his father both support establishing a day of recognition
and the passage of SB 46.
3:49:29 PM
JEAN POLLARD, Chair, Alaska Highway Project, testified that the
intent of the Alaska Highway Project is not to change history
but to acknowledge history. She maintained that there were no
white soldiers building the highway; there were white officers
supervising the black soldiers; and there were civilians, not
military, who came to Alaska to pave the highway. She related
that as an educator, she will be teaching a class with two other
teachers, which will be put into the Alaska Studies curriculum
so that this history will not be forgotten. The class will be a
required course and shared in other Alaskan communities. She
maintained that many people have not heard this story; she has
talked with many educators who have not heard this story; she
herself has a minor in history from the University of Alaska
Anchorage (UAA) and had not heard it. She asserted that it is
important to ensure that the next generation will hear it. She
said she supports SB 46 and mentioned that there will be
celebration events all over the state.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX thanked Ms. Pollard for her tireless
advocacy for SB 46.
3:53:54 PM
ELLIOT ROSS testified that he has recently been appointed as
Fort Greely's chair in the efforts to celebrate the 75th
anniversary of the completion of the Alaska-Canadian Highway as
well as the Lend-Lease Policy ["An Act to promote the Defense of
the United States"] for Allen Army Airfield. He stated that the
proposed legislation and related events are a tremendous
opportunity for Alaska to recognize significant accomplishments
of African Americans in connecting Alaska with the Lower 48 and
Canada. He relayed that he, as a young African American living
in Delta Junction, had no idea of this history, and as
chairperson, has learned so much more of the contribution [of
the African American soldiers]. He said he is a strong
supporter of SB 46 and believes that everyone, no matter their
demographic, will benefit from the education that will come
because of the proposed legislation.
3:56:31 PM
CEYLON MITCHELL paraphrased from his written testimony, which
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Hello Mr. Zepp, my name is Ceylon Mitchell. I am a
retired veteran of the United States Air Force and
with my family we have lived in Anchorage since
September 1992. I am calling in as a proud Alaskan
because my Father was one of the 4,000 Patriot [sic]
Black Soldiers that helped build the Alaska Highway.
My Father was Tec 5 James A. Mitchell. He was from
Suffolk, Virginia and arrived and worked on the
Canadian sector of the Highway in 1942. He was
assigned to the 93rd General Services Reg. which
worked from the Canadian sector going North to the
Regiments that connected the Alaska Sector. After the
93rd completed their work on the Highway they were
assigned to the Aleutian Islands to help remove the
Japanese that had taken over part of the islands.
I am proud of SB 46 because it is one way that the
Soldiers may be honored for their work that they
performed in the War affords [sic]. There is very
little written in the history books about their work
in Alaska because the military was segregated, they
were not allowed in the villages and they were not
wanted here, but their labor was needed. Because of
their work they are [a part of] America (sic) History,
Black History and Alaska History. The building of the
Highway was not only a major contribution to the war
affords [sic], but also a major factor in the defense
of Alaska and its future. This is a new day and there
is enough positive history of Alaska to share. Just
think if it were not for the Highway we all maybe
speaking Japanese at this time. Have a good day and
God Bless your work.
3:59:21 PM
LIONEL MAYBIN testified that he is retired from the U.S. Air
Force after having served 24 years. He stated that he is an
educator and a community leader helping children be successful.
He stressed the importance of public awareness of the major
contribution of the African American in helping to build the
Alaska Highway. He maintained that this knowledge contributes
to the pride and respect of being American and being part of
building America. He said that as an educator, if you don't
give African Americans respect for what their ancestors have
done - being a major contributor to building this country - you
lessen their self-worth. He maintained that when he teaches, he
gives credit where it is due through the truth being told.
MR. MAYBIN referred to the three African American women
portrayed in the movie, Hidden Figures, and the significant role
they played in sending a man [into space], a contribution which
was largely unknown. He asserted that the more we share these
truths and the more we give credit, the more people feel self-
worth and the better we become as a society. He said that he
believes that his ancestors deserve respect for what they have
contributed, just as he deserves respect for having served in
the military for 24 years. He stated that he supports SB 46 and
believes October 25 will be a great day of celebration for
Alaskans and Americans.
4:03:01 PM
SHALA DOBSON, Alaska Highway Memorial Project, testified that he
wholeheartedly supported SB 46, which would celebrate always
Alaska Highway Day on October 25. He stated that the proposed
legislation would give honored recognition both to the Black
Army Engineers who built the Alaska section of the Alaska
Highway and to the meeting of the black troops with the white
troops at Contact Creek on October 25. He said that as a member
of the Alaska Highway Project, he believed that SB 46 would help
bring this important story of our Alaska history to the
forefront. He maintained that the complete story of the
building of the Alaska Highway needs to be publicized.
4:04:02 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS closed public testimony on SB 46.
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH referred to the recognition of the
contributions of the African American community to Alaska,
submitted by U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan and included in the
committee packet.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON stated that she supports SB 46 and
believes that it is a great story of Alaska that deserves to be
told.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX concurred with Representative Johnson's
remarks and thanked all who have worked on the proposed
legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK expressed his support for highlighting and
recognizing the "heroes left behind" in history so that their
contributions will never be forgotten.
4:06:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX moved to report SB 46 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection SB 46 was reported from House
State Affairs Standing Committee.