The Alaska Highway project is associated with which group’s contribution?

• A. European settlers
• B. Civilian contractors
• C. Local Alaska residents
• D. African American soldiers

Answer: (D)

The Alaska Highway was a World War II effort to rapidly connect Alaska to the continental United States for defense. It was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with thousands of troops and civilian workers, and the contribution of African American soldiers, often in segregated units, is a distinctive and widely remembered part of that project. They faced brutal cold, tough terrain, and discrimination, yet they played a crucial role in digging, grading, and paving the route across Alaska and into Canada, helping to ensure military logistics moved efficiently. While civilian contractors and local residents contributed as well, the historical emphasis sits on the significant impact of African American soldiers.