Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
August 23, 1950
The Daily Alaska Empire
Juneau, Juneau County, Alaska
What is this article about?
In Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 23, military plans a practice evacuation for dependents of Elmendorf AFB and Fort Richardson troops, simulating a 50-mile withdrawal to Palmer via bus to prepare for potential enemy attack without causing panic.
Clipping
OCR Quality
100%
Excellent
Full Text
MILITARY TO TRY PRACTICE EVACUATION
Dependents Only to Stage Practical Withdrawal to Highway, Airfields
ANCHORAGE, Aug. 23-- (AP) --A practice evacuation to prepare dependents of military personnel for a possible attack on Alaska by an enemy will be staged here Saturday morning with a 50-mile "withdrawal" up the Alaska Highway.
Dependents of Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson troops will participate in the part-theory, part-practice action. Its purpose is to set up a quick, orderly procedure for evacuation to the United States without clogging travel arteries or snarling military traffic.
In theory, it will be territory wide and include air travel. In fact, as set up by Lt. Gen. William Kepner, Commander-in-Chief of Alaskan defense, it will not include civilians living in Anchorage, Fairbanks and other cities.
It does not, military officials said, point to the need for evacuation at this time. "Our main concern," one officer said, "is to avoid a panicky populace. We are not going to punch a panic button."
As worked out, the dependents will gather at designated collection points when the signal is given Saturday morning. They will be picked up by buses and driven as far as Palmer. There they will be processed as if they were beginning the long drive to the reception station at Great Falls, Mont. This would be via the Glenn and Richardson Highway to Big Delta, on the Alaskan Highway.
In a genuine evacuation the dependents would be taken in convoys across Canada by the U. S. Army.
In actuality Saturday, however, they will return here by bus from Palmer.
Aircraft also would be used in any mass evacuation, but officials pointed out that such travel means probably would be in short supply.
Plans have even been worked out for wives to obtain special travel funds at Palmer and Great Falls.
Non-dependents joining the evacuee caravans would need their own funds, however.
Sound trucks will move through the streets of Alaskan cities to advise persons of their duties in event of an attack or practice evacuation.
Radio stations have arranged to broadcast military information via a mobile transmitter operating independent of telephone lines and power sources which might be sabotaged.
Persons scheduled for air evacuation will be instructed on the radio where to gather to board aircraft.
No actual flying will be done Saturday but persons affected must walk to collection points and report at airfields, leaving personal vehicles behind.
Dependents Only to Stage Practical Withdrawal to Highway, Airfields
ANCHORAGE, Aug. 23-- (AP) --A practice evacuation to prepare dependents of military personnel for a possible attack on Alaska by an enemy will be staged here Saturday morning with a 50-mile "withdrawal" up the Alaska Highway.
Dependents of Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson troops will participate in the part-theory, part-practice action. Its purpose is to set up a quick, orderly procedure for evacuation to the United States without clogging travel arteries or snarling military traffic.
In theory, it will be territory wide and include air travel. In fact, as set up by Lt. Gen. William Kepner, Commander-in-Chief of Alaskan defense, it will not include civilians living in Anchorage, Fairbanks and other cities.
It does not, military officials said, point to the need for evacuation at this time. "Our main concern," one officer said, "is to avoid a panicky populace. We are not going to punch a panic button."
As worked out, the dependents will gather at designated collection points when the signal is given Saturday morning. They will be picked up by buses and driven as far as Palmer. There they will be processed as if they were beginning the long drive to the reception station at Great Falls, Mont. This would be via the Glenn and Richardson Highway to Big Delta, on the Alaskan Highway.
In a genuine evacuation the dependents would be taken in convoys across Canada by the U. S. Army.
In actuality Saturday, however, they will return here by bus from Palmer.
Aircraft also would be used in any mass evacuation, but officials pointed out that such travel means probably would be in short supply.
Plans have even been worked out for wives to obtain special travel funds at Palmer and Great Falls.
Non-dependents joining the evacuee caravans would need their own funds, however.
Sound trucks will move through the streets of Alaskan cities to advise persons of their duties in event of an attack or practice evacuation.
Radio stations have arranged to broadcast military information via a mobile transmitter operating independent of telephone lines and power sources which might be sabotaged.
Persons scheduled for air evacuation will be instructed on the radio where to gather to board aircraft.
No actual flying will be done Saturday but persons affected must walk to collection points and report at airfields, leaving personal vehicles behind.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Military Action
What themes does it cover?
Survival
Catastrophe
What keywords are associated?
Practice Evacuation
Military Dependents
Alaska Highway
Civil Defense
Enemy Attack Preparation
What entities or persons were involved?
Lt. Gen. William Kepner
Where did it happen?
Anchorage, Alaska
Story Details
Key Persons
Lt. Gen. William Kepner
Location
Anchorage, Alaska
Event Date
Saturday Morning Following Aug. 23
Story Details
Military personnel dependents from Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson participate in a 50-mile practice evacuation up the Alaska Highway to Palmer, simulating withdrawal to the United States in case of enemy attack, without including civilians or actual air travel.