Many people’s efforts went Into this project. The author gratefully acknowledges, at the Alaskan Air Command, Marvin Thomasson, Project Manager (DEPC), and Moira Dennis and Paul Heimsath, Real Estate, for their continuing effort in obtaining information and their moral support. Also recognized at MC are Amy Wickstrom and Col. J.E. Smith for supporting the project. Wayne Fordham, Air Force Historic Preservation Officer, in Washington D.C., visited Alaska, saw the need for the study, and also supported it. 1931st Communications Wing Historian, Sgt. Dennis Bonewitz, provided most of the written source material on which the study is based. TSgt. Raymond Baker was my initial contact at MC. As Wing Historian, he completed a monograph on White Alice and brought it to my attention just prior to his departure to Andrews AFB. Sgt. Bonewitz’ records were supplemented by John Cloe’s, AAC Historian. Peggy Crawford, 21st Civil Engineering Squadron, provided access to the Air Force’s as-built drawings and went out of her way on several occasions to accommodate my requests. Mont Beale, director of Real Estate, 21st CES, provided insight into many of the WACS sites and showed me a video tape of most of the northern installations. It was Mr. Beale who officially closed most of the WACS sites. Jake Tuckerman, 1930th Communications Squadron, on the other hand, opened many of the White Alice sites. He explained to me how the system worked in its heyday and helped put telecommunications in an understandable context.

At the Alaska District Corps of Engineers, my supervisor, William Lloyd, was a necessary sounding board. Mr. Lloyd worked on the BMEWS WACS installations and therefore read my drafts with a critical eye. Wendell Moore, chief of Survey, was involved with WACS and AC&W from its earliest days and provided background information for the report. Linda Wester and Karl Lauterbach, of Mr. Moore’s staff, computed the laborious UTM’s, which figure importantly in the compliance package submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Debbie Helman and Chris Christley provided access to the Corps’ as-built drawings and provided all topographic maps necessary for the SHPO compliance package. Norma Gonzalez, Real Estate, provided access to old files concerning the sale of White Alice to ALASCOM. Colt Denfeld and the Defense Environmental Restoration Program provided useful background information and reports. In the drafting section, Monty Henninger designed and executed the cover and Doris Smith drew the system map. Karen Pontius turned the manuscript into a finished product. Former District Photographer, Jim Stuhier, now of Fort Richardson, contributed his time to photograph the Rabbit Creek WACS facility to National Park Service standards.

This project could not have been completed without the help of ALASCOM. Joyce Zitzow and Paul Slooter, real estate, helped me focus the study and provided some of the original written documentation, unavailable elsewhere. Ms. Zitzow took me to the Neklasson Lake WACS facility and introduced me to Kaye Horton, site director. Mr. Horton gave me a tour of the installation and explained how it worked and how it has changed through time. George Howard and Bob Wyatt, ALASCOM toll center, took a group of us to the Rabbit Creek WACS on two different occasions and allowed the site to be photographed. They also provided a tour of the toll center and answered many questions on microwaves, tropo systems and long-haul communications in general.

At the State Historic Preservation Office, Judy Bittner, SHPO, provided general guidance and kept the project on track. Jo Antonson, State Historian, and Paul Chattey, State Architectural Historian, were my principal contacts and were always available to answer questions large and small. Steve Klingler and Greg Dixon, Office of History and Archaeology, helped with the locational data and provided state numbers for all 71 WACS sites. At the National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office, Sandy Faulkner, HABS/HAER coordinator, gave unselfishly of her time and always had a fresh idea to share. Bill Hanable reviewed the draft and provided valuable comments. At the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Western Office, Brit Storey reviewed the project, kept it on track and Injected a sense of humor, when possible. At the Forest Service in Anchorage, John Mattson lent his expertise based on his experience with mitigation of the Boswell Bay WACS.

All of these people contributed to the White Alice project. It could not have been done without their help.

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