11 Alaskans
Make Climb
HEADQUARTERS, ALAS
KAN DEPARTMENT—Nine
teen members of the Army
Ground Forces, stationed at Ft
Richardson, took part in the re
cent mountar-i limbing exped
ition that led < o the summit of
an unnamed, 12,160-foot peak in
the vicinity of Mt. McKinley,
its purpose being to reconnoiter
the scene of an Army plane
crash in which 19 persons lost
their lives two months ago.
Eleven of the nineteen Ground
Forces soldiers were natives of
Alaska, four being from Anchor
age. Alaskans who participated
were:
Technical Sgt.. Richard D.
Nierstheimer, Infantry, of An
chorage
Sgt. Jack L Van Zanten, In
fantry, of Anchorage
Technician Fifth Grade Fuller
S. Thompson, Alaska Scouts, of
Anchorage
Technician Fifth Grade John
M. Greany, Signal Corp, of An
choiage
Technician Fi th Grade Jacob
A. Stalker, Alaska Scouts, of
Noatftk
Pvt. John F. Morrison, En
gineer Corps, of Juneau
Staff Sgt. Richard C. Manuell,
Infantry, Haines
Sgt. Mikal A. Hansen, Infan
try, of Ketchikan
Private First Class Tommy
Goodwin, Infantry, of Kotzebue
Private First Class Samuel
Kskik, Infantry, oi Nome
Pvt. Ivar Skarland, tempor
arily attached to Alaska Scouts,
of Fairbanks
The expedition, in which
forty four civilians and soldiers
of both the Ground and Air
Forces took an active part, was
led by Grant Pearson, McKinley
Park ranger. Pearson is credited
with being one of the few who
have ever climbed to the top ot
Mt. McKinley, highest peak in
North America. Bradford Wash
burn, well-known writer and
mountain climber, also assisted
and was one of the first three to
reach the plane.
During the ascent of the
mountain, extreme danger was
present at all times. Avalanches
thundered down the slopes,
carrying tons of snow and huge
blocks of ice that repeatedly
threatened to wipe out the small
group of volunteers. One of these
avalanche* missed them by only
a scant 150 feet.
To reach the location of the
wrecked C47 it had been neces
sary to route the approach from
the opposite side of the moun
tain. Upon arriving at the sum
mit of that portion of the ridge,
the task remaining was to climb
down to the place where the
wreckage had been sighted.
A party of three men, includ
ing Bradford Washburn, made
the initial descent to the plane,
using nylon ropes to lower each
other down over a 400-foot icy
cliff. The remainder of the ad
vance party followed the next
day.
Unable to find any trace of
the victims, they finally aban
doned the quest, having become
convinced that the force of the
cra«h and the wreckage rolling
down the cliff undoubtedly had
scattered them over a wide sec
tion of the mountainside.
Avalanches were increasing in
frequency and a storm was clos
ing in as the party climbed back
to their camp near the summit.
Hastily gathering up their
equipment, they retraced their
steps, following the same route
they had taken on their trek up
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the mountain.
Alf members of the expedition
were highly commended for the
parts they had played in carry
ing out a mission, recognized as
one of the most dangerous ever
undertaken in this section of
the country.
Katherine Gratiot, who is em
ployed at the Bank of Kodiak,
is working evening at the North
land Photo Shop.
Notice
If it’s a special date, a busi
ness occasion, or just every day
public appearances—yoilr shoes
should be shined.
Try the new Kodiak Shoe
Shine Shop, now open in the
Lyric theatre building.
Mrs. Georgia Sumerlin is
employed in the women’s depart
ment at Kraft’s.
*3
POOL
i
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representing Kodiak