Unknown U.S. truck bound for Alaska

[sapper740]

Originally posted by Bill Murray
I am sure all have figured out that the US Army was as apt to mis-label photos as any other Government Agency.
Bill

As is the case here. The picture I initially posted was identified as the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion loading vehicles bound for Alaska on the USS Leonard Wood (APA 12), however, neither the Battalion nor the ship ever made it to Alaska. After doing additional research I discovered both served in the Pacific island-hopping campaign in support of the USMC. The ship also served in the Mediterranean and was used to ship Canadian troops from Halifax to British "Far East" posts. The picture's caption is obviously incorrect. If the Compressor truck is indeed being loaded for Alaska, it's not onboard the USS Leonard Wood, conversely, if the ship is the USS Leonard Wood, then this truck is likely headed for the South Pacific. I don't know the late and post war history of the vessel, save it underwent repairs at San Francisco, then began transport duties between the United States and the western Pacific, making two runs to Manila and one to Tokyo. The ship's Coast Guard crew debarked 22 March 1946 when the Leonard Wood was decommissioned and was redelivered to the Army at Seattle, Wash., pending transfer to the War Shipping Administration. The ship was sold to Consolidated Builders, Inc., for scrap 20 January 1948.
Bill, your scan of the manual suggests that these trucks were built for the Corps of Engineers (Army) so there remains the possibility this truck was used on the Alcan highway. I'll keep looking for additional info and pics.