Kodiak
23 November l945

100-man detail would take the first end of the cable and 

start down the ditch -- other men would fall in at re-

gular intervals until all the cable or the desired amount 

was being carried. One end of the cable was then placed 

in the ditch and was lowered progressively toward the 

other end, the slack being taken out as the cable was 

laid in the trench. The trench was then backfilled, 

except at splice locations, where pits were dug of suf-

ficient size to permit splicers to work and to allow 

slack to be properly disposed.

     Splicing crews were put to work soon after the 

first cable was laid. It soon became apparent that it 

would be necessary to train more splicers than were avail-

able. A splicing school was started and both ACS and Coast 

Artillery men were trained in this work. Helpers were 

also trained to become splicers right on the Job.  At 

the height of the splicing work five crews were engaged 

in this work. Occasional shortages of splicing material 

were made up in various ways.  Approximately 100 each two-

inch lead sleeves were obtained by stripping old power 

cable picked out of the Navy salvage dump.  Other short-

ages were made up by swapping excess material to the 

Seabees, who were always glad to help out.

     The Coast artillery moved into Kodiak in 1941 and 

set up mobile batteries at Spruce Cape, Long Island, 

Buskin Beach and Chiniak.  All communications were by


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