The Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line: A Father’s Day Photo Story

I was always proud of my dad and his dedication to work. He died rather suddenly when I was eleven, and I’ve spent a lifetime searching through his old work documents and photos to know him better and to learn more about his career choices. I discovered he was once a radio operator, Presidential support staffer, and radar builder.

In many ways, I followed in his footsteps first obtaining my radio operator license, and later supporting Presidential summits. So, it was no surprise to my family when I jumped at the chance to provide technical communication services to the radar acquisition and sustainment office at the Federal Aviation Administration. That is my current contract assignment and I feel I’ve come full circle. I’m happy to carry on a family tradition of shared interests, U.S. mission support, and work dedication.

In honor of Father’s Day, please see the photo story of my father’s early career in 1956-1957, building the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line, a monumental radar project that spanned more than 3,000 miles from northwestern Alaska to eastern Baffin Island, Canada. My father was one of the 7,500 workers who assisted with this post-WWII effort by the United States and Canada to prevent another Pearl Harbor and to ensure the two countries would be protected from a similar attack over the Arctic Circle. Also know by code name, “White Alice,” the DEW Line later became the North Warning System and then part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

Dear Bob, I thought you would be interested to know that we are within days of the successful completion of the construction phase of the entire DEW Line. It is a big thrill to pick up a phone on the Baffin Coast and dial through to [each site] or even into Alaska. It’s also much more relaxing to fly when you know somebody is on the watch to warn the pilot if he is headed for a cloud full of rocks. Not only is the job about done, but it works.

There is no doubt in my mind that these achievements could not be counted today if it had not been for our Western Electric field force. Your participation and contribution to this job is well recognized as a component of a great Bell System team effort. You can be truly proud of your personal contribution to this project. Let me say ‘thanks for a real fine job.'”

Mark S. Cheever
Superintendent, Construction
Western Electric Company
Defense Projects Division
July 10, 1957 Letter Upon the Completion of the Project

Today, the old DEW Line is largely obsolete with many of the old radar sites abandoned or dismantled, but it still remains an engineering marvel and significant personal accomplishment for thousands of dedicated workers, including one very special to me.