by Kate Schmidt, UCSS Outreach Administrator
Historic objects can hold unique and powerful stories. An example of this is a historic military vehicle from the Boulder Mountains which made some headlines this summer. After 70 years of sitting undisturbed in the Dixie National Forest near Wayne and Garfield counties, it was suddenly reported missing in June. Communities and UCSS program associates banded together to aid the Forest Service in finding this illegally removed piece of history. Thankfully returned in August, the half-track’s illegal removal has given us a chance to learn more about the historical significance of this unique local landmark!
From Military Beginnings to Utah Industry
The M2 half-track began life as a World War II military vehicle. The half-track vehicle series is characterized by truck-style, wheeled front ends and tank-like back ends with tough rubber tracks. Half-tracks could carry a group of soldiers and their gear while traversing difficult terrains without getting stuck. Off the battlefield, these qualities made post-World War II surplus half-tracks great choices for the agriculture and timber industries — which are what brought this one to Utah.
Figure 1: What the half-track looks like today. Photo courtesy of Fishlake National Forest.
Figure 2: What the half-track may have looked like when first produced. Photo credit to David D. Jackson, 2020, usautoindustryworldwartwo.com/white.htm.
Wayne and Garfield counties’ primary industries in recent history were agriculture, ranching, and timber. By the 1930’s, lumber was in high demand, and the half-track was purchased by Bliss Brinkerhoff of Bicknell between 1948 and 1954 to follow that demand. The vehicle would make a great skidder, able to easily haul loads of cut logs from the tough terrain of Boulder Mountain. It was an unlucky day of hauling lumber for Brinkerhoff and two other workers, Royce Allen and Jack Shiner, that led to the half-track sitting unused near Purple Lake for decades. Allen and Debra Young recounted the events in an article published in Wayne and Garfield county newspaper the Insider, describing it as “an unforgettable experience.”
The Half-Track’s Last Ride
It was November 1954, and Boulder Mountain logs made up the last few truckloads of the season. With snow falling, the three loggers decided to wait until the next morning to drive down. Morning brought snow still falling outside their tents, on top of the already knee-deep drifts. Unable to move their trucks, they were trapped overnight. Their trucks and horses would both struggle through the now chest-deep snow, but Brinkerhoff’s tough half-track would be able to traverse the snow and get them out of the mountains safely. Although they had to heat the vehicle’s engine oil over a fire and melt snow to fill its radiator, Allen described their “amazement” when the “remarkable machine” started up on the first try! It drove through the snow easily, but they had a long drive home ahead. But Brinkerhoff suddenly had to park it in a panic — the radiator, with no antifreeze, had frozen. With the half-track now unusable, the men made the long, cold walk back to camp for a third night stuck in the snow.
Although they didn’t know it then, the half-track would stay in the place it had broken down for 70 years. Eventually, after starting a massive signal fire, locals in the valley below saw the smoke, knew these three were in trouble and sent a rescue party! All three made it out safely, with an amazing story to share!
Figure 3: The half-track in Bicknell in 1948. Photo courtesy of Tonya Moosman.
Figure 4: A view of the half-track where it sat prior to June 2024. Photo courtesy of Fishlake National Forest.
A Landmark That Connects Us
Allen’s family planned a visit to the half-track that he told them stories about in 2017. He described the return to the site as a “flood of memories and tears.” By 2017, 60 years after its last ride, the half-track would have been considered part of an archaeological site. Archaeological sites are physical remnants of Utah’s history, and on public lands, possess legal protections from vandalism or theft. For Allen, Brinkerhoff, and Shiner, that history involved a strong personal connection. For the surrounding communities, the half-track is part of local history and lore, a tangible piece of their industrial heritage, and a representation of national military history. Had the half-track not been returned, Utah would have lost not only a unique local landmark, but also a wealth of stories and history that connect us in unexpected ways.
When visiting your local public lands, try to recognize the historic objects you may see — whether that’s a 1940’s vehicle, a stone tool, or an old tin can. By remaining undisturbed in the lands where you found them, these objects share stories and connect us to the history of both Utah’s lands and the people around us. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the half-track’s story!
Figure 5: The half-track in Dixie National Forest in 2023, as it looked recently. Photo courtesy of UCSS.
Figure 6: The half-track in Bicknell in 1948, as it looked historically when first in Utah. Photo courtesy of Tonya Moosman.
References
Allen, Royce & Debra Young. “An Unforgettable Experience on Boulder Mountain.” The Insider, 4 October 2017. www.insiderutah.com/articles/an-unforgettable-experience-on-boulder-mountain/
“The American half-track: The M3 half-track and its large family.” Beaches of Normandy.
“Garfield County.” I Love History. ilovehistory.utah.gov/garfield-county/www.beachesofnormandy.com/articles/The_American_halftrack/?id=94bf85d019
Jackson, David D. “White Motor Company in World War Two.” The American Automobile Industry in World War Two, 1 September 2023. usautoindustryworldwartwo.com/white.htm
Murphy, Miriam B. A History of Wayne County. Utah State Historical Society, 1999.,
Murphy, Miriam B. “Wayne County.” Utah History Encyclopedia. www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/w/WAYNE_COUNTY.shtml
“1943 White M2 Half-Track.” Bring a Trailer, 2023. bringatrailer.com/listing/1943-white-m2-half-track/
Williams, Carter. “Mystery solved: rangers recover history military vehicle illegally taken from Utah national forest.” KSL, 27 August 2024. www.ksl.com/article/51111051/mystery-solved-rangers-recover-historic-military-vehicle-illegally-taken-from-utah-national-forest
Data from Utah archaeological site forms was also used.
Our thanks to Adus Dorsey for consulting with us on the half-track’s history!