Alfred joined the 714th at Seattle, boarded the USS Chaumont at Seattle and disbarked at Seward. Here is a document showing he received permission to look around the ship.

"For the purpose of the record, and for the information of the original outfit that started for Alaska, the 714th left Camp Clairborne under letter order of that camp dated 14th March, 1943. Our orders transferred us to Fort Lewis, Washington where we picked up further orders for Fort Richardson, Alaska, then known as APO 942, US Army, c/o Postmaster, Seattle, Washington. At Seattle we picked up three Track Maintenance Platoons, two of which came form the 715th and one form the 719th Railway Operating Battalions. The strength of the battalion for the mission at hand was 1108 enlisted men, two warrant officers and 23 commissioned officers. Actually, we went aboard with 1092 enlisted men instead of the 1108 due to illness, etc., at the last minute.

"A liaison officer was flown to Alaska ahead of the unit and arrangement were completed by him for the housing, messing and deployment of the troops upon arrival. On the 3rd of April, 1943, the outfit sailed into the beautiful harbor of Seward. The Navy Transport Chaumont was our home for those hectic days at sea and not very many of the boys escaped the inevitable sea-sickness. The sighs of relief were plainly audible when the Chaumont finally docked at Seward and the GIs came streaming down the gang-plank."