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Chase County Kansas Historical Sketches

1863 - 2003



Operation Polar Bear

On June 21, 1910, fifteen Chase County youths accompanied by three adult advisors left Wichita by Continental Airlines jet for a two week tour of' Alaska. The "Explorers" were part of a contingent from Quivira Council Boy Scouts of America making a trip to America's last frontier. Some of these young men's forebears had come to Chase County by wagon train, horseback, or on foot at a time when Kansas was the frontier.

''Operation Polar Bear" visited Sitka, Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Nome, and Kotzebue, traveling on Alaska Airlines jets. At each place side trips were made to old gold mines, glacier fields, a reindeer ranch, an Eskimo village, the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, the state capitol at Juneau, museums, and other points of interest.

Those making the trip were Frank Barr, J.C. Barr, Rex Buchman, James Galle, Mike Gibb, John Ireland, James Ireland, Pete Johnson, Ed Koger, Ronald Lake, Ed Martin, Gary Masoner, John Pet- ford, Joe Sigel, Roland Turner, Jr., James Blount, Kenneth Dawson, and Evan Koger.

Proudly dedicated in Honor Of: Evan Koger. Without his interest in scouting this trip would not have been possible. Sponsored By: The 15 boys who made the trip to Alaska.

Chase County Centennial, 1872 - 1972




Chase County Submitted Historical Sketches
compiled and abstracted from the Chase County Courant, Chase County Leader, other sources and newspapers
by Lorna Marvin
Please submit your historical sketches.


Return to Chase County Submitted Historical Sketches


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