I found this relic in an almost-ghost town in the high desert of Goldfield, Nevada. Wyatt and Virgil Earp once lived in Goldfield; Virgil was hired as the town’s deputy sheriff in 1905 but died of pneumonia six months later. It was a booming gold and silver rush town in the early 1900’s.
There was a devastating fire in July 1923 that almost burned the busy town to the ground, with the exception of six buildings. The fire started from an exploding liquor still as a result of a bootlegger’s feud. Attempts of extinguishing it were futile, exacerbated by winds and a virtual lack of water. Thirty cars were burned in the Brown & Parker garage, which was directly north of the source of the fire.
I find it interesting that any cars from that time period still exist here, as a surviving remnant from a once bustling town which commanded so much political and economic power throughout the state. After the fire, Goldfield would never again resemble the great town it once was. In 1910, the town’s population was 4,838. In 2010, it was 228.
The GMC in the foreground is one of the earliest models, produced when the company was founded 108 years ago. It’s a 1941 WC-12 1/2-ton weapons carrier used during World War II, with a Chevrolet tailgate.
The 1941 WC-12 1/2-ton weapons carrier was a vital part of the Dodge WC series, which played a significant role in World War II. This 4×4 truck was designed to transport troops and supplies, and it was also used as an ambulance and command vehicle.
The WC-12 featured a 6-cylinder engine, a 4-speed manual transmission, and a two-speed transfer case. It had a 1/2-ton payload capacity and was equipped with a winch for self-recovery. The design of the WC-12 was based on the civilian Dodge truck, but it was modified to meet the military’s needs.
The WC-12 was produced in 1941 and was one of the first models in the WC series. It was later replaced by the WC-51 and WC-52, which had a longer wheelbase and a higher payload capacity. The WC-12 and the other WC series trucks were used extensively by the U.S. Army and were also supplied to the Allies under the Lend-Lease program.
In conclusion, the 1941 WC-12 1/2-ton weapons carrier was a vital part of the war effort and played a significant role in the transportation of troops and supplies.
Goldfield, Nevada, during World War II, was a small town that played a role in the war effort. The population of Goldfield was around 1,000 people at the time. The town’s economy relied on mining and some small businesses.
During the war, Goldfield residents supported the war effort by participating in scrap metal drives and rationing programs. The town’s young men enlisted in the military and served in various branches, including the Army, Navy, and Marines.
In 1942, the Army Air Corps established a training facility in Tonopah, Nevada, which is about 25 miles north of Goldfield. The Tonopah Army Air Field was used to train pilots and aircrews for combat in the war. Some Goldfield residents may have found employment at the facility or interacted with the military personnel stationed there.
In general, World War II had a significant impact on Goldfield, as it did on many other small towns in the United States. The war effort brought a sense of unity and purpose to the community, and the experiences of the town’s residents during this time would have been similar to those of many other Americans during the war.
