ScholarWorks at University of Montana

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  Albert K. Rodman Interview, August 12, 1986

  Albert K. Rodman

  Albert Rodman talks about how he independently arrived at a pacifist stance, and how he convinced his local draft board to classify him as a conscientious objector. He recalls why he volunteered to be a firefighter in California, and how from there he learned about ... Read More

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  Bob Marshall Interview, August 12, 1986

  Bob Marshall

  Bob Marshall describes how his Quaker faith made it easy for him to attain classification as a conscientious objector. He talks briefly about his time at the West Campton, New Hampshire, Luray, Virginia, and Laurel, Maryland Civilian Public Service camps, before moving on to describe ... Read More

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  Bradshaw Snipes Interview, August 11, 1986

  Bradshaw Snipes

  Bradshaw Snipes talks about his time as a smokejumper in 1944 and manning a lookout tower in 1945. He explains how his Quaker faith led him to become a conscientious objector and how the desire to prove that he was not afraid of danger led ... Read More

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  Bryn Hammarstrom, Sr. Interview, August 4, 1989

  Bryn Hammarstrom Sr.

  Bryn Hammarstrom describes smokejumper training at Seeley Lake, Montana, where he was sent after applying for conscientious objector status during World War Two. He talks about his smokejumper duties which included repairing and packing parachutes. He recalls specific jumps including one in Yellowstone Park. He ... Read More

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  Clyde Earl Schmidt Interview, August 1986

  Clyde Earl Schmidt

  Earl Schmidt describes obtaining the 4-E classification with relative ease due to being a member of the Mennonite church, and entering Camp Henry, Illinois, on January 7, 1942. Schmidt talks about his experiences in various Civilian Public Service [CPS] jobs including smokejumping in Montana and ... Read More

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  Earl Stutzman Interview, August 11, 1986

  Earl Stutzman

  Earl Stutzman talks about his experiences as a smokejumper in 1944 and 1945. He describes one large fire in particular, by the Salmon River, in Idaho, where he spent four or five days. Stutzman briefly discusses his farming career before and after his time as ... Read More

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  Ed Nafzinger Interview, August 11, 1986

  Ed Nafzinger

  Ed Nafzinger recalls his childhood, his registration for conscientious objector status, and his decision to become a smokejumper. Nafzinger details his training and talks about one hard landing he had during training that resulted in a concussion. He describes working on parachute rigging after his ... Read More

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  Frank E. Neufield Interview, August 1986

  Frank E. Neufield

  Frank Neufield recalls joining the smokejumpers as a manager in 1943, and becoming a smokejumper himself in 1944. He talks about what inspired him to join, and about his time at Big Prairie, Montana, jumping on fires. He recalls the camaraderie of the smokejumpers, which ... Read More

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  George S. Leavitt Interview, August 11, 1986

  George S. Leavitt

  George S. Leavitt explains how his formal and religious education at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, influenced his decision to become a conscientious objector. He describes the difficulty he had obtaining 4-E status, a process which took almost two years. Leavitt recalls his CO ... Read More

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  Gregg Phifer Interview, August 11, 1986

  Gregg Phifer

  Gregg Phifer talks about getting his 4-E classification as a Methodist, and about his experiences with the smokejumpers in 1944 and 1945. He describes the food that was given to the smokejumpers, and talks about the different kinds of parachutes they used. He recalls several ... Read More

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  Harvey Henry Weirich Interview, August 12, 1986

  Harvey Henry Weirich

  Harvey Henry Weirich describes why he chose to register as a conscientious objector [C.O.] and apply for 4-E status after being drafted at age 19. Weirich explains that his early fascination with airplanes influenced his decision to become a smokejumper. He discusses his smokejumper training ... Read More

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  H. Lee Hebel Interview, August 13, 1986

  H. Lee Hebel

  H. Lee Hebel, who was raised in the Lutheran church, describes his decision to register as a conscientious objector [CO] during World War Two. He talks about working various Civilian Public Service [CPS] jobs, including smokejumping in Montana and Idaho. Hebel recalls how smokejumping increased ... Read More

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  Hubert Rohrer Interview, August 12, 1986

  Hubert Rohrer

  Hubert Roher briefly provides biographical information about his life prior to becoming a smokejumper. He recalls what led to his decision to become a conscientious objector [CO] during World War Two. Roher discusses why he applied for smokejumping within the Civilian Public Service [CPS] program ... Read More

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  James R. "Jim" Brunk Interview, August 11, 1986

  James R. Brunk

  James Brunk talks about entering the smokejumpers in 1945, when he was 19 years old. He discusses the training regimen, and being significantly younger than many of his peers at the camp. He recalls some of the men whom he befriended, particularly Maynard Shetler and ... Read More

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  John L. Ainsworth Interview, August 8, 1986

  John L. Ainsworth

  John Ainsworth describes his experiences during the three years he spent as a smokejumper, from 1943 to 1945. He talks about wanting to do work of national importance rather than use violence in the war, and how he feels that firefighting fit that description. He ... Read More

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  John Scott Interview, August 12, 1986

  John Scott

  John Scott reminisces about the influence a minister had on his decision to become a pacifist. Scott recalls appealing many times for conscientious objector (CO) status. He describes various civilian public services (CPS) positions he held during World War Two, including smokejumping in Montana and ... Read More

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  Joseph Coffin and Audine Coffin Interview, August 12, 1986

  Joseph Coffin and Audine Coffin

  Joseph and Audine Coffin describe their time in the Civilian Public Service [CPS], working first at a mental hospital in Medical Lake, Washington, and then with the Smokejumpers in Missoula, Montana. Audine Coffin describes what it was like being the wife of a CPS worker, ... Read More

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  Kenneth A. Diller Interview, August 11, 1986

  Kenneth A. Diller

  Kenneth Diller describes his time with the smokejumpers from 1943-1945. He talks about being in the very first group of smokejumpers and training at Seeley Lake, Montana. He recalls building the base camp at Cave Junction, Oregon, and working on timber cruising projects during the ... Read More

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  Leland "Lee" Miller Interview, August 12, 1986

  Leland Miller

  Leland “Lee” Miller recalls his time with the smokejumpers. He discusses how his Mennonite faith expedited the process of registering as a conscientious objector, and how his sense of adventure and desire to not be seen as cowardly by active servicemen influenced him to join ... Read More

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  Lewis "Lou" Berg Interview, August 1986

  Lewis Berg

  Lewis “Lou” Berg discusses how his religious convictions led him to apply for 4-E status after the military could not promise him a non-combatant role otherwise. He tells how this status prevented him from getting his first teaching contract renewed. He then talks about his ... Read More

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  Murray Braden Interview, August 11, 1986

  Murray Braden

  Murray Braden talks about smokejumping in the summer of 1944 and being the educational director of the smokejumpers camp in the fall of 1944 through the end of 1945. He describes his pre-war education and anti-war activism, and his time in the camp at Coshocton, ... Read More

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  Oliver Lynn Huset Interview, August 1986

  Oliver Lynn Huset

  Oliver Huset describes his experience as a smokejumper at Ninemile, Montana, during the summers of 1944 and 1945, during which time he made 17 jumps. He talks about sustaining a minor injury during the training tower jump, and a major concussion on his last fire ... Read More

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  Oliver W. Petty Interview, August 11, 1986

  Oliver W. Petty

  Oliver Petty talks about being part of the first group of smokejumpers trained at Seeley Lake, Montana, in 1943. He recalls spending the summers of 1943-1945 in the smokejumper unit, and spending the winters of 1943 and 1944 doing soil conservation work at the camp ... Read More

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  Robert "Bob" Painter Interview, August 12, 1986

  Robert Painter

  Robert "Bob" Painter discusses his Quaker background, and obtaining conscientious objector status when he was drafted during World War Two. He details how he became a smokejumper and his training in Missoula, Montana, at Nine Mile and in Oregon at Cave Junction. Painter describes his ... Read More

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  Robert Searles Interview, August 12, 1986

  Robert Searles

  Robert “Bob” Searles provides biographical information about his life prior to becoming a smokejumper, including his college years, and working in the radio and television business. Searles explains how he became a conscientious objector and what led to his decision to train as a smokejumper. ... Read More