Interviewer
Gregg Phifer
Files
Description
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 first Civilian Public Service [CPS] camp in Coshocton, Ohio, where he worked on a soil hydrology experiment, and about why he decided to apply for the smokejumpers. Berg describes his time with the smokejumpers, including his work on the Bell Lake fire in 1944. He explains why he transferred away from the smokejumpers in 1945, to work at a mental hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia. After briefly discussing his experiences there, Berg recalls his time with the American Friends Service Committee in Germany, and then his teaching career after his return to the United States.
Loading...
Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
American Friends Service Committee; Civilian Public Service; Smokejumpers Montana Interviews; World War, 1939-1945; Conscientious objectors; Methodist Church; Soil Conservation; Mental hospitals; Bell Lake Fire; Ninemile, Montana
Original Date
8-1986
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Civilian Public Service Smokejumpers Oral History Project, OH 163, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 163-015
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (01:30:00 min.) analog + 1 transcript (16 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
00:44:45 minutes
Local Filename
OH_163_015.mp3; OH_163_015.pdf
Citation
Berg, Lewis, "Lewis "Lou" Berg Interview, August 1986" (1986). Civilian Public Service Smokejumpers Oral History Project. 15.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/civilianpublicservicesmokejumpers_oralhistory/15