Interviewer
Kim Taylor
Files
Description
Sheldon Mills discusses his decision to become a conscientious objector and to volunteer as a smokejumper during World War Two. He describes the difficulty he had obtaining 4-E status and, later, his conscientious objector [CO] status because he was a Methodist. He relates coming to Missoula, Montana, to be a smokejumper. He describes his training which included how to land in trees. Mills talks at length about the relationship that conscientious objectors had with the Forest Service and the Missoula community. He recalls his first jump by Moose Creek and how a fire at Granite Ridge got away from his crew. He also describes sustaining a head injury that left him unconscious for six days, his recovery, and jumping after the injury. Mills briefly discusses crew morale after the war. He concludes by sharing his thoughts on smokejumping during the late 20th century.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
American Friends Service Committee; Quakers; Civilian Public Service; Conscientious objectors, United States; Smokejumpers, Montana; Missoula, Montana; Methodist church; World War, 1939-1945
Original Date
8-11-1986
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 163-002
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (01:00:00 min.) analog + 1 transcript (7 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
00:29:30 minutes
Local Filename
OH_163_002.mp3; OH_163_002.pdf
Citation
Mills, Sheldon, "Sheldon Mills Interview, August 11, 1986" (1986). Civilian Public Service Smokejumpers Oral History Project. 2.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/civilianpublicservicesmokejumpers_oralhistory/2