Interviewer
Kim Taylor
Files
Description
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 that took almost two years. Leavitt recalls his CO experiences in 1943 at the Chilao spike-camp in the Angeles National Forest. He talks about applying to be a smokejumper, and reminisces about the training and some of his memorable jumps during the ’44 fire season. Leavitt discusses his various other CPS jobs in the United State and in Europe as a human test subject, a mental hospital intern, and a cattleman. He mentions meeting his wife, Marge, who volunteered with him at the Trenton State Hospital in New Jersey. Leavitt closes by mentioning that his decision to become a smokejumper was influenced by his desire for his children to be proud of him.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
American Friends Service Committee; Civilian Public Service; Conscientious objectors, United States; Smokejumpers, Idaho; Smokejumpers, Montana; World War, 1939-1945; Alfred C. Kinsey (1894-1956); The Disciples of Christ; The Fellowship of Reconciliation; Abraham. J, Muste; Macalester College; 1-A-O classification; 4-E classification; Chilao [Camp], California; Derry, Frank; Kinsey, Alfred; National Service Board for Religious Objectors: United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Association; Starnes Amendment; Trenton State Hospital
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 163-007, 008
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (01:00:00 min.) analog + 1 transcript (17 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
01:19:06 minutes
Local Filename
OH_163_007_008.mp3; OH_163_007_008.pdf
Citation
Leavitt, George S., "George S. Leavitt Interview, August 11, 1986" (1986). Civilian Public Service Smokejumpers Oral History Project. 7.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/civilianpublicservicesmokejumpers_oralhistory/7