Interviewer
Rosa Stone
Files
Description
Willard Handrich discusses his Mennonite religious background, and his experience applying for 4-E status. He explains how he learned of smokjumping in the CPS, and why he chose to volunteer. Handrich describes smokejumper training in Ninemile, Montana, and recalls his most eventful jumps. He recalls learning that World War Two had ended after hiking out of a fire with other smokejumpers. Handrich discusses his last jump near the Canadian border, where he encountered wild goats. He describes some of the work he did before he was officially discharged in 1946 including working as a carpenter and in a cannery for five or six weeks in Hood River, Oregon, building a bridge on the Lochsa River in Idaho, and running a laundromat in Mulberry, Florida. He briefly mentions his decision to become a Mennonite minister in Grand Marais.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
American Friends Service Committee; Civilian Public Service; Conscientious objectors, United States; Smokejumpers, Montana; Smokejumpers, Oregon; World War, 1939-1945 Conscientious objectors; Fairview Mennonite Church; 4-E Classification; Mount Sentinel fire, 1945; Spotted Bear Ranger Station; Hood River, Oregon; Lochsa River bridge; Mulberry, Florida; Grand Marais, Minnesota; Michigan
Original Date
8-12-1986
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 163-009
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (01:30:00 min.) analog + 1 transcript (13 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
00:45:03 minutes
Local Filename
OH_163_009.mp3; OH_163_009.pdf
Citation
Handrich, Willard, "Willard Handrich Interview, August 12, 1986" (1986). Civilian Public Service Smokejumpers Oral History Project. 8.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/civilianpublicservicesmokejumpers_oralhistory/8