Interviewer
Nick Sundt and Charlie Bragdon
Files
Description
Dean Johnson and Steve Reynard discuss smokejumping and smokejumping culture during the 1960s and the 1970s. Johnson and Reynard talk about training new smokejumpers and how training was designed to prepare new smokejumpers for high-stress and life-threatening situations. Johnson and Reynard describe the dangerous experiences they had experienced as a smokejumper. They discuss smokejumper culture; explaining that many of the smokejumpers were young men who drank, smoke, partied, and engaged in hazing and bar fights. Johnson and Reynard talk about the regulations and standards for smokejumpers, such as dress code and exclusion of female smokejumpers. They explain that in the late 1970s, the standards were changed to allow women to smokejump. Johnson and Reynard conclude that during the 1960s and ‘70s, most smokejumpers considered the work to be a temporary lifestyle, and that many smokejumpers went on to other careers.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Smokejumpers, United States; Smokejumper history; Smokejumping; Forest Fires; Parachutes; Rookies; Hazing, smokejumpers; Tom Bowen; Smokejumper crews; Helicopters; Mess Hall; Barracks; Women smokejumpers; Gender disparity; Initiation, smokejumpers; Military; Military draft; Vietnam War, 1955-1975; Germany; Francis Lufkin; Missoula, Montana; Bill Moody; Smokejumper standards
Original Date
6-28-1981
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Oregon; Washington
Language
eng
Original Collection
Nick Sundt Smokejumpers Oral History Project, OH 172, 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 172-003, 004
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
2 sound cassettes (60 min. each): analog + 1 transcript (50 pp.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
02:02:22 minutes
Local Filename
OH_172_003_004.mp3; OH_172_003_004.pdf
Citation
Johnson, Dean and Reynaud, Steve, "Dean Johnson and Steve Reynaud Interview, June 28, 1981" (1981). Nick Sundt Smokejumpers Oral History Project. 7.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/nicksundtsmokejumpers_oralhistory/7