Interviewer
Kathy Root
Files
Description
Robert Derry talks about working as a smokejumper in 1943 and 1946. He also discusses his brothers Frank, Chet, and Virgil, who were all smokejumpers and were involved with the early development of the program. He recalls supervising the conscientious objectors in 1943 at age 17, and returning to the program as a war veteran in 1946. Derry talks about his disillusionment with the U.S. Forest Service, which caused him to leave the smokejumper program, and his later career as a professional firefighter.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Smokejumpers Montana Biography; Smokejumping Montana History; Smokejumpers Training of; World War, 1939-1945 Conscientious objectors
Original Date
7-20-1984
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Smokejumpers 1984 Reunion Oral History Collection, OH 133, 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 Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use of this item. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH_133_026
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (62 min.) : analog + 1 transcript (18 p. : 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
62 minutes
Local Filename
OH_133_026.mp3; OH_133_026.pdf
Citation
OH_133_026Derry, Bob, "Robert "Bob" Derry Interview, July 20, 1984" (1984). Smokejumpers 1984 Reunion Oral History Project. OH_133_026.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/smokejumpers/2