This collection interviews details the work of smokejumpers and support personnel, who recount their firefighting and smokejumping experiences throughout the northwest United States. The interviewees discuss smokejumper training, fire and rescue jumps, and the changes in equipment and policies from the program’s early days in the 1940s until the 1980s. They also talk about the conscientious objectors who served as smokejumpers during World War Two, as well as women and other minorities who worked as smokejumpers during the mid-20th century.
The interviews were conducted during 1984 and 1985, many of them during a 1984 reunion in Missoula, Montana, by Jim Norgaard, Kim Taylor, Kim Maynard, Sandra Carroll, Kathy Root, Dan Hall, Beverly Buckner, Susan Green, Roxanne Farwall, Renée Gouaux, Floyd Cowles, John Harper, and James Stephens. The project funded by a grant from the Montana Committee for the Humanities and the U.S. Forest Service History Office. The original interviews are held as Oral History collection OH 133 at the Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula.
This collection includes 116 interviews.
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Jim Klump Interview, October 5, 1984
Jim Klump
Jim Klump relates his experiences jumping in Redding, California, from 1964 to 1974, including being among the first smokejumpers to repel from a helicopter. He describes the physical training, his fellow smokejumpers, and memorable fire jumps. Klump talks about being a U.S. Forest Service employee ... Read More
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Jim Lindell Interview, July 22, 1984
Jim Lindell
Jim Lindell discusses the three summers he worked as a smokejumper out of McCall, Idaho, from 1964 to 1966. He recalls experiences from training, jumping, and socializing as a smokejumper, particularly in Idaho City, Idaho. Lindell also discusses the transition from smokejumping to the military.
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Joe Gutkoski Interview, July 22, 1984
Joe Gutkoski
Joe Gutkoski describes his experiences as a smokejumper from 1950 to 1963. He discusses the training facilities at the Nine Mile Ranger Station in Montana, as well as the duties of a squad leader and a foreman, both of which he worked as during his ... Read More
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John Gregory Interview, July 24, 1984
John Gregory
John Gregory reminisces about working as a smokejumper in 1944 and 1945 because of his conscientious objector status. He describes how the Civilian Public Service program (CPS) worked, the conscientious objectors’ beliefs about war, and the attitudes of regular Forest Service employees and others towards ... Read More
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John K. "Jack" Dunne Interview, August 16, 1984
John K. Dunne
John Dunne describes working as a smokejumper from 1946 to 1949 after serving in the military during World War Two. He offers his perspective on military veterans serving as smokejumpers and how the men used smokejumping to transition from military service to civilian life. Dunne ... Read More
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John M. Lester Interview, June 7, 1984
John M. Lester
John Lester discusses his time working as a smokejumper at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, from 1960 until 1966. He describes his training, equipment, and different fire jumps, and he reminisces about his fellow smokejumpers and their camaraderie. Lester speaks in detail ... Read More
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John P. Ferguson Interview, July 21, 1984
John P. Ferguson
.John Ferguson describes helping to set up the smokejumper program in McCall, Idaho, after his 1942 training at the Nine Mile Ranger Station in Montana and in Missoula, Montana. He recalls how he was on the first fire jump for Region 4. Ferguson discusses training ... Read More
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Joseph C. Osborne Interview, July 22, 1984
Joseph C. Osborne
Joseph Osborne describes in detail the Civilian Public Service (CPS) program and his experiences smokejumping as a conscientious objector during World War Two, from 1943 to 1945. He describes the training at Seeley Lake, Montana, his equipment, including Eagle parachutes, and off-season project work such ... Read More
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Kenneth Roth Interview, July 12, 1984
Kenneth Roth
Kenneth Roth describes his experiences as a smokejumper from 1946 to 1950, including training at the Nine Mile Ranger Station in Montana, jumping out of McCall, Idaho, and working with other veterans of World War Two. He also talks about his career as a pilot ... Read More
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Kenn Smith Interview, July 21, 1984
Kenn Smith
Kenn Smith discusses his career smokejumping from 1955 to 1971, mostly based in Idaho City and McCall, Idaho. In particular, he describes the duties of a squad leader, spotter, and foreman. Smith also comments on the changes in the smokejumper organization from the 1950s to ... Read More
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Ken Taylor Interview, June 8, 1984
Ken Taylor
Ken Taylor describes his experiences smokejumping at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base at Winthrop, Washington, from 1962 to 1966. In particular, he talks about the training, the equipment used, and his experiences fighting fires. Taylor also describes the one serious injury he sustained as a ... Read More
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Kim Maynard Interview, October 31, 1984
Kim Maynard
Kim Maynard discusses her training and the three seasons she worked as a smokejumper from 1982 to 1984. She talks about the role of women as smokejumpers and the importance of not lowering smokejumper standards to accommodate women. Maynard describes the challenges and discrimination she ... Read More
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L.A. "Chuck" Pickard, July 20, 1984
L. A. Pickard
L.A. Pickard discusses his experiences as a smokejumper in Montana, which started in 1948 and ended in 1950. He comments on the social life, the experimental firefighting equipment used, and the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire. He also discusses Forest Service policy from his point of ... Read More
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Larry Anderson Interview, July 4, 1984
Larry Anderson
Larry Anderson discusses his long career as a smokejumper from 1954 to 1979. He discusses the many changes in smokejumping with regards to training and gear, as well as the U.S. Forest Service in general, mostly influenced by technology. Anderson describes the daily activities of ... Read More
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Larry Fite Interview, May 24, 1984
Larry Fite
Larry Fite talks about his long career working as a smokejumper out of Missoula, Montana, from 1960 until 1984. He discusses changes to the program during this time, including the different types of parachutes used, the 40-year age limit policy, and revisions to the physical ... Read More
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Max Glaves Interview, July 22, 1984
Max Glaves
Max Glaves discusses his experiences as a smokejumper from 1947 to 1951, including his training at McCall, Idaho. He describes what it was like to work with the returning military veterans because he had been too young to fight during World War Two. Glaves also ... Read More
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Ole Olson Interview, July 25, 1984
Ole Olson
Ole Olson recalls his one season working as a smokejumper at the Cave Junction base in 1950. He describes his training and one fire jump, as well as his fellow smokejumpers and the camaraderie between them.
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Paul E. Sulinski Interview, July 6, 1984
Paul E. Sulinski
Paul Sulinski relates his experiences as a smokejumper, based first in Winthrop, Washington in 1959, and then in Fairbanks, Alaska. He compares the Winthrop base to the facilities in Alaska, and talks about the different tactics for fighting fires in those regions. Sulinski also discusses ... Read More
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Paul M. Bryce Interview, July 20, 1984
Paul M. Bryce
Paul Bryce describes his experiences as a smokejumper from 1951 to 1958. He discusses the training, equipment, and facilities at the base in Cave Junction, Oregon. Bryce talks about his fellow smokejumpers, their social activities when not on duty, and the professional pride they all ... Read More
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Pferron L. Doss Interview, July 13, 1984
Pferron L. Doss
As the first African American smokejumper starting in 1977, Pferron Doss discusses the attitudes of both jumpers and management toward minority employees. He describes his training in Missoula, Montana, and jumping out of bases in Washington, Oregon, and California. Doss talks about how his perspective ... Read More
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Philip D. "Phil" Difani Interview, June 28, 1984
Philip D. Difani
Philip Difani discusses his nine-year career as a smokejumper, which started in 1967. He recalls his training in Missoula, Montana, and then operating throughout the western United States and Alaska. Difani talks about training and equipment, and how both changed during his career. He describes ... Read More
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Phillip B. Stanley Interview, July 3, 1984
Phillip B. Stanley
Philip Stanley recalls how his inquiries about smokejumping as alternative service during World War Two led to the use of conscientious objectors for smokejumpers in 1943. He discusses the feeling amongst conscientious objectors that they needed to prove themselves. Stanley also talks about the training ... Read More
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Phillip D. Davis Interview, June 13, 1984
Phillip D. Davis
Phillip Davis tells of his experiences as a smokejumper in 1948 and 1949 at the Nine Mile Ranger Station in Montana and in Missoula, Montana. He describes the training, the equipment and rations, as well as the procedures of a typical fire call. Davis discusses ... Read More
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Ralph G. Johnston Interview, July 21, 1984
Ralph G. Johnston
Ralph Johnston discusses his involvement with the U.S. Forest Service using helicopters in firefighting, starting in 1957. He describes the use of helicopters in forest fire control, including as transportation for smokejumpers and for water, retardant, and cargo drops. Johnston talks about the early skepticism ... Read More
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Ray Mansisidor Interview, July 22, 1984
Ray Mansisidor
Ray Mansisidor talks about the two summers he worked as a smokejumper in 1946 and 1947. He describes training at the Nine Mile Ranger Station in Montana and jumping in McCall, Idaho. He talks about socializing with other smokejumpers, who were mostly fellow military veterans ... Read More
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Raymond E. "Ray" Honey, June 6, 1984
Raymond E. Honey
Raymond Honey describes his experiences as a smokejumper at the North Cascades Smokejumping Base in Winthrop, Washington, in 1955 and 1956. He discusses being a second-generation smokejumper and jumping out of Redding, California, in his second year.
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Rhett Wise Interview, July 22, 1984
Rhett Wise
Rhett Wise describes his experiences as a smokejumper in Montana and Alaska during the 1960s. He discusses the duties of a smokejumper loadmaster and compares fire management policies in Alaska to those policies in the lower 48 states. Wise also describes jumping procedures, including how ... Read More
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Richard Cole Interview, October 1984
Richard Cole
Richard Cole discusses working as a smokejumper at the Cave Junction, Oregon base from 1948 to 1950. He describes the training, focusing on the physical aspects and the first training jump. Cole recalls project work including building the facilities for the smokejumper base at Cave ... Read More
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Richard S. Tracy Interview, November 1984
Richard S. Tracy
Richard Tracy describes the different places where he served as a smokejumper from 1953 to 1982 including: Missoula, Montana; Silver City, New Mexico; and Redding, California. He recalls changes in the smokejumper program during his tenure, especially the training methods and equipment used. Tracy discusses ... Read More
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Richard T. Clearman interview, June 27, 1984
Richard T. Clearman
Richard Clearman describes his experiences as a smokejumper in Missoula, Montana, during the summers of 1952 to 1954, with particular emphasis on the procedures for fighting fires, collecting equipment after fires, and packing out. He also recalls project work building an airstrip in the Salmon ... Read More
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R. Michael Bowman Interview, July 23, 1984
R. Michael Bowman
R. Michael Bowman discusses his experiences as a smokejumper and a U.S. Forest Service employee, which began in 1955. Bowman credits Francis Lufkin at the Okanogan Base in Winthrop, Washington, for instilling in him a hard work ethic and giving him a broad experience through ... Read More
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Robert "Bert" Collins Interview, July 22, 1984
Robert Collins
Robert Collins describes his experiences as a smokejumper from 1946 to 1948 at the Nine Mile Ranger Station in Montana. He discusses the training and the physical aspects of fighting fires. Collins describes jumping procedures and talks about some of the changes that occurred in ... Read More
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Robert "Bob" Derry Interview, July 20, 1984
Bob Derry
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 ... Read More
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Robert "Bob" James, July 21, 1984
Robert James
Robert James discusses the five years he worked as a smokejumper, starting in 1975. He describes the training and equipment of smokejumpers at the Missoula, Montana base, especially the parachutes and chute malfunctions. James also recalls fighting fires in other states like Alaska and New ... Read More
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Robert "Bob" Morgan Interview, July 9, 1984
Robert Morgan
Robert Morgan discusses his time working as a smokejumper in Montana from 1946 to 1948. He describes the training he received, as well as his experiences fighting fires and working with fellow military veterans. As the supervisor of the Bitterroot National Forest, he offers his ... Read More
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Robert "Bob" Sanderson Interview, July 13, 1984
Robert Sanderson
Robert Sanderson discusses working as a smokejumper pilot for Johnson Flying Service starting in 1962. He describes the flying procedures for smokejumping, the types of aircraft used, and the cargo and retardant drops in which he participated.
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Robert E. “Bob” Parcell Interview, July 25, 1984
Robert E. Parcell
Robert Parcell talks about his experiences working as a smokejumper starting in 1971. He describes the physical aspects of training at Missoula, Montana, and he discusses working with minority and women smokejumpers, as well as the attitudes of fellow smokejumpers towards them. Parcell also talks ... Read More
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Robert L. "Bob" Martin Interview, July 22, 1984
Bob Martin
Robert Martin discusses the one season he worked as a smokejumper in 1941. He talks about the training at the Nine Mile Ranger Station in Montana, the equipment, and the equipment modifications he helped make. Martin also describes some of the leaders in the smokejumper ... Read More
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Robert L. Savage Interview, June 14, 1984
Robert L. Savage
Roger Savage recalls his years working as a smokejumper based at Missoula, Montana, from 1957 until 1966, with a two-year break from 1962 to 1964 when he was in the military. He describes many of his fire jumps, the injuries he witnessed both of smokejumpers ... Read More
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Robert Moffitt Interview, October 1984
Robert Moffitt
Robert Moffitt describes life as a smokejumper at the Cave Junction, Oregon base in 1948 and 1949. He discusses his training and the facilities at that base. Moffitt talks about Cliff Marshall, the manager of the base, and the disciplined manner with which he ran ... Read More
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Robert V. Gorsuch Interview, June 21, 1984
Robert V. Gorsuch
Robert Gorsuch discusses working as a smokejumper in the summers of 1947 to 1950. He recalls how these experiences prepared him for working for the National Park Service to set up a smokejumper unit for Yellowstone National Park in 1951 and 1952. He describes project ... Read More
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Robert Whaley Interview, June 27, 1984
Robert Whaley
Robert Whaley relates anecdotes from the three years he worked as a smokejumper in Missoula, Montana, from 1956 to 1958. In particular, he describes the physical nature of the training, smokejumper equipment, and firefighting procedures and signals.
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Roger Wolfertz Interview, July 24, 1984
Roger Wolfertz
Roger Wolfertz describes his experiences smokejumping in Cave Junction, Oregon, in 1948 and 1949. He talks about the social life on the base, injuries on both training and fire jumps, and fighting fires.
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Ronald E. Lund Interview, July 6, 1984
Ron Lund
Ronald Lund talks about training and jumping in Alaska. He also discusses changes to equipment, in administration, and in attitudes from when he started in 1964 to 1984. Lund recalls the driving force behind those changes were several accidents involving smokejumpers.
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Roy E. Wenger Interview, September 19, 1984
Roy Wenger
Dr. Roy Wenger describes his experiences as director of the Mennonite Central Committee’s Civilian Public Service (CPS) Camp 103 at Seeley Lake and Nine Mile, Montana. He talks about logistical problems in the camp, including keeping the base supplied. Wenger also discusses the relationship between ... Read More
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Sherrill King Interview, October 1985
Sherrill King
Sherrill King talks about her smokejumper training experiences at the Redmond, Oregon smokejumper base and her experiences as a rookie jumper which included initiations. She also discusses the politics of being a female smokejumper, her interactions with male smokejumpers, and the different expectations for women.
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Stanley N. Norgaard Interview, July 19, 1984
Stanley N. Norgaard
Stanley Norgaard details his experiences as a smokejumper at Missoula, Montana, from 1955 to 1960. He describes the training, the equipment, and the sequence of events on a fire call. Norgaard also outlines the duties of a rigger, including packing and repairing parachutes.
This interview ... Read More
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Stan Sykes Interview, July 21, 1984
Stan Sykes
Stan Sykes discusses working as a smokejumper from 1946 to 1949 in Missoula, Montana. He describes the enthusiasm he felt for smokejumping and working in the mountains. Sykes discusses the aftermath of the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire, as well as the occasional animosity between other ... Read More
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Steve Reynaud Interview, June 7, 1984
Steve Reynaud
Steven Reynaud talks about his career as a smokejumper at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop, Washington, and the base in La Grande, Oregon, from 1965 to 1984. He discusses the smokejumper equipment and how it has changed over the years. Reynaud also comments ... Read More
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Tedford P. Lewis Interview, September 26, 1984
Tedford P. Lewis
Tedford Lewis reminisces about his Civilian Public Service (CPS) smokejumping experiences. He describes his pacifist beliefs, how his status as a conscientious objector impacted him both during and after World War Two, and the discussions he had with military veterans and Forest Service personnel. Lewis ... Read More