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Smokejumper and Static Line Magazines University Archives & Special Collections

7-1-2016 Smokejumper Magazine, July 2016 National Smokejumper Association

Robert L. Bartlett

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Recommended Citation National Smokejumper Association and Bartlett, Robert L., "Smokejumper Magazine, July 2016" (2016). Smokejumper and Static Line Magazines. 96. https://dc.ewu.edu/smokejumper_mag/96

This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the University Archives & Special Collections at EWU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Smokejumper and Static Line Magazines by an authorized administrator of EWU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The National Smokejumper Quarterly Magazine Association July 2016 Smokejumper

Lessons Unlearned Part III...... 4 Tale of Two Coins...... 7 NSA Photo Preservation Project...... 16 CONTENTS Message from Message from the President...... 2 Lessons Unlearned—A Historical Prospective, Part III “Get Thar Fustest with the Mostest”...... 4 the President A Tale of Two Coins...... 7 More Information on Gene DeBruin...... 12 My Eighteen-Mile Ride Out...... 13 ager. Jim Raudenbush (FBX- Bryant Cox Teaches Smokejumper Bridge...... 14 82), base manager for the Sounding Off from the editor...... 16 Boise BLM operation, was also We Saw Pink Elephants...... 17 able to stop by and visit with Recording Smokejumper History...... 19 the Board. Between Roger and Blast from the Past...... 26 Jim, we were able to get a good Flat Broke...... 26 The View from Outside the Fence...... 28 picture of the BLM and USFS Fire Jump at the Western Edge of America...... 29 preparation for the upcoming Odds and Ends...... 33 fire season. Readers Comments...... 34 The NSA Board moved Fires 2015 - Something Is Wrong...... 36 forward and approved fund- 2015 Al Dunton Leadership Award Winners...... 38 by Jim Cherry ing for restoring a NSA Photo Off the List...... 39 (Missoula ’57) Gallery to our website. We lost Remembering Bill “Murph” Murphy...... 41 President this several years ago when our Phisit—An Interesting, Intriguing Life...... 43 The NSA Board of Direc- website was hacked. Getting Snapshots from the Past...... 44 Australian and American Firefighting...... 45 tors held their spring meeting the main components of our Working For Food...... 46 this past March in Boise at the web page back online has been Wildland Firefighters Founda- a high priority during these tion that is located just a stone’s intervening years, but now the throw from National Inter- time and the means for getting agency Fire Center (NIFC). a user-friendly photo gallery The Board had the oppor- up and operating is now pos- tunity to hear from Lincoln sible. Look for it to gradually Bramwell, the Chief Historian come back online. for the USFS, on what he is During the past year Chuck charged to do, and we explored Sheley (CJ 59) has been

Smokejumper, Issue No. 93, July 2016 how his office can work in sync working with Stan Collins ISSN 1532-6160 with the NSA to preserve our (MYC-67) to set up a travel- Smokejumper is published quarterly by: smokejumper history. At the ing smokejumper museum. The National Smokejumper Association c/o 10 Judy Lane same time, we had conversa- Chuck shared information Chico, CA 95926 tion with the University of about the museum’s develop- The opinions of the writers are their own and do Montana’s Mansfield Library ment in the April 2016 issue not necessarily reflect those of the NSA. Permis- sion to reproduce Smokejumper in any manner staff, where the NSA has been of Smokejumper. Response must first be obtained in writing. building a repository of docu- has been outstanding. Is there NSA Web site: http://www.smokejumpers.com ments and photos toward the a place in your community Managing Editor: Chuck Sheley same end of preserving our that could host the traveling Associate Editor: Ed Booth history. museum and, in doing so, Editing: K. G. Sheley Our meeting in Boise pro- could help bring to the general Photo Editor: Johnny Kirkley vided us with the opportunity public a broader appreciation Illustrators: Dan Veenendaal, and Eric Rajala to become acquainted with of the role and importance of Printing: Larry S. Jackson, Heidelberg Graphics, www.HeidelbergGraphics.com Roger Staats (MYC-86), the smokejumpers in the world of Front cover: Al Boucher, Norm Pawlowski and recently appointed National wildland firefighting? Jim Allen Cave Junction 1950s (NSA File) Smokejumper Program Man- The NSA has recently

Check the NSA website 2 www.smokejumpers.com received a bequest from the estate of Bill Murphy his research he has “found information indicating (MSO-56) designated for the NSA Scholarship the incidence of this disease in urban firefighters is Fund. Another undesignated gift came to the 10 times that of the general population. They are NSA from Peapod, LLC in memory of John Carr still searching for an exact cause, but suspect inhaled (FBX-63). Such memorials and bequests are a toxins.” Do you remember what you used on the wonderful way to honor an individual and that fireline to give you some protection from the time of their life that held so much meaning and smoke (fire volatiles) and engine exhausts? Prob- purpose. Have you shared with your family and ably nothing more than a bandana. There is no friends your thoughts about how you might like known recording of data for wildland firefight- to be remembered? The fact that you are reading ers and the occurrence of Parkinson’s disease. I this magazine means that your time as a smoke- want to ask your help by having your input on jumper holds a high place in your past and pres- any smokejumpers (both living and deceased) ent. who developed Parkinson’s disease during their I’d like your input on this next matter. Not lifetime. Throughout our 75 year history, we have long ago I received an email from a former jumper had something less than 6,000 total smokejump- who, after his jump years, had gone on to become ers in the USFS and the BLM. It is known that a physician. He wrote to me about how he had the incidence of Parkinson’s disease increases with recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease age. One study has shown a rate of 0.3 per 1000 and has had to retire with a medical disability. In persons ages 55 to 65 years and increasing to 4.4 per 1000 persons aged 85 years or older. If smoke- jumpers have been experiencing a significantly dif- ferent rate of developing the disease, perhaps our NSA Members—Save input can contribute to this medical research. I This Information would appreciate it if you would provide me with Please contact the following persons directly if whatever information you have available. you have business or questions: Smokejumper magazine Fire Starters— Articles, obits, change of address Tom Decker (Idaho City ’64) Chuck Sheley Fire calls come at all times of the day or night in the 530-893-0436 US Forest Service. One day a fire call came late, just [email protected] before sunset. A lightning strike set a fire. The bosses 10 Judy Ln. Chico, CA 95926 decided that we needed to walk into the fire, even if Membership it was dark. Since a cloudburst had accompanied the John McDaniel thunderstorm, the trail was dark, wet, and dangerous. I 785-404-2847 quickly learned not to walk too close to the guy in front [email protected] of me so as to avoid the sharp, wet slaps in the face from 807 Eileen Ln. Salina, KS 67401-2878 the boughs that snapped back as he pushed them out of All else the way. As expected, the rain had put out the fire. We NSA President ended up sleeping in the middle of a logging road so as Jim Cherry to be found the next morning. 641-927-4428 [email protected] Walking Trail. 2335 300th St. Ventura, IA 50482-8502 We all walk trail...even in the city. And we take our cues from those who go before us. Sometimes Smokejumper base abbreviations: we have to go, even when it’s inconvenient. We’re Anchorage...... ANC Grangeville...... GAC Redding...... RDD not sure exactly where we’ll end up because it Boise...... NIFC Idaho City...... IDC Redmond...... RAC Cave Junction...... CJ La Grande...... LGD West Yellowstone.WYS seems like we’re walking in the dark. We find that Fairbanks...... FBX McCall...... MYC Whitehorse Yukon.YXY some on the trail are considerate while others are Fort St. John...... YXJ Missoula...... MSO Winthrop...... NCSB thoughtless and careless, letting the unexpected

Check the NSA website 3 www.smokejumpers.com hit us. There are also those who are headed in the been here before us. He’s walked the trails, knows wrong direction. Sometimes they listen; some- the route, the pitfalls, and the goal. He fears times they don’t. Trails take unexpected twists and neither the darkness nor those who think they lead to unexpected destinations, and to some dead own it. If we make a misstep, he sets us on the ends. We trust those in the know to pick us up right track. Even when it’s a dead end—and we’re when we need a lift. insistent on going that route—he doesn’t give up Nevertheless, we walk the trail whereever it on us. In the end, he brings us out. We call him leads with a certain amount of trust that there is the Good Shepherd, not a bad companion for the one who accompanies us in all life’s journeys. He’s trails...or the sidewalks of life. Hoot!

Lessons Unlearned—A Historical Prospective, Part III “Get Thar Fustest With The Mostest” by Karl Brauneis (Missoula ’77)

Forest System lands that are in Wilderness or Historic Background backcountry with fire management plans intact. ne of the great American generals of It might not even apply to our commercial forests all time was Nathan Bedford Forrest (30%) or rangelands (40%). If we run the log- Oof the Confederate Army of Tennessee. ger and the cowboy off our public lands, there is Forrest enlisted as a private but later raised and absolutely no scientific reason to control fires and equipped his own cavalry regiment at his own circumvent fire-adapted ecosystems. We suppress expense. Lightning raids became his stock and fires scientifically to manage natural systems for trade and his words “Fustest with the Mostest” are resource outputs and ecosystem health. If this idea immortalized in American folklore and song. He no longer applies, then we only need to suppress was such a thorn in the Unions side that General fires socially to protect property. In that case, there Sherman declared, “that devil Forrest must be is no need for the Smokejumper program. hunted down and killed if it costs ten thousand Hotshots are much better equipped to perform lives and bankrupts the federal treasury.” Well, the defensive fire suppression action to protect lives federal treasury was bankrupt and they never did and property. It has been my observation that the catch Forrest. Known for bold attacks and swift retreats … you might say that Forrest knew how to engage, disengage, and swiftly retreat to a safety Hotshots are much better zone. equipped to perform defensive “Fustest with the Mostest” could also be the motto of the Smokejumpers. This idea was at the fire suppression action to protect heart of program development in 1939. “Hit ’em lives and property. It has been Hard and Keep ’em Small” is simply a re-wording my observation that the growth of Forrest’s concept of “Get Thar Furstest with the Mostest.” in hotshots and the downturn in It is important to understand that “Fustest smokejumpers are directly related with the Mostest” is an offensive strategy. The concept may not apply to the 30% of National to this trend.

Check the NSA website 4 www.smokejumpers.com growth in Hotshots and the downturn in smoke- Let’s look at just a few examples of Mad Scien- jumpers are directly related to this trend. tist Disease that have infected our organizations. Let’s assume, for the purposes of discussion, I first became aware of deaf upper management that fast initial attack is still a viable option and when our uniform was changed in 1978. We had that the federal agencies will continue to manage a beautiful dark olive green uniform with a very the majority of their lands to produce outputs for distinguishable shoulder patch. All of a sudden the American people. Then we can explore: 1) the pee green pickle suit arrived. No one asked Battle Worthiness and 2) Battle Need for today’s for it. No one wanted it. I remember many in the firefighter as it relates to the amount of equipment agency boxing theirs up and sending it back, never they are required to carry. to wear the uniform again. Field officers peti- Battle Need demands experience and good tioned for their old uniforms back, but manage- listening skills at the top levels of management. ment was deaf and morale sunk. Changes required by Battle Need are fast and We were first told that nomex fire pants were adaptive to the field situation. We are talking optional. They will never be required. Just try them about a timeline of days, months or, at the ex- out. Most threw them in the garbage after one fire treme, a year. If Battle Need is not addressed and went back to their Levi 501’s and Lee Can’t quickly, then it is probably not a real need at all. Bust ‘em jeans. Then, all of a sudden, nomex was required. I remember signing a letter, along with Mad Scientist Disease just about every jumper alive at the time, to keep In 1942, Mad Scientist Disease ran rampant. It our personal purchase denim jeans. Management was up to Army leadership to shut down the proj- was deaf. Morale sunk. Think of the cost outlay ects that did not address Battle Need and focus to outfit firefighters in nomex pants at 100 dol- on those that did. Fortunately, Lt. General Lesley McNair (Head of US Army Ground Forces) was able to keep the mad scientists at bay. Ordinance might have been slow on some improvements, but it was often because the troops were not scream- ing Battle Need at the time. When the Panther and Tiger threat became real, the Sherman tanks were upgunned as fast as possible, and the M-26 Pershing heavy tank was fast tracked (Part II of the series). As an outsider looking in, I find the develop- ment of the square parachute for Forest Service Smokejumper operations almost comical. It does not meet the criteria of Battle Need either on the timeline scale or within the operational and safety standards of the US Forest Service. I once detailed a BLM smokejumper to our fire zone to serve as the assistant fire management officer. She was and is an impressive individual. However, she narrowly escaped death by square parachute. I saw no Battle Need in her eyes for “squares” when she told me about the parachute malfunction and her near death experience. On the other hand, Don Gore’s (Sherman Tank Commander – Part II) eyes lit up when he told me how his upgunned 76 mm high velocity Sherman punched through Panther armor to save him and his crew. A Wyoming drive-up. Karl Brauneis (NSA file)

Check the NSA website 5 www.smokejumpers.com lars a pair, not to mention the problems and costs show men stripped down for combat. These associated with initial attack (Part I). I remember photographs mirror my early days of firefighting. eating dinner at the Wapiti Ranger Station while In the WWII army, equipment was transported deployed on a fire nearby. The mosquitoes were bit- as needed by truck and not carried on the back. ing through my nomex pants. I thought, you know, These men carried only what they needed that day these pants aren’t even Battle Worthy. to engage the enemy. Often, the equipment car- Fire shelters use to be optional. No one used ried consisted of a canteen and a lot of ammuni- them because there was no Battle Need for them. tion for their M-1 rifles. Today’s soldier may carry Then the shelters became mandatory. After the upwards of 80 lbs on the back. Veterans tell me initial shelters failed, a new and heavier design was that the back and knee injuries from this policy forced upon the firefighter. Australia and Canada have become epidemic. We have to ask, “Who are soon did away with the required use of the fire we protecting with our present policies – the field shelter. In effect they said, “Nothing known to troops or the managers?” man will protect you from 1200 degree of heat The same can be said about today’s firefighter. except fast legs and a good head on your shoul- Forty pounds of gear on the back is just too much ders.” Still, the answer in America was a heavier weight to effectively construct fire line. In the old and more improved fire shelter. I have studied days, we use to simply bump up our water and numerous fatality fires. In some cases the shelters lunches as needed. The firefighter was lean and prevented death, but in other instances they could able to do the arduous job at hand. be considered the cause of death. I think that our In the cowboy culture, we had both the chuck fellow firefighters in Australia and Canada figured wagon and the hoodlum wagon to carry the extra that out years ago. gear. I can fit my outfit for the days work ahead. We used to start up on the Hotshot Crew with The idea is to be as light on the horse as possible. soft hands from the college school year. It was a Are we pushing cows out of timber in grizzly and symbol of pride to build the tough and calloused wolf country? If so, wear my chaps and a revolver. hands required to dig line. Purchase is a word long What’s the weather forecast? Should I tie on a forgotten by bureaucrats. Purchase is the hand-to- slicker or a jean jacket or a wool coat? Do I need tool grip that provides control and stability of the my palm hat or my felt? Will they bring lunch by tool. Purchase is negated with gloves. We always truck or do I need to grab my saddlebags and pack took the new GSA tools and sanded out the slick, my own. The key is that I can fit the right equip- verithane finish and rubbed in linseed oil to give ment to the needs of the day. It’s called experience oil to the wood and purchase to our hands. Break and flexibility. a tool handle and most often, it has a verithane Nathan Bedford Forrest had the fastest horses varnish on the outside and a dry, brittle wood and the most experienced cavalrymen. Creighton on the inside. Linseed oil on wood with tree sap Abrams had the fastest tanks and the most expe- and dirt with calloused hands give the firefighter rienced soldiers. We need to remember that with the purchase required to safely construct fire line. each required item that we add to the firefighters Now, however, gloves are mandatory. list of mandatory equipment we lose speed, en- durance and flexibility. Both Forrest and Abrams Recommendations won because their men were fast, versatile and I believe that wildland firefighter safety equip- experienced. ment should be optional. I think a new policy It is my opinion that training, both physical should be put in place that allows the crew boss or and mental, to focus on fire behavior and lessons district ranger to fit the safety equipment required learned along with radio communications and fire to meet the specific job at hand. I know I will take weather forecast is what makes a safe environment a lot of flack for this idea because it challenges the for our firefighters. Well, ok, throw in the chain status quo of legalism. Still, let me use a few more saw … but after that … like Hal Samsel (MSO- examples. 49) said back in Part II, “The rest is just blowing Photographs of soldiers and marines in WWII hot air.”

Check the NSA website 6 www.smokejumpers.com A Tale of Two Coins by Robert “Bob” Bartlett (Associate)

hallenge coins or medallions bear an organization’s insignia or emblem and are Ccarried by its members. They are given to prove membership or association and to enhance morale. I now carry two medallions, two similar, yet different, silver Challenge Coins. One coin would be familiar to members of the National Smokejumpers Association (NSA) and many cur- rent jumpers, especially those who attended the 75th Anniversary Reunion this past summer in Missoula, Montana. The other one I purchased while attending the 36th Annual Reunion of the Triple Nickle Association in Washington, D.C. two months after the event in Missoula. Heads and Tails Both Challenge coins speak volumes to those who carry them. The one coin boldly proclaims, SMOKEJUMPERS 75 YEARS 1940-2015, on the heads side, where the other reads, AIRBORNE 555th PARACHUTE INFANTRY ASSOCIATION, THE TRIPLE NICKLES. On the tails side the Bob Bartlett (Courtesy B. Bartlett) first medallion reads,NATIONAL SMOKEJUMP- ERS ASSOCIATION, while on the other there is the image of three buffalo nickels (with the buf- this magazine to put my experiences into writing. faloes showing) forming a pyramid and the dates As an African American, a university professor, 1944-1947. The coins of both organizations have a researcher, a traveling speaker, and an Army similar wings and an open parachute on them veteran, the summer of 2015 was one for the and, like their members, share a common experi- highlight reels, so I jumped (no pun intended) at ence, they are jumpers. In addition, they share a the chance. briefly joined moment in history in the Pacific First, I am forever grateful to those who invited Northwest near where I live. Back east and in the me to attend their events. I owe a great deal of southeast, the Army and the United States For- gratitude to NSA’s Chuck Sheley (CJ-59) for est Service (USFS) have long since recognized the including me this past summer and for providing contribution and sacrifices of theTriple Nickle. time during the NSA Reunion for me to tell the However, outside of a few smokejumper bases in Triple Nickle story. Thank you, Chuck, for the the West and Pacific Northwest and a few smoke- kind words concerning my presentation men- jumper history buffs, little to nothing is known tioned in the October issue. I also owe a great deal about them and the fire season of 1945. of gratitude to Triple Nickle lifetime members, Li- ane Young, author of Operation Firefly, and Triple Summer 2015 travels Nickle president Joe Murchison for their invitation I had the opportunity to attend the reunions of to join them in D.C. both organizations and was asked by the editor of Both reunions were full of youthful stories of

Check the NSA website 7 www.smokejumpers.com the glory days and of people talking about “the standing-room-only, cross-generational crowd of best jobs they ever had.” Both groups have their “jumper bros.” sacred stories and their heroes. Like their Chal- lenge coins, their stories are similar, yet their Missoula SJ Base experiences during and after the summer of 1945 I intentionally arrived in Missoula from my were and are uniquely different. Both were new home in Spokane, WA a few days early and went reunions for me—the researcher, the non-jumper, straight to the base. I especially want to thank the outsider—and both histories, smokejumping the staff at the Visitors Center and the jumpers at and the Triple Nickle, were new to me prior to the base for giving me so much of their time, for February 2014. showing me around, and for answering a mil- lion and one questions. While at the base I was Smokejumper History 101 introduced to a young, white jumper outside the In brief—it began in March 2014 with a few Ready Room who happened to be wearing a Triple back and forth emails with Jim Rabideau (NCSB- Nickle t-shirt! On permanent display in the loft, I 49) of Pasco, Washington. I then followed a lead was shown three large, framed pictures of mem- to the Missoula Smokejumper Base Visitors Cen- bers of the Triple Nickles geared up and ready to ter Director Dan Cottrell (MSO-01). That phone board the familiar Army C-47. The pictures were conversation with Dan led to Liane Young’s 2014 accompanied by a brief history. I was also pleas- book Operation Firefly that she had recently sent antly surprised to learn of retired Missoula jumper to the Visitors Center. And, as one might expect, Wayne Williams (MSO-77), aka WW, who since that lead to Chuck Sheley. From then until now I 1990 has had a long affiliation with theTriple have continued to immerse myself in smokejump- Nickles, and who, since 1995, continues to tell the er and Triple Nickle history and on occasion have Triple Nickle story to every rookie class of jumpers been caught in the crossfire. Chuck Sheley and in Missoula. It was a week of stories and amazing this magazine remain my primary go-to sources people. for smokejumper history. Chuck is a passionate After a week spent with past and current jump- researcher, magazine editor and writer, as well as a ers in Missoula, I am convinced more than ever tireless guardian of smokejumper history. Thanks that smokejumpers, once known as smoke chasers, to him I was introduced to the story of the first are a certain breed. Their history and their con- black smokejumper, Wardell “Knuckles” Davis tinued commitment to jumping fires is indeed an (MSO-45), whose jumping days predate the ar- American treasure. Although there was never an rival of the Triple Nickles. uncomfortable moment for me while in Missoula, I did feel like an outsider looking in. The most Missoula common question people asked me was, “So, what At the reunion and at the Missoula Smoke- year did you rookie?” jumper Base, I met many wonderful NSA folks In contrast, at the second reunion I felt like and current jumpers. My focus was to do more an insider looking out. Although I share a similar listening than talking, and I heard plenty of lived experience and DNA with 99 percent of stories of the good old days—jumping a “two the attending members of the 555th, I felt like a manner,” jumping out of the Ford Trimotor, previously unknown in-law showing up at a fam- the DC-3, the Twin Beach, the Twin Otter, and ily reunion. One huge difference was that I felt now the Sherpa. I learned the difference between my deceased father’s presence when I was with the jumping fires in the Alaskan tundra and windy Nickles. New Mexico. Jumpers talked about their favorite planes, the loads and gear they carried. And, as A More Familiar Story reunions go, there was the occasional story of The Triple Nickle story was unknown to me those who made their last jump. It was a hum- until February 2014, even though my hero, my bling experience to be a part of it and especially father, and his brother both served in segregated to share the Triple Nickle story in front of a Army units during World War II. Both were

Check the NSA website 8 www.smokejumpers.com combat medics. I grew up in a small, backwoods south of D.C. the summer heat and humidity West Virginia town with black men who had always comes as a shock to my system. Like the served with the Tuskegee Airmen and with other smokejumpers I have come to know, the group all-black units that fought their way across Europe of men I met in D.C. have gone by many names and North Africa. I grew up knowing that both since their origin in 1944: Triple Nickles, Winged the nation and the military were harshly racially Warriors, Sky Soldiers, Troopers, Smokejump- divided during and after the war. I grew up with ers, Airborne firefighters, Buffalo Rangers, and, stories of the unimaginable treatment my father occasionally, “hot rods.” Their members are active and others like him had to endure while in uni- duty and retired, mostly black men and women, form, as they trained and waited for orders to ship proud Americans, and past and present combat out to fight an enemy overseas. veterans. Members of the association have served I stumbled across the story of the Triple Nickle in every conflict and war since WWII-Korea, Viet- in our local newspaper during Black History nam, the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan. Some Month, and it immediately stirred a fire and a served in three or four wars. curiosity in me. The fact that the only Triple Much like the smokejumper community, they Nickle fatality during the fire season of 1945 was are a family made up of folks who share a com- a combat-trained medic and a volunteer on the mon experience and history. One of the first mission that cost him his life was not lost on me. Triple Nickles I met was Life Member, Lt. Thomas I am positive that my medic father or his brother McFadden (PNOR-45), who jumped out of would have reacted the same way. Triple Nickle bases in Pendleton, Oregon, and My father and the other black men I grew Chico, California, and at 92 still looks fit enough up around were all proud Army volunteers who to jump. fought the doubters and the racists at home, as well as an enemy overseas. When they returned Proud Guardians after the war, they were forced to establish their Much like Chuck Sheley and other NSA mem- own Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Chapter bers, Triple Nickles are extremely protective of because of racism. The all-white VFW Chapter in their history, their stories, and their heroes. Above our hometown did not accept black veterans, their all else, they are Airborne! All the way and then stories or their heroes. And, when these brave some! Much like smokejumpers, they told stories black men died, they were buried in an all-black about the C-47 and the C-119 Flying Box Car. cemetery. The stories of blatant racism endured They talked about jumping in a Stick of 4-9 or a by the Triple Nickles were also not lost on me, nor Chalk of 28 on one pass. They talked about pack- why the Triple Nickles have their own passionate ing their own chutes in Pendleton and being told guardians of their stories and their place in his- to land in trees, rather than to avoid them during tory. their smokejumper orientation. There are only a handful of the original three hundred Triple Nick- Triple Nickle 101 les left who jumped out here in the West that fire In brief—Young’s Operation Firefly led me to season. They were the first and the last all-black the 555th Triple Nickle website, then to Walter Airborne Infantry Firefighters—”smokejumpers.” Morris and Bradley Biggs 1986 book, The Triple For many years the men of the Triple Nickle Nickles: America’s first all-black paratrooper unit, hosted informal gatherings in their own homes. to Tanya Stone’s 2013 book, Courage has no color: They formally established themselves as an as- The true story of the Triple Nickles and to the 2000 sociation in 1979, and now have a membership DVD, Nickles from heaven. of approximately 1,000 with several Chapters scattered across the country. It was interesting, The Reunion but not surprising, to learn that their current My summer travel ended in Washington, D.C. president, Joe Murchison, and many other Triple at the 36th National Reunion of the Triple Nickles. Nickles are also Life Members of the 82nd Airborne Although born and raised only a short distance Association.

Check the NSA website 9 www.smokejumpers.com Other attendees at the reunion included mem- bers of the National Buffalo Soldiers Association, the 2nd Buffalo Ranger Company, formed at Fort Benning to fight in Korea, and members of the United States Forestry Service. The grandson of Walter Morris (PNOR-45), Army Major Michael Fowles, was also there. Walter Morris was the first First Sergeant of the Triple Nickle Test Platoon at Fort Benning, Georgia. He made his last jump October 13th, 2013 at 92. Major Fowles graduated from paratrooper school at Benning in 2004—50 years after his grandfather. Malvin Brown Remembered The Triple Nickles Reunion began in Baltimore at the gravesite of PFC Malvin Brown. It began there thanks to the tireless efforts of NSA mem- bers Mark Corbet (LGD-74) and Fred Donner (MSO-59), along with Philadelphia reporter Tony Woods, Baltimore Triple Nickle Bob Mat- thews and Deidra McGee from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). PFC Brown’s gravesite was lost Plaque Malvin Brown (Courtesy Fred Donner) for 70 years and only found in 2014 in a remote, all-black cemetery in a Baltimore City neighbor- hood. 1945 Circumstances Mark Corbet initiated the search with his beyond Their Control magazine article titled “In the Interest of Pub- lic Welfare,” which appeared in Smokejumper For a brief moment in history in 1945, the magazine in 2006, also see Fred Donner’s article smokejumper community, the USFS and the titled, “The Search for Malvin L. Brown’s Grave,” Triple Nickles (the Army) were brought together Smokejumper magazine, 2014. Thanks to Deidra by circumstances beyond the control of either McGee, several of Brown’s family members were group. And, like most blended families, they located and present for the unveiling of a new each have their share of warts from the experi- headstone and plaque that proudly displays the of- ence. Given the little cross-training the Triple ficial brands of the USFS, the NSA, and theTriple Nickles received in Pendleton, the Army pilots Nickle. The plaque reads in part: and planes that delivered them to fires, jumpers stationed in Pendleton and their planes stationed In Memoriam in Walla Walla, Washington, forty ground miles PFC Malvin L. Brown away, the standard Army gear they used or modi- October 11, 1920 fied, the parachutes they jumped, the number August 6, 1945 of fires they jumped or pounded, and the way Recognized as the first smokejumper fatality with they jumped—Army style—makes their story, heartfelt appreciation we salute PFC Malvin Brown their survival and their success that much more an honorable US Army soldier and paratrooper. While incredible. serving in the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion As one might expect, written accounts and Triple Nickles on a secret mission “Operation Firefly” stories of ’45 do not always match. With time and PFC Brown died on a fire jump. interpretation the distance between fact and fic- Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names. tion blurs, feelings sometimes get hurt and guard- AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY. ians of their histories, of their storytellers and of

Check the NSA website 10 www.smokejumpers.com their sacred stories retrench—that’s when warts tory. In my view, we could take a page out of the take root. sports record books for the fire season of ’45. That year in smokejumper history deserves an asterisk The Assessment and a footnote, CPS/Triple Nickles. Lest we forget, in the end military leaders, Since this journey began I have heard a num- whether assessing a combat or peace mission, ber of conflicting stories and continue to read initially ask one question of its troops, “Was the conflicting accounts of what happened during mission you were given accomplished?” the fire season of ’45. I still find myself, at times, Unlike civilian organizations, causalities and caught in the crossfire. As a researcher I know that even death are anticipated. I believe Chuck Sheley history is not always kind to those on the margins, said it best concerning the Triple Nickles in a past that stories, written or otherwise, can take on a life edition of this magazine: of their own, and that even eye-witness accounts “We should recognize that they (Triple Nickles) vary. Stories, written or otherwise, are not always were put into a very difficult situation with little or flattering across groups. no help. None of us would have been able to do the Most importantly, there never is one story: job of smokejumping if we were placed in the same the one and only story does not exist. In this case circumstances.” Smokejumper magazine, April all groups involved are trying to tell and carry 2015 forward the best story they know about the fire From the Forest Service official report card on season of 1945. the Triple Nickle, “The Final Report on the Fire Fly Project,” filed by Liaison Officer Neal M. *1945 Palm, San Francisco, CA, January 31, 1946: At the very least, CPS jumpers, aka Conscien- “The offer of the Army to assist in the pro- tious Objectors (CO’s), and Triple Nickles deserve tection of our timber, grazing, and watershed special recognition in smokejumper history. They resources was greatly appreciated, without which both had their detractors while serving their our fire record of 1945 would have been much less country during wartime. The records show both satisfactory. . . Many of the problems encountered groups jumped into the same rugged mountains and the criticisms thereof were undoubtedly un- and fought fires together, side-by-side, shoulder- avoidable and inherent in any wartime adminis- to-shoulder. How ironic is that? tration, especially during a transition period from Truly, 1940-47 and beyond is a tale of two war to peace, and would never be encountered historically important groups, one civilian and under normal conditions.” the other Army. Their similar Challenge coins are symbolic of their members’ true grit and unflinch- The Nature of Stories ing service as jumpers—I choose to carry both coins The fire season of 1945 was dry and dangerous and with the blessings of both groups will con- with an added wartime threat of more Japanese tinue to seek written records and stories about the balloon bombs and a shortage of young men, real fire season of 1945. or imagined. Reunions are about telling stories, renewing old relationships and making new ones, Smokejumper History and that was true for both of the reunions I was privileged to attend. The reunions were the tale of • 1940-42 Pioneer Years two similar, yet quite different, Challenge coins • 1943-45 Civilian Public Service (CPS) Years and those who carry them. I am extremely proud to be associated with both the past and the pres- • *1945 CPS/Triple Nickles ent smokejumper and Army Airborne communi- • 1946-51 WW II Veteran Years ties, warts and all. For a brief moment in history the lives and the worlds of these proud, dedicated • 1952-75 College Years jumpers, both serving their country during war- time, crossed paths and the rest, as they say, is his- • 1975-Present Professional Years

Check the NSA website 11 www.smokejumpers.com More Information On Gene DeBruin By Chuck Sheley (Cave Junction ’59)

ee Gossett (RDD-57) gave me a copy of McEntee, rescued fourteen of them. Phisit lived in Cash On Delivery, CIA Special Operations Bangkok, Thailand. He was a close friend of Fred LDuring The Secret War in Laos, by Tom Rohrbach (MSO-65) and attended the recent Briggs. Tom is a friend of Lee’s and spent 32 years reunion in Missoula. in government service in different positions. One Gene chose to partner with Y.C. To, who was of those assignments was as a CIA operations of- older and very sick at that time. None of the ficer in Laos. others wanted that burden, but Gene would not In one chapter of his book, Tom provides some abandon his friend. more information about Gene DeBruin (MSO- 59). From Dieter Dengler’s book: Gene, as were other smokejumpers, was a Duane and I kept running. We heard the kicker for Air America during the Secret War in sound of someone coming to our left and Laos. He was in a C-46 that was shot down on ducked into the bush and froze. The familiar September 5, 1963. Five of the crew, including red head appeared, and there were Gene and Gene and NSA Life Member Phisit Intharathat, Y.C. We started to move off together, but Y.C. were able to parachute from the flaming aircraft. held us back. Then Duane ran ahead while I All were captured and held prisoner. stopped and took hold of Gene’s hand. In May of 1964 they made an escape that “Go on,” he said. “See you in the States.” lasted five days before they were recaptured. I looked into Gene’s face and got all choked In July of 1966 they successfully made another up. I tried to say something, but the words escape during which three of the guards were wouldn’t come. I pumped his hand, began killed. At that time two American military flyers, running, then stopped and waved at him USAF helicopter pilot Duane Martin and USN and Y.C. pilot Dieter Dengler, had been added to the group Gene, Y.C. and the other two Thai crew- in prison. members are still missing. Dengler was picked up by rescue helicopter near death on day 23 of the escape. He was fea- From Tom Briggs’ book (condensed and para- tured in Werner Herzog’s movie Rescue Dawn, a phrased due to space limitations): highly inaccurate portrayal of the escape. Herzog’s I first heard Eugene DeBruin’s story from portrayal of Gene was a complete character assassi- Lee Gossett in early 1971. Lee was a Pilatus nation of a person who was the hero of the escape. Porter pilot for Continental Air Services. Lee Dengler remained in the Navy for a year and was very professional. He inspired confidence left the service and continued a career in aviation. and was very likeable. In about 2000 Dengler was diagnosed with ALS Tom handled all the CIA roadwatch assets (an incurable neurological disease). On February in the region. Lee gave Tom detailed informa- 7, 2001, he rolled his wheelchair from his house tion on Gene with hopes that more informa- to a nearby fire station and shot himself. tion could be collected about Gene. Phisit lasted 32 days before he collapsed in the Tom and Lee worked out a list of ques- jungle. When he awoke, he was tied to a post and, tions about Gene for the roadwatch groups. again, a prisoner of Laotian soldiers. Special emphasis was to obtain any intel- On January 9, 1967, a Cobra team of Laotian ligence about an alleged prison camp near Rightists raided the prison and released 53 prison- Moung Nong. This was in 1971 and Gene ers. An Air America helicopter, piloted by Jerry had been missing for eight years.

Check the NSA website 12 www.smokejumpers.com In March 1971, one of Tom’s teams re- was strictly guarded. In early 1968 Ong Lui ported that they had spoken to a villager who and six NVA soldiers took DeBruin and eight gave them information about Gene. other Americans away. The villagers were told only that DeBruin and the others were being Also from Briggs’ book: taken away for training. End of report. Eugene Henry DeBruin arrived at Muong Phine in late 1966. On or about 3 January, ccording to the Arlington National Cem- 1967, DeBruin was taken from Muong Phine Aetery website, nearly 600 Americans, includ- and arrived at Moung Nong on or about ing Duane Martin and Gene DeBruin, remain 5 January, 1967. The Moung Nong prison imprisoned, missing or otherwise unaccounted for contained only eight other Americans at this in Laos. Although the U.S. maintains that only a time. handful of these men were POW status, over 100 DeBruin was strictly guarded by the North were known to have survived their loss incident. Vietnamese Army and he suffered very much. The Pathet Lao stated during the war that they The NVA did not torture him but kept him held “tens of tens” of American prisoners but imprisoned and gave him propaganda lec- added that they would be released only from Laos, tures. The NVA often displayed anger towards meaning that the U.S. must negotiate directly prisoners because of the US bombing in their with the Pathet Lao. Because the Pathet Lao was area. not part of the agreements that ended American DeBruin was allowed to eat his meals with involvement in Southeast Asia, no negotiations and talk to the other Americans. DeBruin have ever been conducted with Pathet Lao for the never escaped from Moung Nong because he prisoners it held.

My Eighteen-Mile Ride Out by James R. Brunk (Missoula ’45)

This is the fifth in a series former CPS-103 smoke- But Lee shouted, “Don’t come down here. It’s jumper James Brunk has named “Five Smokejumpers’ full of rocks!” Rescue Stories.” Brunk was a conscientious objector Turning my chute around, I found myself fac- during World War II. Jim earned his M.D. from the ing a 30- to 40-foot-tall snag on top – or near the University of Virginia in 1954 and specialized in top – of a huge boulder. Having seen what hap- internal medicine. pened to Archie Keith (MSO-45), I didn’t want to hit that snag. t happened the day Dean Sommers (MSO- Flexing legs that were stiffening from my 45) and I had scooped coal out of a gondola shoveling coal those long hours, I reached up to Icoal car up into a window – above the car – in turn my parachute away from the snag, only to the Schlitz Brewery from morning to late after- hit a down draft. My parachute collapsed, sending noon to make a few dollars. When we got back me crashing down on the big boulder so hard that to the “Fraternity House” where we were staying, it tore a hole in the knee of my canvas padded we found our names on the jump list. We had to jump suit and caused the steel mesh mask of my leave immediately for the airport, get our gear, helmet to “ring.” Without that helmet, though, I and go out on a fire in the Ford Trimotor. wouldn’t have had a tooth left! I jumped second behind Lee Hebel (MSO-44), I gathered myself up, thinking that maybe I an older jumper. As we came down, Lee landed in was not hurt, and crawled around on the steep what looked from my height like a grassy patch. mountainside, laying out my yellow streamers to

Check the NSA website 13 www.smokejumpers.com signal that I was all right. However, as I put my to ride out. suit and gear into my bag, I realized that I was not With a severely sprained ankle, I was not able all okay. to put much weight on my stirrups. Also, the Indeed, by the time I was able to drag myself backbone of the horse stuck up through that split and my gear up the 100-150 yards to the top saddle. However, I rode him 18 miles out of the of the ridge where the crew was setting up a fire fire camp behind an amazingly fast pack train of camp, I realized that I would never be able to fight 8-10 mules. that fire or to walk out. I definitely did not want After sliding up and back on that horse’s back- to be carried out, either, since I had helped to bone, though, for all those 18 miles, I could nei- carry out three other men. ther sit nor stand comfortably for a couple weeks. Fortunately a ranger rode in the next morning But remembering Archie Keith’s a bit shorter but on a Rocky Mountain horse with a hackamore tough 16-mile “pack out” in a make-shift stretcher for his bridle (no bit in his mouth) and a Mc- carried by his determined crewmates, I was con- Clellan split saddle. Since I had partially grown soled by the knowledge that only a horse had had up on a pony and a horse, I asked to be allowed to carry me out!

Bryant Cox Teaches Smokejumper Bridge by John Snedden (Boise ’73)

y NED year was 1973 and John Cra- running track to prepare for smokejumping – it mer (MYC-63) was my trainer in Boise worked! Mat the BIFC. Besides providing jump Boise finally sent a Doug load to Silver City for training, Cramer – along with Ed Kral (MYC-66), a fire bust. There were at least four Bridge play- Bryant Cox (IDC-68) and maybe Leo Cromwell ers on the New Mexico load: squad leader John (IDC-66) – also provided some instruction in the Cramer, future USFS pilot Ed Kral, friend Bryant grand card game of Bridge. Cox and me. I had never played Bridge, but watched and I seemed to jump a lot of fires with either John, asked questions while we were on standby in Boise Bryant or both my first two years. and other bases. The Boise crew arrived late and was low on the Out of desperation, when there were only three jump list. The next day Cramer, Cox, Kral and players, they’d asked me to be the fourth player, I started a bridge game. I’m not sure, but small usually as the designated “dummy” (which was sums of money for the winner might have been appropriate). By the end of the jump season the proposed. The amount was miniscule, as the brag- game made sense, and it was always a fun way to ging rights were the most important part of the spend time as we all waited to bump up on the whole game. jump list. After learning Bridge, all other card Cox and Snedden were partners and Cramer games are easy to play. and Kral were partners. May Ed Kral forgive me if The next season, 1974, started slowly in Boise. he was not there and it was either Leo Cromwell With weekends free, my wife and I joined Bry- or Jerry Ogawa (MYC-67). But it would seem the ant and Sherri, plus John Cramer’s family, for two easiest marks for this story plot would be a perch fishing in Cascade Reservoir and the subse- future pilot and squad leader. quent fish fry. John’s boy Billy was about 4 years Cox and I were behind in the game. The old and John had him doing laps on the BIFC cards were dealt and bidding started. Cox raised

Check the NSA website 14 www.smokejumpers.com our side’s bid more than reasonable. Cramer and of Bryant’s voice would drop to a quiet gravel tone Kral bid, Cox raised their bid and then all were that made him sound like he was closely related to quiet. The hand was ours to play as we won the Neil Satterwhite (MYC-65). Bryant then would bidding. Something hit my shin under the table. grab the climbing spurs, chain saw, or pack or Cox had three trump cards stuck in the toe of his tool, and go take care of business – with no fan- old White boot and was holding it up for an easy fare or debate - and he would get it done! catch. On the way home to Sandpoint, Idaho, from We made the trade 3 for 3, won the game and the Spokane airport one day, there was an old won bragging rights. That was the day that Bryant Hiller tied down next to a small hut along the side Cox taught me the finer points of Smokejumper of Highway 95 near Athol, Idaho. Beside the bird Bridge. was a sign that read, “Rides.” I pulled over and The next day we jumped – my first Silver City told the pilot I wanted 30 minutes of dual but did jump. It may have been punishment by God for not need to log it. card cheating as the landing would be better de- My first drive in a helicopter and away we scribed as a high-speed, uncontrolled ground colli- went –basic airmanship, hovers and just plain fun. sion in strong winds. But I was thankful to get to Well worth the money! Afterward, while driv- jump in New Mexico and much was learned on ing home, my mind drifted to Cox crashing in a that trip. Hiller; his bridge lesson; Cramer always sleeping Bryant and his wife, Sherri, plus her mom head-to-the-north; Kral singing with his guitar in and dad, later died in a Cessna T-210 crash with Utah; Ogawa trying to win in ping pong; driv- Sherri’s dad at the controls. He was a career Air ing a DC-3 engine to Harlingen, Texas, with Earl Force pilot; my understanding is that NTSB never “Winko” Fields (BOI-70); Tony Beltran (IDC- knew what had happened as the plane was at 69) riding bulls; and a great two-manner with Leo cruise altitude in level flight (so I heard) and had a Cromwell. catastrophic in-flight breakup. Those were the days. RIP, Bryant Cox. It was ironic that Bryant died this way as he had walked away from either two or three heli- copter crashes in his brief jumping career. At least once, after the Hiller crashed, fate found Bryant upside-down. Are You Going To Be Dazed but awake, he released his four-point harness, dropped onto the ground and put out a “Temporarily Away”? smoldering fire while surrounded by avgas-soaked ground and debris. s more of our membership moves with the When he told the story he was almost bored weather, we are getting an ever-increasing with all the details. His excitement level was about Anumber of Smokejumper magazines re- the same as trying on a new shirt with his wife. turned by the post office marked “Temporarily Never was there alarm or concern for personal Away.” Since we mail the magazine via bulk mail, safety when he told of the details. it is not forwarded, and we are charged first class So the shop talk in Boise was a question: Is postage for its return. it better to be on the same helicopter as Bryant, If you are leaving your mailing address during knowing that if it crashed you might survive, or the months of March, June, September and/or was flying with Bryant inherently more risky than December, please let Chuck Sheley know. He can most helicopter trips? hold your magazine and mail it upon your return A hard question to answer, as no one else on OR mail it to your seasonal address. Please help us the crew had ever been in two or three helicopter save this triple mailing expense. Or join our email crashes – let alone walked away unscathed to tell list. Chuck’s contact information is in the infor- the stories. mation box on page three. When irritated by inaction on a fire, the pitch

Check the NSA website 15 www.smokejumpers.com SOUNDING OFF from the editor

NSA Starts Photo Guidelines and Procedures Preservation Project from Bethany An important part of our Mission Statement Hannah states that we are “dedicated to preserving the his- We ask that tory and lore of smokejumping.” you go through We recently teamed with Bethany your collection Hannah (Associate), the cre- and send mean- ator of The Smokey Genera- ingful pho- tion, a website dedicated to tos from your collecting, preserving, and smokejumping sharing the stories and oral career. Slides can history of wildland fire. Our be submitted, as by Chuck Sheley goal is to collect those smoke- well. Hard copy (Cave Junction ’59) jumper photos that are tucked submissions will Managing Editor away in your collection and be manually preserve them for future gen- scanned, so please be selective. General guidelines for erations. photo and video submission include the following: This is a project that What we are looking for: has been on our “to do” list • Photos that have historical and/or cultural rel- for a long time. It has al- evance to the smokejumping and greater wildland ways been “a good idea.” Now we have found the fire community. person who is able to do the work. Bethany comes • Images should be good quality, clear, and well with a background that includes seven seasons in composed. fire, six with Hotshot crews. You will see her fea- • They should be unique with interesting content tured in the Stihl ad on the back page of this issue. (e.g., people, places, etc.—images that have enter- I asked Bethany to come up with guidelines tainment value are welcomed). Photos of people and directions for submitting photos, slides, and and images that really capture the culture are highly videos. The large part of our membership will not encouraged. be doing this electronically, but the guidelines • Please provide as much information as you can below for the photos will apply to hard copy pic- about each image: Names of people in the photo, tures. Please read them. dates, base (if applicable), location, fire name (if you Hard copy photos should be sent to: can remember), what’s happening, etc. Bethany Hannah What we don’t want: 1008 Hanover Ct • Photos that show common occurrences or sub- El Dorado Hills CA 95762 jects without identifiable people in the shot. For I’m sure that most of these photos are ones example, a photo of just a parachute hung up in that you want returned. Be sure to let us know if a tree, or a sky shot of jumpers in the air during a they need to be returned. Remember that faces, standard jump. names and dates are very important. Time is short • Blurry, unclear shots, or those without any his- and we need to establish a good photo gallery. torical or cultural relevance (such as pictures of a Our aim is to link the smokejumper gallery to our tree torching or a hillside on fire). website. Don’t let smokejumper history be lost.

Check the NSA website 16 www.smokejumpers.com Instructions for submitting your photos • If you have any questions about submitting electronically your photos electronically, please email Bethany at: Photos (and video clips) can be submitted elec- [email protected]. Direct link tronically through TheSmokeyGeneration.com. Just to uploading your photos or video clips: http:// visit the “Upload your photos and videos” page thesmokeygeneration.com/photo_submit under the “Support the Stories” section and follow the prompts. Please note that by submitting your photos and • Before you upload your images, please change videos, you assert that this material is your own, the file names to include: Description of photo_ you hold all necessary rights (copyright, etc.) to Date taken_ Submitter’s Last Name. For example: the material and the content therein, and freely -- Johnny Smith on King Fire in CA_2012_ give The Smokey Generation, National Smoke- Hannah jumper Association, and its affiliates nonexclusive -- Susan Miller and Adam Jones hung in license to make use of the material on the website, trees_1978_Hannah within videos, and for purposes of promoting -- Practice Jump at Ninemile_1964_Hannah The Smokey Generation project (e.g., commercial • Photos should be submitted at the highest resolu- and non-commercial use). You also understand tion, highest quality possible. Large files are accepted that you will not receive compensation for use and appreciated. of submitted content and that donation of your • Don’t crop or filter photos. Upload photos in material to a public institution for the purposes of their original, unedited form. historical archiving may occur in the future. You • Videos and raw clips should be submitted in HD may view the complete Terms of Use here: http:// or higher resolution. thesmokeygeneration.com/termsphoto/

We Saw Pink Elephants by Bob Whaley (Missoula ’56)

s an observation and low-altitude recon- east, the terrain rose abruptly with jungle-covered naissance pilot with Marine Observation mountains, the highest of which we called Tiger ASquadron Six at Quang Tri Combat Base Mountain. in July 1969, I had the mission of working with Though I wanted for a long time to fly over this troops in contact (combat with enemy units) and magnificent area, it was rare that we could ever do the coordination and control of artillery, air and so because even on clear days the clouds lingered naval gunfire in support of that mission. and were constantly forming and obstructing the My sector of responsibility was the very north- mountain, due to the very humid climate and its west corner of South Vietnam; to the north was 5,300-foot elevation. North Vietnam; to the west, Laos. I was flying the I will always vividly remember this one day. I new OV-10A low-altitude reconnaissance, light- had a newly assigned, young aerial observer (A/O) attack, twin-engine turbo-prop aircraft armed with lieutenant, a combat-experienced infantry officer, 28 2.75-inch rockets, or 10 five-inch Zuni rockets who recently extended his 13-month tour of duty and four machine guns with 2,000 rounds of 7.62- to fly with us. He was in my rear cockpit. mm ammunition. It was a routine recon/observation mission look- My sector included the infamous but abandoned ing for enemy movement in the myriad road and Khe Sanh airfield and fire-support base. The terrain trail networks leading down from North Vietnam included low, rolling hills to the west of Khe Sanh and across from Laos, often referred to as the Ho that fell off gently toward Laos, but to the north- Chi Minh Trail.

Check the NSA website 17 www.smokejumpers.com After flying over Khe Sanh, I glanced over at be. Do you understand?” Tiger Mountain. It was almost totally clear. I told A formal “yes, sir” was the response. my lieutenant that he was really in luck. I had been We took another pass over them. The old bull flying up here for 10 months, awaiting the chance was rolling on his back with all four legs in the air. to have a good look at the mountains and waterfalls The lieutenant exclaimed, “That’s what my dog that were alleged to hold great beauty and majesty. likes to do.” They surely were everything I had hoped to see – My point was made and accepted. high cascading waterfalls, thick, lush jungle, and Since we didn’t always fly with the same observer, beautiful rock outcroppings. it was several days later before I saw him again. It My lieutenant called out, “Look, major… at our was at night. He was at a table in our rustic officers 9 o’clock low, in the opening, near the falls in the club sitting with other aerial observers and young pools. Elephants.” pilots. He’d had a few beers and was quick to catch I rolled the aircraft abruptly to the left, and gazed my attention with a sly grin and a big thumbs-up. down on a herd of 8-10 elephants, including several I knew our little pact was honored, our secret safe. calves, one of which appeared to be nursing from its A week later I knew it would be honored forever. mother. The lieutenant exclaimed, “I don’t believe He was killed along with his pilot. At least we hope- it. They’re all pink.” fully let something live on in that war that destroyed I mentioned that since elephants love to wallow so much. and roll and the soil is predominantly red clay, they WE ARE DEFINED BY NOT ONLY WHAT would probably have a pinkish hue. His next com- WE CREATE … BUT BY WHAT WE REFUSE TO ment bothered me but I somehow expected it. DESTROY. He asked if we were going to shoot them our- selves or call in an artillery fire mission. I told him that I realized in this hostile sector where there are no known humans and that beasts of burden, Get Smokejumper like elephants and water buffalo, are often used as One Month Before pack animals by the North Vietnamese Army and Vietcong, and as such are to be destroyed since they Anyone Else often figure into their logistics network, which he NSA members are signing up for the electronic obviously knew. version of Smokejumper that is delivered via email. It is sent in a PDF file that contains everything that I added, however, that we were quite far removed is in the hard copy issue. from any known strategic trail or road networks or The advantages are: early delivery (a month enemy sightings as reported by aircraft or Marine ahead of USPS), ease of storage, and NSA postal Force Reconnaissance patrols and that the poor expense savings. If you like the hard copy, you can elephants have probably finally found a safe haven, download and print it at home. a respite from this crazy war and deserve to be left NSA Director Fred Cooper (NCSB-62) says: “I alone. will opt to have my magazines delivered electroni- “But major, we’re supposed to …” he said before cally rather than via USPS to save us direct $ in I interrupted him and said, “We’re not reporting this printing and mailing, not to mention your hand and if I hear of anyone asking about this or word labor in processing. I think I mentioned in an earlier gets out and some trigger-happy SOB goes looking message that I’m having other magazines/newslet- ters delivered electronically. It takes less space to for them, I’ll have you over to see the flight surgeon store them electronically and if I do want a hard and you can explain the pretty pink elephants you copy, it is easy to print using the Fast Draft printer saw and which I’ll totally deny.” option which allows printing 48 pages in less than I said, “Let’s be realistic. If I thought destroying two minutes on my printer and uses a lot less ink.” that family of elephants would change the outcome If you want to be added to the electronic mail- of this war, I’d strongly reconsider my decision, but ing, contact Editor Chuck Sheley (CJ-59): cnkg- since they are not pack animals, no sign of pack [email protected]. marks, no easy access to their location, we let them

Check the NSA website 18 www.smokejumpers.com RECORDING SMOKEJUMPER HISTORY The Quick Experiment of One-Manners by Frank Fowler (Missoula ’52) Many smokejumping re- boys,” and would cheerfully college or other jobs, the jump cords were broken at the expound on many subjects. list primarily comprised over- Missoula base during the 1953 When I asked him about head. Ten of them jumped to a season, but there’s one record one-man fires, he said, “We fire near Hidden Lake on Oct. that perhaps is not well-known tried lots of new things, and 6. The list was totally exhaust- – one that took place at the one-man fires were just one ed after two more jumped in end of the season in October. of them.” I tried to get more Sneakfoot Meadows. Both fires Five fires were manned by information, but he obviously were on the Powell Ranger solo jumpers, and while I was did not want to dwell on the District of the Lolo National one of them I never under- subject. Forest (now a part of the stood how the events came With Fred’s death in 2007, Clearwater National Forest). to be. It certainly wasn’t an I realized that there were not If overhead could not established practice. And you many jumpers left who even handle the fall fire load, it was can be assured that these were knew about those fires and common practice to recruit not in-flight, last-minute deci- much less could provide an- smokejumpers attending the sions; they were premeditated swers to my questions. I stud- University of Montana in Mis- assignments made in the loft ied the dispatcher log from soula. Some were so recruited prior to boarding aircraft. that period and listed all the and four men showed up at Herb Oertli (MSO-48) was folks who were either involved the loft at 8:45 a.m. on Oct. the dispatcher at that time. in the five fires or might be 7. Martin Onishuk (MSO-51) I ran into him periodically knowledgeable about them. was to be the squad leader for through the years. We felt a This led me to the following: a four-man crew, including connection because he, too, The hunting season started him, Paul Carpino (MSO-52), had made one of the solo in October and elk hunters Dick Clearman (MSO-52), jumps. He once told me that scoured the back country. An and Bob Nicol (MSO-52). It one-man jumping would never early snow seemed to assure turned out that they were split occur again. the end of any fire danger; up and dispatched to three I asked him how the deci- consequently many warm- separate fires instead of one. sion for solo jumping was ing fires were left unattended. I asked Onishuk how it made, and he put me off by Unfortunately, the weather happened that this change saying that he intended to warmed, the snows quickly occurred, and he replied, “I write about it. I doubt that he thawed, and abandoned fires remember the situation well. ever did. Oertli died in 1992. began to creep. Man-caused Wag Dodge (MSO-41), the Fred Brauer (MSO-41) fires became unusually numer- dispatcher at Powell Ranger had been the administrative ous. Station, appeared at the loft at assistant in charge of training The dispatcher’s log indi- Hale Field and told Fred that and operations. I visited Fred cates that this activity started the district had more fires than several times in his retirement Oct. 6 and ended Oct. 15. they could handle and needed in 2005. He always seemed Since the bulk of the summer more jumpers.” pleased to talk with “one of his workforce had returned to Wag had been the foreman

Check the NSA website 19 www.smokejumpers.com on the 1949 Mann Gulch at an escaped hunter’s warm- was actually going alone. The Fire and subsequently left the ing fire. He easily contained it, Austin brothers were going to jumpers to work for Ranger gathered his chutes and equip- a different fire, but they would Bud Moore at Powell. Wag ment and hauled some of it first act as backup in case I was and Fred had a long history downhill to the road-clearing injured in my jump. of friendship in the jumpers. made for construction of the Al agreed to drop me a ma- Onishuk continued, “Fred new Lochsa Highway. He rine pump the next day and to told Wag that it wasn’t a prob- returned to his fire to spend try to find another jumper. He lem and that they could man the night and left the next day did. Joe Blackburn (MSO-51) fires with solo jumpers. Wag when he was certain the fire joined me the next day. Both asked, ‘You’d jump one man was out. of these fires were also on the to a fire?’ During the time he made Powell Ranger District. “Fred responded, ‘We do it his trek to the Lochsa, a patrol It was several days later, all the time.’ “ plane passed over to check his Oct. 12, that Len Krout Onishuk knew that “all the fire, but the pilot flew over the (MSO-46) and Herb Oertli time” was a stretching of the place Onishuk was supposed were each sent on a solo jump. truth. He concluded his expla- to have jumped. It was now Their fires were close enough nation of how the decision was putting up smoke, but there that they jumped into the made by telling me, “Despite was no evidence of a smoke- same spot. Oertli sprained an his exaggeration, Fred was seri- jumper in that vicinity. This ankle. He spent the night on ous about his intentions, and created so much concern for the fire, but Krout’s fire report that’s what we did.” the whereabouts of Onishuk indicates that Krout put out The intention was that that Ranger Moore walked Oertli’s fire and then fought Onishuk be dropped on a to the fire late into the night, his own. one-manner named the Badger only to find it unmanned. Oertli came out the next Creek Fire, but it was not put- Moore saw to its extinguish- day, but Krout did not re- ting up smoke and he was mis- ment. turn to base until Oct. 15. takenly dropped on a different Also on the afternoon of There were no reinforcements one that was nearby. Next, Oct. 7, brothers Jim Austin involved. Nicol jumped solo on a fire (GAC-52) and Dick Austin In conclusion, it appears called Badger Ridge. He later (GAC-53) and I reported to that there were some pre- signaled for reinforcements the loft. While suiting up I discussions about solo jump- and four ground pounders asked Brauer how big the fire ing, but particulars are vague gave assistance. was. He answered, “Three at best. We do know that Fred Lastly, Carpino and Clear- acres.” was very much his own man. man jumped a two-manner Then I asked, “How many He had been tempered tough on the Squaw Creek Fire – the men are going?” as a pilot in World War II and one the four-man crew was “One crew is going and could comfortably shoulder originally slated to jump. you’re it,” he replied without heavy decisions. It seems likely Dick Tracy (MSO-53) and the slightest hint of a smile. that he unflinchingly found Bob Walkup (MSO-50) were I knew he was kidding. a way to help his friend Wag dropped as reinforcements two “Great – just send me with with his manpower problem. days later. All three of the fires a big lunch,” I replied rather One can only speculate were on the Powell district cockily. how it was determined that and within a few miles of one As we approached the fire, there would be no more solo another. the spotter, Al Hammond jumping. Perhaps the hierar- Onishuk’s was the easiest (MSO-46), said, “Okay, Frank chy deemed the practice too of the three. He landed in an – this one’s for you.” At that risky. It seems likely that a opening and quickly arrived point I knew full well that I jumper who couldn’t be found

Check the NSA website 20 www.smokejumpers.com for 24 hours probably weighed responded to an assignment to only speculate about those in there somewhere – as well as jump alone to a fire. I rather who were among “Brauer’s a guy with a sprained ankle. imagine it is the “nature of boys.” They would answer as Some may wonder how the beast” for a smokejumper I did: “Send me with a big other jumpers would have to do what is asked, but I will lunch!” Smokejumpers Missoula 1953— A Bit Of History by Virgil Myers (Missoula ’53) It was in 1945 that I first because on August 15, 1945, Nine Mile was at a much high- became aware of men called the Japanese surrendered. At er altitude. We also had a small “smokejumpers.” The USFS the time we were teamed with detachment of Army Air- was hiring as many 16 and 17 some Army Air Force veterans borne soldiers with us. There year-old boys as they could get that had been “volunteered” were two Lieutenants and 10 to continue the work of the to fight fires on the Warm Sergeants in that group. They CCC, especially fire suppres- Springs Indian Reservation. were to study the way we sion. Our camp, CCC Camp These GI’s stole, hot-wired did our landings using Frank Grayback, was located some and rented any vehicle they Derry’s slotted parachutes. All 20 miles east of Cave Junction, could lay their hands on in or- of our chutes at that time were Oregon. We quickly were made der to get to the nearest town Army surplus, and Frank had aware of the Conscientious Ob- for booze and girls, not neces- done many of the modifica- jectors south of town who were sarily in that order. Some got tions himself. smokejumpers. They were reli- back to the fire the same day By the end of the 1953 gious and not too well received but most came back on the season, we began receiving in that small community. second day. The real hardcore factory-made chutes with slots We knew that when we celebrants got back the third and tails that gave us a 5 mph turned 18 we would be drafted day. Boy, were they in sad forward speed, much easier to and join the fight. The Japa- shape. I did four more seasons maneuver with. nese had been sending Balloon with the USFS. Along with the usual train- Bombs over the west coast, In 1953, I was restless and ing, we also had to study what and we wondered if we might wanted to travel, so I thought went wrong and that did work get to see one. We did see one about the smokejumpers. I at the Mann Gulch disaster of on a sunny June day. It was sent a letter to Missoula detail- 1949. Even though I was a sea- reported to the US Army Air ing my experience. A quick soned firefighter, there was a Corps and verified as a bomb. reply came back with an ap- lot to be learned. Training days On a recent visit to the plication and a physical form were started with calisthenics Smokejumper Museum in for my family doctor to fill and a run. The GI’s did a lot Cave Junction, I was surprised out. I soon had a reply telling of running. to see a warning on the wall me to come to Missoula and Then we had our first para- of the dangers of finding these that I would be in the first of chute jump. I don’t really re- deadly bombs in treetops. two jump schools that season. member much about the first There must still be some out Actual training was to be at two jumps but by the time there in the trees. the CCC Camp at Nine Mile. the third one came around, I That summer ended with Jump school was interesting had started realizing what was me being on the Mt. Hood but tough on me because I had going on. N.F., but it was memorable just come from sea level and Life at Nine Mile was very

Check the NSA website 21 www.smokejumpers.com good. We had good cooks and my lines. I couldn’t maneuver exterior shots were taken at the staff was exceptional. Frank because of the way we were Nine Mile as well as the train- was there regularly to answer tangled, but we landed a ways ing portions. The rest was shot any questions we came up with, from the DZ, took out some in locations somewhere else. a very nice guy. I decided early trees but were not hurt. Many of the returning jumpers on that I wanted to be a rigger. We had several planes had been extras in the film and First-year jumpers were not that season. Two Tri-motors shared their impressions of the recruited for the rigging staff crashed early in the spring, film with us newbies. but I made a pest of myself and so two more were brought in So the fire season of 1953 was brought on board. from South America. What came to an end. We were laid After jump training we instruments there were, were off and returned to our homes moved down to Old Fort in Spanish. or other places of work. I was Missoula – Army barracks There were still the remains at home in Vancouver, Wash- with the first floor for living of a POW camp at Fort Mis- ington, and thought I should quarters and the mess hall. soula. It was just a few yards maybe go see the Selective Ser- The parachute loft was on the from our barracks. We were vice Office downtown. I found second floor. Riggers lived told it was for Italian POWs. myself at Fort Ord, California, there full time unless we were They were housed there and just ten days later. on the jump list and were at were sent out to help farmers I can say that I have lived Gray Field. in the area who needed a few in seven old CCC Camps, Most of the jumps were extra hands during harvest and taken off in planes 16 times routine, but on one jump the planting. without landing, and climbed man behind me hit the top of In 1952 Hollywood came down from three trees that I my chute, slid off and swung to Missoula. They decided had not climbed up. Now I through my lines. This was bad to film the Mann Gulch Fire am medically grounded, but enough, but then he swung (Red Skies Over Montana) in life has been pretty interesting back out at another place in Hollywood style. Most of the so far.

“Cliff Jumper” by Gabe Mason (NCSB-07)

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Movie inspired many dreams of Exhaustive DVD tells the story of smokejumping for young men smokejumping from beginning Loosely based on the Mann Gulch “Smokejumpers: Firefighters From the Fire in which 12 jumpers and a fire- Sky” is a definitive record of smokejump- fighter died, “Red Skies of Montana” ing, featuring 120 minutes of history from fascinated many young men about life 1939 to 2000. Footage filmed at current “out West.” Released in 1952. $15 bases and in the field. $15

Check the NSA website 23 www.smokejumpers.com Bob Kersh Loft Dedication Redding 2016 Photos Courtesy K. Greene

Layout Design: Johnny Kirkley (CJ-64)

Check the NSA website 24 www.smokejumpers.com Bob Kersh Loft Dedication Redding 2016 Photos Courtesy K. Greene

Layout Design: Johnny Kirkley (CJ-64)

Check the NSA website 25 www.smokejumpers.com BLAST FROM THE PAST

By Jack Demmons (Missoula ’50) was also injured on that jump. He was thought After refresher training at Nine Mile to have fractured bones but was only in June 1951, a group of us were sent badly bruised. That same day, Wade to Brown’s Gulch on project work. In Peterson suffered an injured shoul- early July we were called back to Mis- der on a jump in Idaho. Smoke- soula as fire danger was worsening. jumper rescue teams went in after Harold “Mac” McElroy (MSO- both men. 51) had been with us, but he and I Over two years ago, I wrote a were sent on different fires. He was story about 18-year-old Barry Ham- seriously injured on a jump in the mond who parachuted to a fire in the Powell District when he slammed Helena N.F. When he landed in a tree, he into a tree and suffered a broken leg. Eight jump- was impaled by a stob that pierced his thigh and ers were sent in on a rescue jump and two of them went into his abdominal cavity. Other jumpers were injured. Lewis Thomas twisted an ankle and had to climb up and cut him from the tree, leav- Wallace Campbell broke his wrist when he broke ing the broken stob inside him. Dr. Amos Little loose of a snag and fell 80 feet. walked in two miles to aid him. Mac was carried to the end of a road to a Dr. Little was one of 13 doctors who were waiting ambulance. Thomas rode out on a horse trained by the Missoula Smokejumper Base. After and Campbell walked out. Mac was at Memorial that training he was sent to Fort Benning and Hospital the rest of the summer and most of the went through airborne training. While in the ser- autumn with two pins in his leg. He was finally vice, he made 52 training and rescue jumps. flown home, never to jump again. He had planned to jump in to treat Ham- Jim Forbes received two severe sprains of both mond, but because of the early morning darkness, ankles on a jump in the Salmon River area. My that was not possible. Hammond made a full best friend during college days, Doug Wilkerson, recovery but never jumped again.

The Rice Cake Rangers in: Flat Broke by John Culbertson (Fairbanks ’69)

The sun was down and just up the mountain from the on the desk, “You know that’s Federal water you’re fields, Franklin Lundberg, top hand on the rice farm, using.” stepped into the ranger’s office. “Yes Sir, and we appreciate it.” “Evening ranger.” “I know you do, Franklin.” The ranger looked at “Hello Franklin, what brings you out at this the ceiling, “ We are diverting that water from, ah, hour?” something that’s endangered.” The ranger shuffled “Working.” through papers on his desk. “Don’t you ever take a break?” “Smelt sir.” “Farmers feed America,” Franklin smiled. “Smelt? The ranger paused, “Well, I knew it was The ranger set a fist full of official looking papers something we are concerned with.”

Check the NSA website 26 www.smokejumpers.com “Yes sir, little fish. By the way I came to tell you Franklin looked at the floor, “Well, I don’t know. something.” I told the fella that blew it out we would take care of it.” The ranger put the papers down. “Blew it out!” Who?” Franklin said, “It’s your new guy, Dick something “Oh, Scott Warner on the trail project with that or other. You know, the guy with the funny glasses.” smokejumper bunch.” “Google Glasses.” “Yes sir. That’s him.” “What’s Warner doing blowing a gate out?” The “Our environmental compliance officer. Docu- ranger gulped down more ibuprofen. ments everything. Very efficient they tell me.” “Well, I guess it had something to do with Dick The ranger looked doubtful, paused, and went sir. I guess he told them the 4N65 fire road was back to the papers. closed because it posed a silt hazard to dry creek. You know how it doesn’t have any dips or drains “Well, anyway, he’s got a flat on his new moun- and Warner said – well, I’m not going to say what tain bike and he doesn’t know how to fix it,” said he said - but anyway, he came down to the farm Franklin. “He’s stuck up there by that toilet you had and asked if he could use our grader. He’s a Forest built and then he had fenced off. You know, kind of Engineer you know.” like an outhouse.” “Our road to the trail project? And Dick told The ranger looked out the window then back to him not to use it?” the ranger said. Franklin. “Didn’t give him a ride?” “Yes sir. You know ranger, you should eat some- “We offered but he turned it down.” thing with those pills.” “Turned it down?” “Yes Sir. Said it was against regulations.” The ranger fished around in his desk again. Came “Well, I should go up and get him.” The ranger up with a bag of organic rice cakes, started reading said, “He’s lobbying to get sent to mountain bike the label. “So you loaned Warner your grader?” school in Atlanta.” “Yes sir, plus they offered to fix that boggy patch “Atlanta?” down on our section of road. They are a likeable “Yes, Atlanta.” The Ranger fished around in a bunch working for free and all.” desk drawer and pulled out a jug of generic ibupro- The ranger rolled his pencil on the desk – back and fen. “The government is holding classes down there. forth, back and forth. “You say you can fix that gate?” They call it One Sizing or something like that.” “Couple of welds.” “California is in the Atlanta region?” asked Frank​ The ranger let the pencil go over the side, then lin. handed Franklin a rice cake. “Wife says I have to “No!” The ranger turned and looked out the cut down on fat.” They both munched. window, gulped a couple of pills without water. “Not a bad taste,” said Franklin. “Good new “Each region has a specialty. Atlanta specializes product.” in mountain bikes. Other stuff. It’s complicated.” “So, Franklin,” the ranger asked. “If you are fix- “Well anyway, we told Dick we would pass the ing that gate, it’s official business right?” word. He said we had permission to do that.” “Well I guess, but we don’t mind doing it,” said The ranger rubbed his brow with a pencil, “He Franklin. said that? I would go up there myself but I’m timed The ranger stood and extended his hand, “We out on vehicle use.” appreciate it.” “Timed out?” Franklin smiled, “Thank you ranger.” “Franklin, you don’t want to know.” “And while you are up there on official business, “No sir, I suppose I don’t.” tell that stupid SOB to get in your truck and stay “Say, why don’t we just run by and pick him up with you till he’s out of the forest.” with our welding rig,” Franklin offered. “We are “Yes sir, we will try.” going up past there to fix a gate anyway.” “Thank you, Franklin.” “One of our gates?” “You bet.”

Check the NSA website 27 www.smokejumpers.com THE VIEW FROM OUTSIDE THE FENCE

dollars, following the 41-day Sean Flynn and published in siege by militants. The cost of GQ magazine. Josh Brolin and destroyed archaeological assets Miles Teller have been hired and the compromise of per- to star in the film. No produc- sonnel files is unknown. I have tion date has been set. This seen photos of the site and movie seems to be just a little it is a mess. I have not seen too soon after the tragedy, and any estimate of what equip- I am not sure the last chapter ment might have been stolen has been written. I personally or destroyed. Four million don’t think there are many dollars would probably bring Directors, short of someone the West Yellowstone Smoke- like Steven Spielberg, that can jumper Base up to standards truly capture the essence of by Chris Sorensen for the next 50 years and build wildland firefighting on film, (Associate) a dorm in Redding. We have much less a fatal fire. Some heard nothing new on the things just don’t lend them- In March, House Repub- status of the West Yellowstone selves to cinema. licans introduced a bill that Base at deadline. The April 5, 2016 edition would abolish law enforce- By the time you read this of the Phoenix New Times has ment within the Forest Service issue, two new books on the an article (entire article avail- and Bureau of Land Manage- Yarnell Hill Fire will have been able on the NSA website under ment and pay local police to published: “My Lost Broth- “news”) in which Ted Putnam patrol federal lands instead. It ers: The Untold Story by the (MSO-66) alleges a cover-up also demands that the Secre- Yarnell Hill Fire’s Lone Survi- in the Yarnell Hill Fire Staff tary of Interior provide states vor” by Brendan McDonough Ride Facilitators Guide, which funding to manage law en- and Stephan Talty and “The was published in February by forcement on public land. The Fire Line: The Story of the the Arizona Department of bill, called “Local Enforce- Granite Mountain Hotshots Forestry. The guide is linked in ment for Local Lands Act of and One of the Deadliest Days the Phoenix New Times ver- 2016,” was sponsored by Utah in American Firefighting” by sion of the article. The facilita- Representatives Rob Bishop Fernanda Santos. These two tors guide and a staff ride for (R), chairman on the House books marks the third and family members was required Natural Resources Commit- fourth books written about the as part of a settlement between tee, Jason Chaffetz (R), Chris Yarnell Hill Fire to date. John the Arizona Forestry Division Stewart (R), and Mia Love Maclean is also writing a book and family members of the (R). High Country news has on the fire. Granite Mountain Hotshots. done extensive coverage of the A movie on the Granite The Air Force is consider- Forest Service and BLM law Mountain Hotshots and the ing moving the MAFFS unit enforcement situation. Yarnell Hill Fire is in pre- from the North Carolina Air The U.S. Fish and Wildlife production. The working title National Guard to the Nevada Service estimates the cleanup of the movie is “No Exit,” Air National Guard’s 152nd of the Malheur Wildlife and the movie is based on the air lift wing. The Montana Refuge will cost four million article of the name written by Air Guard transitioned from

Check the NSA website 28 www.smokejumpers.com the F-16 to the C-130 several ibly disappointed with this sure smacks of politics. years ago. Part of the justifica- decision as it denies a vital At deadline, on April 10, tion was having the MAFFS wildland suppression mission Missoula, Grangeville and system in Montana for rapid to the State of Montana, where West Yellowstone jumpers were response in Western States. almost three times as many working a 1000 acres fire in the Senator Steve Daines (R) wildfires occurred last year Bob Marshal Wilderness. It is Montana sent the Air Force a compared to Nevada.” While possible that this is the earliest letter questioning the move. the Air Force has the right to fire in the season ever staffed In part he said, “I am incred- deploy assets as it sees fit, this by Missoula jumpers.

Fire Jump At The Western Edge Of America by Allen Biller (Fairbanks ’82)

This is a joke, right?” one jumper said as he banks. We refueled and continued on to Nome, approached ‘The Box,’ the operations desk on the Bering Sea coast. There, we refueled again “of the Alaska Smokejumpers. “Where the and consulted with local Coast Guard personnel hell is Little Diomede?” said another. on what to expect in the vicinity of the island. The spotter and pilot were already standing One of the Coast Guardsmen thought it would in front of the large wall map of Alaska, trying to be impossible to jump because of high winds. pinpoint the location. It was not a joke. There was Little Diomede lies in the middle of the Bering indeed a fire on Little Diomede, an island off the Strait between Alaska and Siberia, 16 miles west of west coast of Alaska in the Bering Strait. It was Cape Wales—the westernmost point on the North Labor Day 1991. American continent. Little Diomede is located Twenty minutes later we were airborne, headed just east of the International Date Line in the Ber- west. The Alaska Smokejumper standard six-min- ing Sea. ute getaway time was extended while the logistics Big Diomede, a larger island, lies 2 1/2 miles of the flight were worked out with the spotter, further west on the western side of the Interna- pilots, and dispatch. tional Date Line. It belongs to Russia. There were only five jumpers on board, not Upon departing Nome, we skirted the south counting spotters and pilots. Almost all the avail- coast of the Seward Peninsula, passed Wales, and able Alaska smokejumpers were boosting jump headed out over the ocean. As we approached bases in the Lower 48. One load of eight jumpers the island, it appeared to be nothing more than a (referred to as the “hostage load”) were kept in big rock jutting out of the sea. As we got closer, Alaska to man late-season fires and to staff the one I could see sparse brown vegetation growing on remaining jumpship on contract. the mesa-like top of the island. There were also Jumpers on this load were Lance Clouser hundreds of boulders scattered about. (FBX-85), Rod Dow (MYC-68), Jon Larson Near the middle of the island, an area of about (FBX-89), Rob Collins (RAC-69) and me. The three-quarters of an acre looked to be relatively other three jumpers on the hostage load were off free of large boulders, offering a possible jump the list for one reason or another. The pilots were spot. Roger Oppedahl and Gary Hunt. As we circled we could see a small, wispy The Short C-23 Sherpa jumpship landed at the plume of smoke rising from the southwestern side BLM Galena fire station, 275 miles west of Fair- of the island, which sloped steeply down to the

Check the NSA website 29 www.smokejumpers.com sea. The fire appeared to be creeping amid large for a fire on the mainland. If you screw up and angular boulders that covered the entire slope. I miss the spot, you risk possible injury. was unable to see any vegetation among the large Six hundred yards of drift, when you are trying rocks, but something had to be burning. to hit a relative speck of land in the middle of the The Inuit village on the island, Inalik, also lay ocean, is another matter. If you missed landing in on the western side of the island. The 25 or so the DZ, you would be saddling your co-workers houses were perched on the slope amid the rocks with a body recovery. just above the ocean on the northwestern side of As the first jumper in the door, I became the the island. fire boss. We dropped in altitude to get a closer Big Diomede, a much larger island, loomed to look at the jump spot. I made my way down the the west. Beyond Big Diomede, we could see the plane and asked each jumper individually if he felt coast of Siberia, less than 25 miles away. comfortable jumping this fire. All said yes. Diomede is one of the most remote communi- ties on earth. There are no roads or airstrip. The only access to the island is by boat or helicopter. I made my way down the In winter the Bering Sea freezes, allowing locals to sometimes carve out a runway in the ice. plane and asked each jumper As we orbited the island, we crossed over the individually if he felt comfortable International Date Line less than a mile away. Each time we crossed, we were effectively passing, jumping this fire. All said yes. time-wise, into another day and then back again. I’m sure we were being monitored on Russian radar. I never asked the Diomede jumpers what their Spotter C.R. Holder (MSO-70) and assistant inner thoughts were on that day. I know that I spotter Steve Theisen (FBX-86) made their way felt I could land in the designated landing area. to the back of the plane and opened the jump But in the back of my mind I thought of the door. The only level spot on the island was the consequences if a major wind change occurred or very top, an area of about 600 yards long by 300 something else unexpectedly happened. yards wide. The remainder of the island consisted I also considered if I were to screw up and do of boulder fields, steep slopes, and sheer cliffs that something stupid that would cause me to miss ran down to the ocean’s edge. the top of the island. As all smokejumpers know, We determined that the safest jump spot, a potentially dangerous or hairy jump tends to indeed, the only jump spot, was the small grassy up the pucker factor and focuses the concentra- area on the flat cap of the island. C.R. threw the tion. There were no superfluous thoughts going streamers. through my mind when I left the plane. Pushed by a stiff breeze out of the south, they We did one-man sticks. With all the factors quickly blew out over the sea on the north side of to consider on this jump, maintaining separation the island. C.R. threw a second set. They landed from your jump partner was an element we didn’t among boulders near the north rim of the island. need and one we could eliminate. I think all of us He turned to us and said the streamers indicated did a longer-than-normal delay before pulling our about 600 yards of drift. Though none of us drogue release (rip cords). This served to lower mentioned it, we all knew that if anyone missed our altitude on opening and shortened our time landing on the top of the big rock and ended up under canopy, which in turn lessened our time at in the sea, he was not going to survive. the mercy of the wind. All of us were jumping ram-air parachutes. As it turned out, the winds on the day of the The faster forward speed and increased maneuver- jump were the calmest winds experienced during ability were obviously an advantage over a round our time on the island. For the rest of our stay, the canopy in these conditions. wind blew 30-40 mph all day. Even though the Six hundred yards of drift is a lot of drift, even air temperature was not cold – around 50 degrees

Check the NSA website 30 www.smokejumpers.com – the wind increased the wind chill to the point where we were forced to wear all the warm clothes we had. Luckily, all of us had brought extra layers as well as heavy-duty wind/rain parkas. The jump was anticlimactic. I had no trouble landing where I intended. I was more intent on getting my camera out of my PG bag so I could photograph the other jumpers as they came in for landing. All made the spot due to some good chute handling and the expert spotting by C.R. and Steve. And I got some good photo- graphs. We quickly got out of our jump- suits and bagged up our gear. Now we had to figure out how to get to the fire. The side slope of the island was L-R: Rob Collins, Rod Dow, Allen Biller, Jon Larson, Lance Clouser (Courtesy A. very steep and carpeted with rocks of Biller) all shapes and sizes. We had our gear and fire packs to move as well. As if in answer to prayer, a helicopter appeared. the rocks and was about an eighth of an acre in It was the mail helicopter from Nome that flew size. There was no open flame. There were many out to Diomede once a week. I flagged the pilot empty fire extinguishers lying among the rocks. down and he landed next to me. I asked him if he Apparently, villagers didn’t want the fire to reach was willing and able to shuttle our gear to the vil- the fuel tanks supplying the village, and so they lage. He enthusiastically answered yes. did what they could. I loaded the gear into the rear of the Boel- Accessing the burning peat was difficult. Some kow BO-105 chopper. On the second shuttle, I of the crevices in the rocks were too small for a climbed aboard and the pilot deposited the gear Pulaski head. It didn’t stop us from grubbing and and me on a helispot fashioned from an old steel mopping as best we could. Water would greatly barge on the shore at Inalik. Children from the help in this situation. village had watched us jump, and several had With the help of a local and a boat, we set up a walked up the steep slope to the jump spot. They Mark 3 pump at the base of the cliff beneath the led the jumpers over the lip and down a trail to fire, dropped the draft hose into the ocean, and at- the village. tempted to pump water up to the fire. The eleva- Villagers greeted me as I got off the helicopter. tion gain from the sea to the fire location was too I quickly unloaded the gear. The other jumpers great. The pump couldn’t handle the load. We’d and the local children arrived shortly after. have to do without water. We introduced ourselves to several residents Officials in the village had made arrangements and briefly discussed our plan. We gathered up for us to sleep on the floor in a room in the city tools, food and water and headed to the fire. office. Luckily, a trail snaked out from the village almost Each day for the next four days we woke, ate all the way to the location of the fire. We didn’t breakfast, and walked out to the fire location. have to clamber over rocks on the steep slope and Once there, we commenced the frustrating job of risk twisting an ankle or worse. trying to dig the burning peat out from among The fire was smoldering in peat deep among the rocks where we could extinguish it.

Check the NSA website 31 www.smokejumpers.com Obviously, the fire wasn’t going anywhere. Just he hooked a chunk of walrus meat and brought as obvious was the fact that we were not going to it to the surface. The smell was almost enough to be able to put the fire completely out and totally make you throw up. He seemed surprised. After eliminate the smoke. The winter snows would evaluating the situation, he said that the meat accomplish that. As with all peat fires, it is often had spoiled and that they needed to clean out the Mother Nature who finally extinguishes the fire, “meat hole.” and I thought that would probably be the result in Whale and seal meat was in the hole, as well this case. as walrus; all had been killed the previous winter. In talking to the village officials, I became I’m sure there is no permafrost beneath the surface aware that our presence was more political than of Diomede like it is on the mainland. The only practical. The native corporation, to which Inalik refrigeration in the “meat hole” was the surround- belonged, had requested Alaska Fire Service per- ing air, which explains the rotting meat. This was sonnel for the fire. That is why we were there. September. As far as the cause, I think some young boys There was a small grocery store in the town started the fire. The purpose may have been to owned and operated by the village corporation. smoke out some of the thousands of sea birds that One of the jumpers asked if anyone in town were nesting among the rocks. I watched as the might have some ivory carvings for sale. At that boys lie on their bellies, reach into a crevice of point a lady brought out a cigar box. rock and bring out Auklet chicks. They didn’t save Inside were many figurines carved out of them to eat. There is little if any meat on chicks walrus tusk ivory and whale baleen. She explained that are only days old. that there were few jobs in the village and that Jon Larson told me the following: “I asked most adults were unemployed. They still had one boy how he thought the fire had started. He grocery tabs, as well as phone and electric bills to thought carefully, then answered that he figured pay. Quite a few people paid their bills by trad- the sun shining through the dew, like a magnify- ing ivory carvings for food and phone and electric ing glass, started the peat on fire. Very clever.” service. I purchased two carvings, and the other There were seabirds present on Diomede that jumpers bought ones as well. are rarely seen outside of the Bering Strait area. All the villagers were very friendly and eager to For the first time in Alaska I saw puffins. Other answer our questions concerning their culture and birds seen were murres and kittiwakes. There were lifestyle in this remote corner of the world. They other species that I did not recognize. told us how their relatives on Big Diomede were All during the day, tens of thousands of sea moved to the Russian mainland many years ago, birds of different species skimmed over the cliffs preventing them from visiting in the wintertime as and out to sea. Many of them had nests in the they had in the past. Only recently had they been rocks. I’ve since read that more than a million sea able to re-connect with their kin. birds nest on the island. When we were ready to leave the island, the We walked around the village and visited with mail helicopter flew our gear and us to Cape residents. There was a polar bear skin on a stretch- Wales on the tip of the Seward Peninsula. Lance ing frame outside one house. A large open boat, Clouser told me later that flying across the open the hull covered with walrus skin, rested on a plat- sea in the helicopter was as nervous as he’s ever form about 20 yards from the sea. A villager told been demobing a fire. As he said, “nothing but me they still used it to hunt whales and seals. icy water below for 20 miles.” A fixed-wing plane One day a man asked us if we wanted to see met us at the Wales airstrip and flew us back to the “meat hole.” He led us over to a pit beneath Fairbanks. the rocks that was covered by a hinged piece of I think all the jumpers present would agree plywood. He said he would get us some Eskimo that this fire was one of the most unusual and food to eat. memorable experiences of our smokejumping He opened it. The stench of rotting meat careers. This was the westernmost fire jump in wafted out of the hole. With a long-handled gaff, North America.

Check the NSA website 32 www.smokejumpers.com ODDS AND ENDS

by Chuck Sheley on the ways of the smokejumping Congratulations and thanks to Bill world. The main thing he told me Hale (MSO-53) and Brad Wil- was that they were not interested lard (MSO-58) who just became in how we fought fire in California. our latest Life Member(s). Then he asked me about my boots. I proudly showed him my J.C. Penny Cecil Hicks (NCSB-62): “My wife boots, which he called chicken skins. blames me for starting a Hicks He took me to a store in Twisp, where I forestry fire fighting dynasty in north tried on a pair of Whites. They were $95, Idaho. Our oldest son, Brian (MSO- $100 with tax. I had maybe $20 and told 95), is the assistant fire management the salesman I would come back when I officer at the U.S. Forest Service dis- got paid. He knew I would not see my first trict here in Sandpoint, Idaho. Our twin check for a month and told me to take them sons, Shawn and Matt, both work for the and pay for them when I had money. I was Idaho State Department of Lands. Shawn is blown away. The reputation of the jumpers the chief fire warden in Sandpoint, and Matt was so good they extended credit to a new guy just took on a new assignment with the Idaho from California! State Department of Lands as the state’s fire “The boots served me well during my four training and safety officer. He’ll be working out seasons of jumping, then for backpacking, and of Coeur’Alene, Idaho. Our grandson Devin finally cutting wood while we lived in Yosem- (Brian’s son) works for the Deptartment of Lands ite. By the way I was Jan van Wagtendonk’s on a fire crew at Priest Lake, Idaho, and will (CJ-60) dentist while in Yosemite. Chuck, the probably start back again for the state in April. boots are pretty worn, with cracked leather and Plus, a granddaughter of ours just got engaged p-cord laces. I am not sure why I have kept to a man who works on the Forest Service fire them. But as Dick Wildman (NCSB-61) used crew at the Sandpoint district. I guess that would to say, “If these boots could talk.” Being in the make him our grandson-in-law.” museum would be a glorious end for these old friends.” Dale Soria (NCSB-70): “I have my Whites that I bought in 1970 and would be happy to send Russell Graham (Research Forester): “Read in the them for the traveling museum. But first you last issue about the ’47 water bomb project. have to listen to their story. Harry T. Gisborne and Jack Barrows of the “I flew into Wenatchee in June 1970 from Northern Rocky Mountain Research Station led Monterey, California. I hitchhiked from Wen-​ the research part of this project. Barrows was in atchee to Okanogan, where I did all the paper- the Air Force in WWII and that gave him con- work required of a new jumper. I did not know nections to the military. They did a lot of work hitchhiking was against the law in Washington. with Johnson Flying Service. Gisborne died on The gals in the office were concerned that I plan- the fireline of Mann Gulch when he went there in ned to hitchhike to Winthrop and arranged a November of ’49 to investigate the fire behavior. ride with Ken Cavin, a crusty old salt who flew In 1999 he was added as the 14th casualty of the our DC-3. fire. Jack Barrows went on to be the person that “On the trip to Winthrop, Ken schooled me got the Fire Lab in Missoula started.”

Check the NSA website 33 www.smokejumpers.com READERS COMMENTS

[RE: “Smokejumpers—The Mission Has Changed? jumpers. Why?” January 2016] As you can see, I can get excited about fire and An excellent article. This has been what I have forest management on federal lands, our lands. long suspected – the two-manners are not being Maybe I should write a book. manned. —Bud Filler (McCall ’52) Fires start small. Lightning ignites the snags and the single trees up there in the rocks and Bud earned degrees in Forestry from Penn State and ridges of the high country. The environmentalists the University of British Columbia and was an officer will cry, “This is nature’s way.” Their thinking is in the U.S. Army, 9th Infantry Division. He is the co- that they’ll burn themselves out. Not true. When founder of the Filler-King Company, a manufacturer the midday winds come up, embers from these of structural wood products, and Jump Creek Lumber burning snags will fly into the flammable forests Company. Bud is the author of “Two-Man Stick, below and a whole drainage burns out. Memoirs of a Smokejumper.” Now it takes people, planes, helicopters, and a half million dollars to suppress. The official doctrine is that the manning goes to protect the [RE: “Is The Forest Service Making The Best De- urban interface. Of course, but why? Is this some cision In Going To The Square Chute?” October kind of a budget justification? 2015] A group of folks believe the forests are over- During the later portion on my smokejumper grown because of the excellent fire suppression of carrier with both BLM and the USFS, I was a the past. They listen to the experts, whoever they strong proponent of using squares in USFS opera- are, and the environmentalists, who think that no- tions. This included my thesis for Technical Fire body should be in the woods. Many of these folks Management (TFM) in 1991, a cost-value analy- are my friends, and they are sincere. They also sis of using ram-airs in Region 6 of the USFS. I don’t venture into the mountains much further have since become somewhat less enthusiastic, but than the authorized campsites. They don’t see the not for the reasons cited in Chuck’s article. burned-out drainages of central Idaho. Early on, I had some misgivings about the It has been a long time since I have been under technical complexities involved in deploying and a parachute, but for the last five decades I have flying ram-airs, but in a world of (daily) increas- flown the Idaho backcountry by plane, have trav- ingly technical complexity, I accepted this as eled the ridges on horseback and on foot. Believe evolutionary. Routine jobs now require knowledge me, too many large valleys exist, one after the that used to be regarded as the domain of experts. other, with the terrain covered with nothing but My concern is this: It is, I believe, inevitable black snags and brush. What little reproduction that there will be fatalities associated with the use grows back in lodgepole pine in the draws and on of ram-airs. These will not be due to issues inher- the edges of the burn. Lodgepole, in 25-30 years, ent in their design or performance. I believe that is susceptible to bug kill. Then what follows is they will result from a very simple fact - most a flammable forest tinderbox. Global warming, smokejumpers are not skydivers, and some (many? indeed! most?) are not particularly comfortable in any Let’s go back to suppressing the two-manners. kind of free-fall situation that results from a ram- I’d like to see pictures of yellow-shirted firefighters air malfunction. throwing dirt instead of holding drip torches. Despite the best design and training, which I Bring back the spruces, the Douglas Firs and honestly believe is provided by the agencies, some the Ponderosa Pines. That is what our National jumpers (and it may only be one in 1,000 or one Forests used to be. If the feds buy into that, then in 10,000) will not follow the procedures in order double the budget for the FIRST IN – the smoke- to save their lives. It has happened, and it will

Check the NSA website 34 www.smokejumpers.com happen again. the “Bob,” other designated wilderness areas like In the aftermath of the Billy Martin (LGD- the Frank Church Wilderness in the Salmon N.F., 79) fatality, I did a great deal of research on this or most National Forests in Alaska are considered issue. A Navy study investigated the (rare) failure areas where wildfire helps restore the forest since of its pilots to eject when their aircraft becomes there is no logging and replanting of trees taking disabled. The study concluded that these few place. Why aren’t jumpers used within hours of a highly trained and qualified individuals decided fire alert instead of days? to ride their aircraft in because they felt in control Smokejumpers were the airborne 1st respond- in the cockpit environment, whereas they had no ers for wildfire, medical assistance and evacuation, idea what would happen when they punched out. and rescues like the earthquake in Yellowstone I maintain that some few jumpers will elect to N.P. But there is another reason smokejumpers attempt to correct their malfunction rather than haven’t been expanded or used to their full po- cut away. As long as that main is there, even if it’s tential. Wildfire suppression hasn’t been “federal- junk, they will believe they can get it right rather ized.” I could be wrong, if so I stand corrected, than admit it’s last chance time. but some local forests still have control over the So, my question is this: Do we continue to use of smokejumpers. If wildfire were federalized maintain that the job of smokejumping is not through the National Interagency Fire Center really risky after all, or do we accept the inevitable (NIFC), then smokejumper and hotshot assets and dispense with the handwringing and the could be deployed sooner to prevent the large searching for scapegoats when it does happen? I runaway fires in areas considered endangering am quite sure that the agencies will continue to wilderness areas, populated areas, or areas with provide world-class training and equipment to limited or no vehicle access. The control of how jumpers, and will strive to be truly accident free. the fire is fought should be in the hands of the But! Somebody needs to own up to, affirm, and smokejumper and hotshot crews rather than local be responsible for the decision to use ram-airs. On district personnel. whose desk is “The Buck Stops Here” sign? Maybe the fire policy has changed since 1956, — Mike Fitzpatrick (Redmond ’78) and I sure hope it has, but my first fire in the Salmon N.F. was on Owl Creek with 16 fellow smokejumpers. Seven, including myself, were [RE: “Smokejumpers—The Mission Has Changed? rookies from Missoula: Jess Abney, Dave Barn- Why?” January 2016] hardt, Joe Janus, Art Jukkala, Ken Knoll and Joe The Obama administration sought a long-term Lord. We jumped on Sunday afternoon, July 22, fix for funding wildfire costs by classifying them and split into two teams of eight and attacked as natural disasters – i.e. Tornedoes, Hurricanes, each side of the fire. We worked through the Earthquakes, Floods, etc. The Senate Energy and night and had the fire controlled by mid-morning Natural Resources Committee decided against on Monday, checked and improved the line on that approach saying more review is needed “to Tuesday, and turned it over to a ground crew late make sure it would work as intended.” What were Tuesday, and returned to Missoula on Wednes- they thinking? They weren’t thinking! day. The District Ranger gave full control to our But, why doesn’t the Forest Service expand the smokejumper team. Smokejumper Program? Chuck’s excellent column My second fire in the Salmon N.F. was on suggests at least 200 more than the current 400+ Horse Creek (Roan Ridge), but in a different smokejumpers would save money by reducing the Ranger District. Our Team Leader had been on number of large, high cost fires by getting to the fires in this district before and referred to the fires early, before they become large and create Ranger as “shithead”! We soon found out why, as their own weather. That makes so much sense, but we were told we could not work at night, had to maybe that’s why it isn’t done. take breaks, and had to rotate crews on the line. One reason might be that more forest areas are He micromanaged the crewleaders all the time. now accessible by road. Another, that areas like The fire response started with 40 smokejump-

Check the NSA website 35 www.smokejumpers.com ers from McCall on August 13th, along with a The high cost of wildfire suppression has 16-man crew from Missoula later that day. The forced the Forest Service to take funds from rookies in that crew were Ed Carmean, Don needed projects like prescribed/managed burns, Courtney, John Grubb, Bill Murphy, and J.B. reforestation and research and development for Stone. Then on the 14th, McCall sent four more improving forest ecology. It is time for the fed- jumpers and Missoula sent 12. I was in that crew eral government to recognize wildfire as a natural along with rookies Dave Barnhardt, Ken Knoll, disaster, remove the financial burden from the and Ray Schenck. The fire kept jumping the line Forest Service’s budget, and provide for the special at night, and we would barely get control during funding of the smokejumpers and hotshots. In the day, but lose it again during the night. Had an ideal world it just may be possible. Not likely the smokejumpers been in charge, the fire could in the corrosive politics of a Presidential Election have been controlled within two days rather than year. five! —Jim Clatworthy (Missoula ’56)

Fires 2015 - Something is Wrong by Bob Graham (Missoula ’52)

ire behavior has not changed over the years, managers, and it usually points out areas needing however firefighting has changed and not attention. Falways for the better. It is my opinion that both fires were poorly Firefighting is a risky business. But with the planned and poorly managed, and may well be correct policies and management decisions, much good indicators of a much larger National firefight- of that risk can be greatly diminished. Most of us ing problem. Both were US Forest Service fires and firefighters thought it a privilege to fight fire, but under the management of level 3 ICS teams. Both none of us wanted to die or get injured for that fires started high on the slopes, and the second one privilege. started in bug killed, jackstraw Lodgepole Pine. The 2015 wildfire program was one of the worst The first fire, Bakers Camp, was early in the on record, and the worst on some parts of our for- season when most firefighting resources were avail- ests and rangelands. Many issues have been raised able. This fire covered 49 acres and cost over 1.4 since last year, and most of those involve: “What million dollars to fight. If I were ever involved in went wrong?” and “How can we reverse this trend a 49-acre fire that cost a fraction of that amount, towards larger, more expensive fires and the loss of I would have fired myself. Perhaps there is such a valuable resources?” point of being overly cautious or “Too Safe.” The I would like to make suggestions to those issues. FS never got a control line around this fire as the I participated daily as our Boundary County, managers claimed the ground was too dangerous to Idaho, representative to the Federal and State fire- put manpower completely around the fire. Most of fighter overhead on two project fires, Bakers Camp this expense was air resources of copters and fixed and Parker Ridge, on the Idaho Panhandle Forest wing aircraft. The local ranger made the decision this past season. The FS did have what’s called an that it was unsafe for placing ground crews on the After Action Review, but that was poorly attended upper portion of the fire. Not lining any fire is and did not do anything in the area of identifying normally a poor decision. shortcomings or areas of needed improvement. The The second fire, Parker Ridge Fire, started on FS would benefit quite a bit by having a formal July 29 at a high level and slowly crept its way Board of Review on both fires. A good Board of down to the valley bottom. A jumper crew might Review is one of the best training tools for large fire have been able to control this fire before it began its

Check the NSA website 36 www.smokejumpers.com slow travel downhill. The ranger felt there was no the line, they said yes. But they never did burn this jump spot, but that should have been decided by line out, and once the fingers grew together, coupled ordering a jumper load and let the jumpers decide with high winds, the fire did not slow down until it to jump or not. This fire blew out at the bottom had crossed the road and the river. Farmers finally on August 14, two weeks after its start. At the last stopped the fire in their farmlands. public release, this fire was 6600 acres and cost over Indirect attack rarely works in moderate slope four million dollars, actual firefighting costs, not timber country. However, direct attack and placing including resource losses. On September 3, the fire crews near the fire appears to not be an option. was declared only 50 % contained and was only Apparently, once a decision is made at any level 65% contained on September 24. Most of this fire that an action would be unsafe, no higher level had no line construction nor crew activity as the FS would ever countermand that decision. That is not once more figured it was too dangerous to place line bad in itself if the original decision maker is quali- workers in unsafe areas. Air resources, other than fied to make the decision, or if someone up the lad- jumpers, were used extensively. The upper 2/3rds der has the experience to evaluate that decision and of the fire did not ever have ground crews, nor did change the approach where necessary. they have manpower backing up the retardant and Safety alone appears to have such a high level of water drops on the upper 2/3rds. weight, no one has the courage to invoke reason. Since the FS had decided not to take any action Again, firefighting is a risky business, but safety on the top or sides of this fire, the only real objective should not be the only consideration. You must be of the fire plan was to keep this fire from crossing more aggressive in firefighting, and I believe you can a main county road at the bottom of the fire. This be more aggressive without sacrificing any reason- objective was not achieved. The fire not only even- able safety goals. I believe that firefighters should tually crossed this road, it crossed bottom farmland have built control lines around the fires. Also, there and the Kootenai River itself, threatening quite a seems to be a reluctance to fight fire at night. When few homes and structures. burning conditions get real bad, you chase a fire in I will address some of the areas that wildland the day and catch them at night. firefighters need to re-consider and hopefully im- Is there a reluctance to make camps for crews and prove on. overhead at or near the fire itself? The firefighters On both of these fires, the ranger and the over- and the overhead stayed in town, 25 miles from the head fire team thought that some of the terrain was fire. Sleeping on the ground is not that bad. Nor is too dangerous in which to build line and neither fire eating rations if that increases the time for crews to had completed lines. I have been on a lot of fires and be working on the fireline. Modern day rations are do not remember any fire that we could not find a far better than the old “Cs” and Ks.” way to get a line around somewhere. It may require The managers had a briefing for all interested some burnout, but that is part of fighting fire and parties in town each morning. All the team mem- is good planning and execution. Neither fire was bers and some of the crew overhead attended this declared controlled until late in the fall. briefing. Time on the actual fire was limited to a few The Parker Ridge Fire took two weeks to slowly hours for all those attending. One has to wonder creep down the mountain side on the lower three how much actual line construction time was spent sides. The main portion of the fire was on a large compared to hours of time charged to the fire. timbered south-facing slope and for two weeks the Are there too firm rules about hours and days fire came down that slope in multiple fingers, as on the job? Maybe instead of having a limit on how many as 12 fingers at one time. This was a great many hours one may work in a day, limit those opportunity to build handline across this area and hours to the line workers only, and only those hours burnout between fingers as you go. This would actually building fireline. Place another greater time have stopped the spread of the fire long before it limit on other workers. threatened the road and structures. Management The FS apparently has a policy in the initial plan- decided to build a line just above the county road. ning stage of “Less than Full Perimeter Attack” op- When I asked if they would then burn out above tion. This sounds like they do not plan to build line

Check the NSA website 37 www.smokejumpers.com around the fire. I would hope that any such policy Bob Graham retired under Firefighters retirement after be carefully reviewed at higher levels, particularly in 38 years of fire. His red card rating was the top rat- the early days of attack. Be more aggressive initially, ing in the national system for many years, including then back off if it escapes the early stages. GHQ FIRE MANAGER as well as LINE BOSS 1 and I believe with proper fire management, these two PLANS CHIEF 1. He led one of the most successful fires could have been safely and aggressively attacked fire teams in the US for 12 years. He taught the COM- earlier, thereby limiting the damage to our National MAND function at Marana for Fire Generalship, Fire Forests and adjacent private properties. Command, and Fire Behavior.

2015 Al Dunton Leadership Award Winners

he Al Dunton (FBX- two years as the Lead Rookie 67) Leadership Award Trainer. Tis presented annually Eric has been a leader in to one BLM and one USFS fire management for over smokejumper who goes be- twenty years. He does not yond the requirements of the seek praise for his exceptional job and demonstrates excel- performance over the years. lence in leadership in one or In fact, he would rather that more of the Wildland Fire praise fall to those that he Leadership Principles. This leads and the team. His leader- year’s award winners are Eric ship during the 2015 training Messenger (GAC-00) and and field season as a field-go- Ezra Butterfield (FBX-06). ing firefighter and trainer are Eric Messenger (Courtesy McCall The descriptions of these out- deserving of the highest praise Smokejumpers) standing individuals from their that the McCall Smokejump- nomination papers as follows: ers and the National Smoke- munity has benefited from Eric Messenger is a spotter jumper Program can muster. Ezra’s ability to instruct. Since with the McCall Smokejump- Ezra Butterfield was asked his initial involvement, Ezra ers. Aside from his respon- to help instruct the USFS has instructed multiple New sibilities as a Smokejumper Ram-Air training in 2008. No Man Ram-Air classes, fire Spotter, Eric serves as a fully one knew it at that time, but refreshers, parachute refresh- qualified ICT3 (Incident the Alaska Smokejumpers had ers, rookie training, and tree Command Type 3), DIVS just stumbled on to one of the climbing while holding a high (Division Group Supervisor), most capable instructors at the professional standard. RXB2 (Prescription Fire Burn base. He is a natural instructor Ezra is a solid decision Boss) and SOFR (Safety Offi- with a strong command pres- maker, a team player, a good cer). Eric has also been actively ence, a great knowledge of the supervisor, accepts responsi- involved with the McCall BLM Smokejumper System, bility for his actions, leads by Smokejumper Rookie Train- and has an excellent ability to example, and is always look- ing Program for eight years, explain processes to a student. ing out for the well-being of including serving the last The entire smokejumper com- others.

Check the NSA website 38 www.smokejumpers.com Remember and honor fellow jumpers with a gift to the NSA Good Samaritan Fund in their name. Hard times can fall on many of us at any Off time. The NSA is here to support our fellow jumpers and their families through the Good Samaritan Fund. Mail your contribution to: The Chuck Sheley 10 Judy Lane List Chico, CA 95926

Phisit Indradat (Associate Life Member) ingot plant superintendent at Point Comfort, Phisit died January 20, 2016, in Bangkok, Texas, and Badin, North Carolina, retiring in Thailand. Many of us last saw Phisit when he at- 1987 with thirty-one years of service. He had tended the reunion in Missoula last July as a guest bought an orchard near Wenatchee in 1970 and of Fred Rohrbach (MSO-65). returned to manage it upon retiring. He was very Phisit was a member of the crew of an Air active, enjoying running, biking, racquetball, ski- America C-46 that was shot down September ing and hiking. He took up paragliding at the age 5, 1963. Five people, including Gene DeBruin of 70 and hiked the Appalachian Trail, finishing at (MSO-59), parachuted from the flaming aircraft age 76. Joe jumped at Missoula 1949-51. and were captured by Laotian forces. He survived being a prisoner in the jungle for three years, four William C. “Bill” Murphy (Missoula ’56) months and four days before being rescued by a Bill died February 23, 2016, in Dillon, Mon- Cobra team of Laotian Rightist troops. During tana. Murph graduated from Hellgate High this time Phisit was involved in two escapes, both School and the University of Montana. He had a ending in his recapture. career with the USFS with positions in Oregon, Navy Lt. Dieter Dengler was also a prisoner Washington, South Dakota, Utah and Idaho. with Phisit during the second breakout and his Murph jumped at Missoula 1956-64, and had 29 successful escape story was told in the movie Res- fire jumps during the busy 1961 fire season, and cue Dawn. The film was filled with many inaccu- was the IC on many fires after his jumper career. rate portrayals of the escape, especially downplay- He was very active in the NSA Trails Program and ing the very important part Gene DeBruin played loved to ski. The Griz have lost one of their most in that event. ardent fans. After his rescue in 1967, Phisit returned to work at Air America until the U.S. withdrawal Robert O. “Bob” Rehfeld (Missoula ’45) and fall of Indochina in 1975. He then worked Bob died January 16, 2016, in Lewiston, for a Thai company and retired in Bangkok. Phisit Idaho. He graduated from the University of was cremated wearing a Missoula Smokejumper Montana, where he played tackle on the Grizzly t-shirt. football team, with a degree in Forestry in 1950. Bob served in the Army during the Korean War Joe N. Rumble (Missoula ’49) and returned to a career with the USFS, where Joe, 88, died January 5, 2016, at his home in he retired as Forest Supervisor for the Superior Monitor, Washington. He graduated from Albu- N.F. in 1982. Bob jumped during the 1945-46 querque High School in 1945 and studied forestry seasons. at the University of Idaho for a year before being drafted into the Navy in 1946. He returned to Jerry D. Blattner (McCall ’63) Idaho after being discharged in 1947, and gradu- Jerry died March 7, 2016, in Mesa, Arizona. ated in 1952 with bachelor’s degrees in both min- After high school in Idaho, he went to work for ing and metallurgical engineering. the US Forest Service. Jerry rookied at McCall in He made his career with Alcoa, beginning at 1962 and jumped there through the 1977 season. Wenatchee in 1956, and transferring to work as He had 252 jumps before retiring from jumping.

Check the NSA website 39 www.smokejumpers.com Jerry then took over the McCall Base Manager in 1965 and spent several years in Africa before job replacing Del Catlin. In 1978 he was Fire settling in New Hampshire in 1972 to work as an Management Officer for the McCall R.D., retir- engineer. ing from the USFS in 1990. After retirement he and his wife split time between Flathead Lake and Thomas R. Uphill (Missoula ’56) Arizona. Tom, 80, passed away January 19, 2016. He was born in Fernie, B.C., and was a graduate of John E. Carr (Fairbanks ’63) the University of Montana School of Forestry. John died March 16, 2016, at his home in He was a smokejumper from 1956 to 1963 and Fremont N.H. After graduating from high school made over 100 fire jumps. Tom was a squadleader in 1962, John rookied at Fairbanks in 1963 and and foreman at Missoula and ended his years as jumped that season. He joined the Peace Corps a smokejumper as Administrative Officer for the

NSA Good Samaritan Fund Contributions Donor In Memory/Honor of Dave Shultz (MSO-61)...... Ed Bustamante (GAC-61) Brad Willard (MSO-58)...... Jon Rolf (GAC-57) Brad Willard (MSO-58)...... Dick Baumgartner (MSO-58) Chuck Fricke (GAC-61)...... Ed Bustamante (GAC-61) William Schroeder (MSO-61)...... Ed Bustamante (GAC-61) MSO Class of 1961...... Ed Bustamante (GAC-61) Tony Peiffer (MSO-61)...... Ed Bustamante (GAC-61) Virginia Fitzjarrald...... Keith Fitzjarrald (NCSB-63) Ron Stoleson (MSO-56)...... Tom Uphill (MSO-56) Bill Murphy (MSO-56) Tom Kovalicky (MSO-61)...... Tom Uphill (MSO-56) Ed Bustamante (GAC-61) Roy Korkalo (MSO-61)...... Ed Bustamante (GAC-61) Mike MacKinnon (MSO-57)...... Bill Murphy (MSO-56) Tom Uphill (MSO-56) Brian/Courtney Fitzgerald...... John Carr (FBX-63) Jennifer Como...... John Carr (FBX-63) Jennifer Favela...... John Carr (FBX-63) Carrie Bienkowski...... John Carr (FBX-63) Wayne Charlie...... John Carr (FBX-63) Tom Hilliard (MYC-67)...... Del Catlin (MYC-47) Dick Lynch (MSO-64)...... Jerry Blattner (MYC-63) Contributions since the previous publication of donors April 2016 Total funds disbursed to smokejumpers and families since 2004—$72,540 Mail your Good Samaritan Fund contributions to: Chuck Sheley, 10 Judy Ln., Chico CA 95926

Check the NSA website 40 www.smokejumpers.com Missoula Equipment Development Center. and Master’s degrees in Education. Ron jumped Tom then began a career marked with promo- at Missoula during the 1957 season. He started tions to increasingly responsible positions, mov- his teaching career in Richland, Washington, in ing to a position in Business Management for the 1959 and moved to Great Falls, Montana, in 1969 Division of Engineering in the Forest Service’s where he taught until his retirement in 2000. Region Five Regional Office in San Francisco, Ron was a talented artist and also loved fly California. He then moved to a position with fishing and taught fly tying with the Hooked on the Forest Service’s Region Three headquarters in Fishing Program for 13 years. Albuquerque, New Mexico, followed by a tour in Eugene, Oregon, on the Willamette National H. James “Jim” Oleson (Cave Junction ’53) Forest. His last move was to Portland, Oregon, the Jim died March 21, 2016. He graduated from Regional Office for Region Six. While there, he South Dakota State University with an engineer- was the Regional Budget Officer and was respon- ing degree. Jim jumped at Cave Junction 1953-56 sible for Program Development and the Resources before going into the Navy. After an enlistment in Planning Act in one of the Forest Service’s most the Navy, he got his law degree from the Univer- complex Regions. sity of Montana using his job as a smokejumper to Tom was a Foursquare pastor and chaplain at pay his way through school. Legacy Meridian Park Hospital. Jim started his career in law in Kalispell, Mon- tana, and worked there until December 2013. Ronald W. Swensson (Missoula ’57) During that time he was a Flathead County Attor- Ron, 78, died March 14, 2016. He graduated ney and a U.S. Magistrate, along with his private from the University of Montana with Bachelor’s practice. He was a Life Member in the NSA.

Remembering Bill “Murph” Murphy by Roland Pera (Missoula ’56)

y wife and I will be celebrating our be standing. 53rd anniversary in July. I met Bill If the record has been broken, it has only MMurphy (MSO-56) six years before been done in the last few years. My last season I met her. Bill and I were part of the illustrious was 1961 and I know that Bill did a number of 1956 MSO Smokejumper training class. seasons after that. I don’t remember anything too unusual about After my last year I had little contact with him Bill that summer. We hung around together quite as we both married, had children, started careers, a bit. I do remember that he lived in Missoula and etc. – he in the Forest Service and I as a teacher most of the rest of us were from places far away, in a suburb of Kansas City. We did not begin our so we sort of leaned on him to tell us the places to later life relationship until 2001 when I did my eat and drink, and more importantly, where the first NSA summer project with him as the crew girls hung out. Why did he know where all those leader. The project, Dean Creek in the Flathead, campsites were in Pattee Canyon? seemed to be jinxed from the start. He could dig fireline and handle a chainsaw We had a 13-mile walk-in, our cook did not with the best of us. He joined the New Mexico show up, the mosquitoes were terrible, we cleared crew one season, starting in May and typically brush that towered above our heads, we had to returning to Missoula in July. That year he set the pump all our drinking and cooking water, the record for the most fire jumps in a single season. I beer was gone by Wednesday, and the sole of one believe the number was 29, a record that may still of my boots literally fell off. Hooray for duct tape!

Check the NSA website 41 www.smokejumpers.com We walked out on our last day, arriving at his flip phone. I also remember that after he got the trailhead around 1 p.m. Our packers, who his home computer he would always call me if boasted that they would beat us to the trailhead, he had a message to convey. He simply did not were six hours late. The good news was that there believe that the computer’s email system could be was someone camped at the trailhead who gave us trusted with a message. plenty of cold beer. In addition to the summer projects, Murph We then stopped in Columbia Falls to have also invited me out to ski with him. He had a dinner and arrived in Missoula after midnight. I timeshare in Columbia Falls, and I was so for- was riding with Murph, who was coming off of tunate to be his guest for four consecutive years an eye injury that occurred while salmon fishing starting in 2011. We skied Whitefish Mountain, around McCall, Idaho. Luckily he had me along formerly Big Mountain – a.k.a. Fog Mountain – to drive his rig, as his sight was not good because where Bill was on the ski patrol in his early 20s. of the injury. I learned who “Frabert” was and saw Frabert Jon McBride (MSO-54) must have felt sorry in the bar on the mountain (inside joke with the for us, because the next summer, we had a delight- ski patrol when Bill worked there). I have fond ful project at Webb Lake again in the Flathead memories of those trips even though I hurt my leg country. On that project we had lots of beer with one year trying to navigate the fog. Stopping at a cold stream nearby. I might add the surround- the Blue Moon in Columbia is also an experience ings were beautiful with the lake and all. not easily forgotten. Bill and I had the job of cutting lodgepole trees After skiing it was off to the hot tub and then for use in the corral. Murph and I were about to Whitefish to eat. We usually preceded dinner the same size (which was not very big), but it was with a somewhat-lengthy cocktail hour, me with soon obvious that he was quite a bit stronger than wine, and he with – guess what – Bud Light. I was. Murph’s hearing was not good at that point in From that point I was on the same project with his life – too many fires with chain saws, airplane him, probably five or six more times, and obvious- noise, water pumps, etc. My hearing is not 20-20 ly got to know him better and better. He moved either, so our conversations grew louder and loud- from McCall to Dillon, Mont., in 2005, I believe. er, sometimes wondering if most of the people in Dillon was pretty much on my way driving from the restaurant knew exactly what we were talking the K.C. area to Missoula, so I spent the night about. with him and Stevie a number of times. I usu- Bill could also laugh at himself. He liked to ally was not in the house more than five minutes tell the story of when he and Stevie were living before he popped a cold beer in my hands. in McCall and had a tree behind their house that Bill was pretty serious about his beer. He and I needed to come down. Stevie urged him to get it never graduated to the popular, trendy dark beers done by a professional tree service, but Bill told – we still drank Bud Light and Coors Light. That her that he knew everything there was to know would probably not surprise any of you. about felling trees. Back to the jinxed project in the Flathead, we He carefully sized up the lean, the wind, posted realized very quickly that we did not have very a lookout, cut his notch, got his wedges ready, much beer. Bill took it upon himself to ration the started his backcut, and soon yelled “timber,” but beer, and he kept a running total of cans remain- alas, the tree did not fall where it was supposed to ing in his head. Like on Wednesday morning, he fall. It tore down wires, started a bit of a fire, and would say, “We have 11 cans of beer left.” Not knocked out a transformer. being here to defend himself, I will say unequivo- Soon were heard the sirens of the fire depart- cally that he did not drink to excess – no more ment, police and medical emergency vehicles, than I drank. who soon had everything under control. What do Just like his beer, Bill didn’t seem to take too you think Stevie said besides, “Didn’t I tell you to much to the latest gizmos. The last time I saw him …”? was last summer and I believe he was still using Bill was outgoing and usually cheerful, but

Check the NSA website 42 www.smokejumpers.com could sometimes give the impression of being a bit his wife, Stevie, died, he could not talk about her of a curmudgeon. In fact, he occasionally voiced without tears being shed. his opinions on such topics as politics, welfare, He developed a beautiful relationship with immigration, the Forest Service, tree huggers, and Karen and thoroughly relished the short time they his favorite football team, the Grizzlies. had together. Maria, Pat, and his grandchildren “Now, Bill, why don’t you tell us how you real- loved him dearly. He certainly was kind and gen- ly feel?” was sometimes spoken around the camp- erous to me. fire by other jumpers. However, I was around him So, Bill, rest in peace. You certainly had an enough to realize that he had a very soft side. He interesting life. As in the beer commercial, you and Stevie moved from the lovely resort town of went for the “gusto.” We will all remember you McCall to Dillon to be near their daughter, Maria, and miss you. Traveling to Missoula this coming and grandchildren. For a number of years after summer will not be the same.

Phisit—An Interesting, Intriguing Life by Jerry DeBruin (Associate Life Member)

hisit Indradat passed away in a Bangkok of kindness, gave birth to her children through military hospital January 20, 2016. Phisit perseverance and suffering, gave the family a good Plived an interesting and intriguing life. education so we could carry out our lives honor- With Bill Lair (CIA), Phisit became a member ably and with pride.” of an elite group, Police Aerial Reinforcement Friends include members of the Air America Unit (PARU). He was then employed by Air Association, National Smokejumpers Association, America as an air freight specialist along with my and many others, all of whom continue to admire brother Eugene H. DeBruin (MSO-59). Phisit’s strength of character and pride. On September 5,1963, Phisit and his fel- low crew members were shot down in Laos and taken prisoner. While in prison, Phisit employed the skills learned in the PARU whose instructors stressed high morale while enduring hardship under trying conditions, especially while in the jungle. In late June 1966, Phisit and his crew mem- bers escaped from a prison in Laos. One (Dieter Dengler) reached safety. Phisit was recaptured, put in another prison and was freed as a result of a daring raid in Mahaxay on January 9,1967. While hospitalized, Phisit was reunited joyfully with his Mother, younger siblings, and paternal grandmother. Phisit rejoined Air America until it ceased operations in Laos. His wife, Nid, and son survive Phisit. Upon Phisit Indradat (Courtesy Bob the death of his Mother, Lady Kanyaka Inthar- Dayton) athat, Phisit wrote a fifty-two-page book that detailed his life’s experiences. This book was Phisit Indradat Thai PARU late 50s. dedicated to his Mother, who he described as “full (Courtesy Phisit Indradat)

Check the NSA website 43 www.smokejumpers.com Snapshots from the Past

attack on a large fire requiring I could risk dropping jumpers the three TBM air tankers we at all. Then, if the jump spot had on the base. was marginal, I’d drop my best He was homebound but had jumper by himself so he could discovered another fire that had start cutting a helispot to start the attention of every firefighter the flow of manpower into the on the base. It was burning on fire. Skeleton Ridge, a particularly I really wanted to jump that nasty bit of real estate in the smoke myself, but so did my Gila Wilderness District, about second-in-command, a young six air miles southwest of Gran- squad leader named Tim, who by Jeff R. Davis ite Peak. was as capable as I of nailing a (Missoula ’57) The names on the map de- tight, rough spot. My job was The Airdrop On scribed the terrain: steep, craggy to get as many men on that fire spills of rocky, timbered country as fast as possible, and I knew I Skeleton Ridge difficult to man by air. There was better qualified than Tim to It was the fire season of 1966, were few places on Skeleton handle the coordinated attack. and we smokejumpers had our Ridge where jumpers could be Our plan clicked together hands full of wildfires, as we so dropped. We’d have to hit it the next morning as scheduled. often did, operating out of our at first light, and by then the As the tankers roared off into spike base in Silver City, N.M., smoking menace may have de- the darkness bound for Skeleton on the Gila National Forest. veloped into a real gobbler. Ridge, I went airborne with I was a foreman, as I’d been The dispatcher, Cal Salars, the first four jumpers after tell- for several years, in charge of a and I put together an attack ing the remaining four to stay 20-man composite crew from plan to go into effect at dawn. close to the radio. By the time I Regions 1, 4, 5 and 6. We were We had the three air tankers and neared the fire, I could see the in the midst of another fire bust. eight smokejumpers available. tankers already dropping their More than 50 fires were being The rest were out on fires. loads. I notified the Birddog to reported daily, as the weather The tankers and the AT- clear the tankers out so I could continued its hot, dry, windy 11 Twin Beech aircraft would begin my drop. I had my fingers pattern, and cumulus clouds take off in the dark the next crossed as I flew over the ridge continued to build. We were morning from Grant County above the fire, looking for a pos- hard pushed to keep the nu- Airport, arriving over the fire sible jump spot. merous smokes from becoming at first light. The tankers would There it was! It looked no project fires. get there first and start their bigger than a postage stamp I’d just returned to the dis- drops. Normally tankers had from our drop altitude of a patcher’s shack in Silver City af- priority over jumper aircraft, thousand feet. It lay in a tiny ter a busy day dropping men on but my plan called for a change: saddle, bad-news landings drop- fires throughout the Gila. It was as soon as I arrived with four ping off on all sides. 9 p.m. and I was done for the jumpers I would take immedi- The smoke indicated zero day. Our aerial observer aircraft ate priority and have the air- drift and so did my streamers. I – Birddog – was still airborne. space to myself. dropped Tim and watched him He’s been busy coordinating the My plan was to see first if settle directly into the spot. I

Check the NSA website 44 www.smokejumpers.com dropped the other three in one- calm enough to get all four that smokejumpers are the man sticks, and they all nailed remaining men into the tiny best firefighters in the Forest the spot as Tim had. They had spot. Service, and today they had orders to ignore the fire at first By 10 a.m. the jumpers had proven themselves both on the and start cutting a helispot. The controlled the fire, and a blaze jump and on the fire beyond slurry planes swarmed back over with the potential of becoming all doubt. I was proud to be a the fire, pounding it with salvo a project fire became a dead sta- jumper – a job I’d taken on for after salvo. Some were already tistic almost before the start of a couple of seasons to finance on their second trip. the official burning period. The my way through college that Twenty minutes out from jumpers, with the help from had turned into a 22-year ca- the airport, I radioed the jump- the helitack they’d brought in, reer, and then turned into a ers there to suit up; the jump had put a halt to a fire with the love affair. was a “go.” I was back over the worst potential of any I’d seen I never did complete college fire to see that the first four had that summer. and I never regretted it. Inci- nearly completed the helispot, I was so proud of my fellow dents like the drop on Skeleton and two of them were already jumpers that day I thought Ridge vindicated my decision attacking the fire. It was still I’d bust. I’ve always known and made it all worthwhile.

Australian and American Firefighting by Michael Scott Hill (West Yellowstone ’95)

uring the fire season of 2015, a contingent by the means of helicopters with hoists, hover exit of Australian firefighters deployed to the techniques and, in rare cases, rappelling are possible DUS to help out and, during their deploy- to see in Australia as well. ment, many of them made American friends. Aus- More and more Australians are being organized tralian firefighters often fit well into the framework into groups trained to take on fires burning in re- of US wildland firefighting system and, when they mote areas away from their primarily truck-based left to return home, a number of Americans were firefighting traditions, and they have been making interested in knowing more about firefighting in changes in their hand tools. The configurations of the Land Down Under. I have been an Australian handtools being carried by the individual firefight- wildland firefighter as well as an American firefighter ers have been changing from their primary focus on for many years now and can offer a brief overview of McLeod (or Rakecos), and its close relative the Ri- Australian firefighting from a viewpoint of similari- nos, to a preference of using a Pulaski on the fireline. ties and differences. Australian fire teams call in helicopter bucket drops, Over the past few fire seasons, the lines between as we do, but in so doing, they have developed more both countries have become increasinglt blurred, as descriptive target indicators to assist their pilots. more and more interactions between the two nations There are other differences between the Aus- on the firefighting level have been taking place. Now tralian and American firefighting systems. These above the Australian firelines, it isn’t too out of the differences can be found in terminology, such as ordinary to see SEATs, a Coulson C-130, or even referring to Sectors as Divisions, or in qualification a VLAT coming in for a retardant drop. Australia’s systems, where an Australian crewleader is roughly helicopter fleet has undergone changes from being a equivalent to an American squad boss. mixture of lights and mediums to its recent addition There are differences in tactics used in fighting of a few strategically placed Skycranes, Blackhawks, wildfires in both nations. Australians are focused along with an S-61 and CH-47. Insertion into fires more on mopup while Americans are more focused

Check the NSA website 45 www.smokejumpers.com on aggressive initial and extended attacks. Fighting domesticated sheep found greatly affected by burns fire without the use of water is much more stressed from the bushfires. in America than Australia. Matesmanship, or step- Firefighters have to keep a look out for snakes. ping up to looking out for each other, is much more Australia is home to several species, each of which stressed as part of their efforts. carries venom dangerous to humans. The snake The main politically powerful firefighting species often share many of the same variations of agencies in Australia can be found located in their patterns and colors, but they can be identified by Southeastern States. Their wildfires, or bushfires as the structures of their heads. The Tiger snake is by they are usually called in Australia, can occur almost far the most famous species and is usually consid- anywhere in this country where there is vegetation. ered timid, normally retreating at the approach of Yet too, for these Southeasterners, the more remote a human. They are a beautiful, highly toxic and locations of Tasmania, northern Queensland, and interesting snake. the Northern Territory are what my fellow Austra- Firefighters are instructed that if they are bitten lian firefighters find are the unique and very special by any of Australia’s poisonous snakes, their best assignments. chance of survival is to isolate the bitten extremity What I’ve personally found different are the types with a compression bandage, immobilize themselves of animals it’s possible to encounter in the bush. and call for help. If the snake did inject toxin during Kangaroos, or their smaller cousins the wallabies, its bite, only the timely delivery of anti-venom and can be seen bouncing around fires at times. While the victim’s immobilization will be of help to the the harmless bluetongue lizards are the local favorite, firefighter. As such, snakes are respected in Australia. there can be the world famous koalas also around. Our countries similar cultural histories are a large Large hairy wombats and spiky echidnas may as well part of the reason why Australian and American be seen going about their business on a fire. Huge firefighters find they often share many commonali- wedge-tail eagles can be seen in the skies compet- ties. Any of their differences are not insurmount- ing with helicopters, or colorful parrots chirping able when our teams collaborate on international around in the burnt-out limbs. At times there can be emergency responses.

Working For Food Former smokejumpers give back to National Forests

Published in the Dillon Tribune, Dec. 16, 2015, with house and barn. the cooperation and assistance from Dick Crockford, The historic cabin, built in the 1920s to provide Publisher. field quarters for trail crews, smoke chasers, timber cruisers, and grazing inspectors, is available for rent inter is fast settling here in southwestern year-round. This time of year, it is a popular spot Montana, and though the summer past for cross country skiers and snowshoers. Wis now part of history, the volunteer The crew members with Kolar on this project work done by a group of former smokejumpers were Richard Trinity (MSO-66), a retired surgeon nearly five months ago continues to serve backcoun- from Red Oak, Iowa; Jack Atkins (MSO-68), a try hikers and skiers. retired lawyer from Bozeman; Rod Mciver (MSO- During the week of July 10-16, Bill Kolar 64), a retired teacher and Christmas tree grower (GAC-59) of Dillon and four of his former smoke- from Kalispell; Chuck Fricke (GAC-61), retired jumper friends banded together to work at Hogan’s from the Forest Service from Florence; and Karin Cabin, located in the Trail Creek drainage 21 miles Connelly, retired teacher, packer and cook on northwest of Wisdom, MT. Their primary job was several past projects from the West Glacier area. to construct a jack-leg fence around the cabin, out- Kolar is retired from the Beaverhead/Deerlodge

Check the NSA website 46 www.smokejumpers.com Americorps volunteer Shawn, Richard Trinity, Americorps volunteer Zoe, Americorps volunteer Steve, Bill Kolar, Rod Mciver, Chuck Fricke and Jack Atkins. (Courtesy B. Kolar)

National Forest. Thanks to the cooking skills of Connelly, the Kolar said the motivation for the five former crew ate well and enjoyed their stay at the cabin, smokejumpers to spend part of their summer is to Kolar said. During the week the crew was visited by give back to the National Forests that “helped them Wisdom Ranger District employees John Ericson to become the extraordinary people they are.” and Bob Hutton, who had arranged for the project Three Americorps volunteers joined the group through the National Smokejumper Association out for a time, and had the opportunity to acquire new of Missoula. skills and learn about the careers of the crew, and Since 1998, 150-175 former smokejumpers most of all to hear some pretty wild and outlandish have been volunteering their services for the Forest tales of the past. Service on various projects, including trail mainte- Every day the crew was drenched with rain nance, cabin and lookout preservation, and fence showers and dazzled by the electrical displays of construction and maintenance, as well as trail bridge lightning storms; however, construction of the fence construction. was successfully completed by the end of the week. During the first six to seven years, most of the What made the project a little tougher was that all volunteer projects were located in the Bob Mar- the posts and rails for 600 feet of fence had to be shall and Absaroka/Beartooth Wilderness areas. As fell from standing dead lodgepole, cut to the proper word got out of the excellent work performed by lengths, carried down to the road, loaded on a trailer the former smokejumpers, there was a rush on to and hauled some two miles back to the project site. obtain services on all Forest Service lands outside Before construction could begin, all the posts had to the wilderness areas, Kolar said. be notched at the proper angle to form the jack-leg. While most of the projects are located in Mon- Jacks were spaced at ten foot intervals. tana and Idaho, work has expanded to Colorado, Another task the crew had was to fall 38 hazard California, Minnesota and eastern Oregon over the trees that were located around the perimeter of the last nine years. All travel and lodging to and from cabin, barn, and outhouse without taking out any the projects is strictly non-pay to the volunteers who of the structures. This job was assigned to their ex- come from all parts of the United States. pert sawyer, Rod Mciver and his right hand helper, “Our motto is ‘We work for food’ and a place to Richard Trinity. throw out our tent and sleeping bag,” Kolar said.

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