The National Quarterly Magazine Association JULy 2015 Smokejumper

The List ...... page 5 Oral History Project ...... page 7 Klamath Fires of 2014 ...... page 14 CONTENTS Message from Message from the President ...... 2 The Selected Few and “The List” ...... 5 The List...... 6 the President Driscoll Smokejumper Oral History Project ...... 7 Southeast Asia 1967–71 and Roary Murchison ...... 9 • What is the time and cost Spotting: An Art? ...... 10 Fire Call! Bringing in the Cheese ...... 11 required to maintain profi- Blast from the Past...... 13 ciency on each of the systems? The Klamath Fires of 2014 ...... 14 • Is there a difference in the Ram-Air Program Combines Best confi guration of aircraft for of the Old, New ...... 16 the two systems? Higgins Ridge Fire Was Memorable • Are there safety consider- Due to Size, Intensity...... 17 ations unique to each of the As 75th Anniversary Approaches, We Should Remember These Smokejumping Trailblazers 18 parachute systems? A “Floyd-Or-Lloyd” Story ...... 19 • Are there differences in injury Sounding Off from the editor ...... 22 rates between the two para- Dunton Award Winners ...... 24 chute systems? Jumper Returns to Fire Business After 30-Year by Jim Cherry • Are there differences in the Layoff ...... 25 (Missoula ’57) cost of injuries/medical care Festival Honoring Maclean Slated for Seeley Lake...... 26 President between the two parachute Book Reviews ...... 27 systems (both initial care and Coming Soon—“A Few Jumper Stories” ...... 28 hen I wrote the article long-term care)? Jokers; War, Love, and Helicopter Pilots— for the April 2015 • Will a change to a single para- What Could Go Wrong? ...... 29 issue of Smokejumper chute system for both the The View from Outside the Fence ...... 31 W magazine, I made mention that BLM and the USFS provide a An Oregon Visit – Wine, Beer and Museums! ...... 34 the NSA Board of Directors had demonstrable advantage over Evergreen Avation Museum ...... 34 Odds and Ends ...... 35 submitted a list of eight questions the present two-system mode? Off the List ...... 37 to the U.S. Service, so we • If there are compelling reasons Total Funds Disbursed to ...... 38 might have a better understand- for eliminating “mixed” loads ing of the complicated issues of rounds and squares, what surrounding the decision-making are they? process related to the selection of future parachute systems. I had submitted additional I want to voice my thanks to questions to Mike Fritsen, all in

SMOKEJUMPER, Issue No. 89, July 2015 Tim DeHaas, national smoke- an effort to gather information ISSN 1532-6160 jumper program manager, and that would help educate our NSA Smokejumper is published quarterly by: Mike Fritsen (MSO-95), Missou- membership as to the functioning The National Smokejumper Association c/o 10 Judy Lane la base manager, for their coop- of the two different systems cur- Chico, CA 95926 eration and assistance in getting rently being used. These include The opinions of the writers are their own and do answers to many of the questions the FS-14, which is a round not necessarily refl ect those of the NSA. Permis- and for additional information chute, and the ram-air chute, sion to reproduce Smokejumper in any manner must fi rst be obtained in writing. they were able to provide. sometimes called a “square.” NSA Web site: http://www.smokejumpers.com Here is the original list of Here are my questions and Managing Editor: Chuck Sheley questions submitted: Mike’s responses: Associate Editor: Ed Booth • What is the current cost for Cherry: To what degree do the Editing: K. G. Sheley each parachute system on a FS-14 and the ram-air have capa- Photo Editor: Johnny Kirkley per-jumper basis? bility for being sized to the weight Illustrators: Dan Veenendaal, and Eric Rajala • What is the length of time of the individual jumpers? Printing: Larry S. Jackson, Heidelberg Graphics, www.HeidelbergGraphics.com and the cost involved to train Fritsen: The FS-14 is made in Front cover photo: East Peak Lake Fire Nez a jumper to the point of initial three sizes – small, medium and Perce NF 1979. (Courtest Mark Corbet) profi ciency on each system? large – to accommodate jumpers

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 2 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping from 120 to 200 pounds. The current ram-air canopies conducted safely, the jump can progress. (DC-7 and CR-360) that are approved for smokejumper If you’re asking about the maximum safe airspeed that use are made in one size that accommodates jumpers a jumper can exit the aircraft, both systems are compliant from 120 to 200 pounds. with TSOs (technical standard orders) that ensure that they can safely deploy up to 150 KEAS (knots equivalent Cherry: What is the “dead-air” forward speed of each air speed). system? Fritsen: We use the term “air speed.” The FS-14 – 9 Cherry: What is the glide ratio for each system? mph at full-run. Seven-cell ram-air canopies – 20-25 Fritsen: FS-14 – 1:1, DC-7 or CR-360 – average of mph at full-run depending on wing loading. 2:1. Expressed as feet forward to feet vertical for both canopies, this would change when wind is introduced or Cherry: What is the maximum air speed allowed for different brake settings are used. For both canopies, the deploying jumpers with each system? jumper can reduce the glide ratio with toggle settings, Fritsen: I’m assuming you’re asking about maximum but not increase it. wind speed, or drift. FS-14 – 550 yards, 15-mph ground wind; DC-7 or CR360 – 1200 yards, 32 mph. These Cherry: Is there a minimum height above ground maximums are a “guide” as many considerations are where maneuvering (i.e., turns, etc.) should not be done? taken into account when spotting smokejumpers. When Fritsen: Yes, on either canopy (FS-14, DC-7, or all considerations are taken into account and mitigated, CR-360) a jumper should be on fi nal heading by 100 and both spotter/jumper concur that the jump can be feet AGL (above ground level) and making only subtle corrections from there.

Cherry: Are there risks or dangers associated with NSA Members—Save making last-second maneuvers on either system? This Information Fritsen: Yes, jumpers have been seriously injured on both types of canopies when making drastic maneuvers Please contact the following persons directly if too close to the ground. you have business or questions: Smokejumper magazine Cherry: What is the minimum elevation above Articles, obits, change of address ground level (AGL) desired for jumping with each Chuck Sheley system? 530-893-0436 Fritsen: Round – 1,500 feet AGL, ram-air – 3,000 [email protected] feet AGL. 10 Judy Ln. Chico, CA 95926 Cherry: What components make up the equipment Membership John McDaniel for each system? (Main, reserve, etc. perhaps done with 785-404-2847 a photo showing each part but not the jump suit, hel- [email protected] met, etc.) 807 Eileen Ln. Fritsen: I will see if I can get someone to render pho- Salina, KS 67401-2878 tos of the equipment in the near future. We don’t have a All else photo to show you now, but the reunion will be a good NSA President opportunity to see the equipment for each system. Jim Cherry Description (step-by-step) of how each system is 641-927-4428 deployed on the jump (static line, self-deployed, etc.): [email protected] BLM ram-air – Drogue parachute is static-line 2335 300th St. deployed to orient and stabilize the jumper. At “pull- Ventura, IA 50482-8502 thousand” (approximately fi ve seconds into the jump), the jumper pulls the drogue release handle and the Smokejumper base abbreviations: drogue parachute is released. This action pulls the main Anchorage ...... ANC Grangeville ...... GAC Redding ...... RDD Boise ...... NIFC Idaho City ...... IDC Redmond ...... RAC parachute from the container on the jumper’s back. The Cave Junction ...... CJ La Grande ...... LGD West Yellowstone WYS lines deploy fi rst, then the parachute from the deploy- Fairbanks ...... FBX McCall ...... MYC Whitehorse Yukon YXY ment bag. Fort St. John ...... YXJ Missoula ...... MSO Winthrop ...... NCSB For a video of the ram-air deployment sequence, type

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 3 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 this address into your web browser: www.youtube.com/ the ram-air, if there’s a serious malfunction, the jumper watch?v=3sv3n1tzTvE&feature=youtu.be would cut away from the main canopy and deploy the FS-14 round – Jumper exits the aircraft, the static line reserve (also a “square”). There is no system for cut- pulls the parachute deployment bag from the container, ting away the round, so one would need to deploy the lines are deployed, and then the parachute (approxi- reserve and come down with both chutes deployed. mately four seconds into the jump). One malfunction for the ram-air could be the “drogue-in-tow” where the drogue was deployed upon Cherry: What does each system cost with all the exit from the plane, but when the jumper attempts to components included? deploy the main canopy, it is not successfully released. Fritsen: $8,500 for round vs. $19,000, so roughly (The procedure is too detailed to describe here but double. These fi gures are the state of the current situa- it would be a good question to ask when visiting the tion. The Forest Service has not yet explored avenues to jump base during the reunion.) reduce costs associated with or industry Another potential danger for a jumper on the ram- alternatives and procurement. air is the misjudging of his/her landing, fl aring the chute at the wrong time and causing a sudden stall and Cherry: How is the “use-life” of each system deter- drop. However, additional time is given to training on mined? the ram-air as compared to the FS-14. Fritsen: In both the BLM and Forest Service we use Initial training on the ram-air includes approxi- the terms “service life” and “shelf life.” The FS-14 has a mately 20 jumps whereas the FS-14 includes 15 shelf life of three years, plus the service life of 12 years or jumps. Refreshers involve 4-5 jumps on the ram-air 100 jumps – whichever comes fi rst – based on military and 3-5 on the FS-14. For both systems during the service-life standards. The BLM currently has a 10-year season, there would be at least one jump required every service-life standard based on acquisition schedules. 30 days. The current standard is being studied with the pro- It is my hope that this information proves helpful posal to shift to a 20-year or 300-jump service life in the toward aiding your understanding of the two systems BLM. It’s reasonable to assume that Forest Service ram- being used, and it will serve as a platform for your be- air canopy service life will be at least the same as rounds. ing able to ask further questions during the reunion as you visit the jump base in July. Cherry: Do the systems have any signifi cant differ- Safe travels. See you there. ence in their ability to “hang-up” safely in a timber jump? Fritsen: This has not been determined and no differ- ence in signifi cant injuries between canopies has pointed to this as a contributing factor.

Cherry: Have there been any problems related to having “split-loads” jumping the same fi re? Fritsen: We use the term “mixed loads,” but none has been encountered that introduces more operational risk. The Forest Service and BLM have been jumping mixed loads for over 20 years. There are times when, due to jump spot selection or wind conditions, adjustments are made to accommodate one canopy type or the other.

During a conference call that included Tim, Mike, Chuck Sheley and me, we had the opportunity to cover some additional questions as well. We spent some time discussing the issue of malfunctions and how they’re addressed. Some of the malfunctions “old-timers” had to consider are now of little concern (line over, inversion, twisted risers, etc.) because of the many improvements made in the FS-14. There have been some issues with broken steering lines, and the cause for that is not fully known. With L–R: Rufus Robinson, Frank Derry, and Earl Cooley

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 4 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping The Selected Few and “The List” by Chuck Sheley (Cave Junction ’59)

eeping in mind our 75th Anniversary Reunion, about the “Ravens.” We were communicating about Jim’s and the fact that we are all growing older, I have time in SEA, and I asked about recording smokejumper/ Kdecided to share some information concerning CIA work in that part of the world. His response was important smokejumper history. As managing editor of very thought provoking: Smokejumper, and a historian at heart, I have for many “I was in charge of Saravane for about six months. years tried to nail down how, when, and where smoke- One Raven died there and two others were shot down. jumpers began to be recruited by the CIA to carry out “As far as giving info on what went on with the special operations – world wide. Agency, it’s fi ne with me. I would like to see the emphasis Over the years I’ve read pages of written documents put on smokejumping. from William Leary’s Air America collection at the Uni- “There have been a lot of smokejumpers involved in versity of Texas at Dallas. Numerous books chronicle op- Agency work over the years and basically no one knows erations in other locations. After 40 years there is nothing about it. I don’t know why the Agency chose jumpers, secret about the outstanding work these individuals have but there had to have been a reason. I think it was be- done under some of the most diffi cult circumstances. cause we could go anywhere, anytime, and do a tough, Some individuals have requested that their names be confusing job and then keep our mouths shut. I think left off the list and that request is honored, even though smokejumpers have what it takes. They are not just fi t their names are public record and some have given in- and strong but have the ability to think independently terviews to authors of books. and work towards a solution, no matter what the odds. One of the main reasons for recognizing these men for “The real story is about the type of people it takes to their service is that we should record an accurate list of make a smokejumper because you can take that type of smokejumpers who were involved. As you can see from person and drop them anywhere. the April issue of Smokejumper, history can be changed “One thing that amazed me then, and now, is how the and rewritten. war in Laos was so much like fi ghting a forest fi re. I think It is common knowledge from many written sources that was because smokejumpers set the pattern in the that smokejumpers have been involved in numerous early 60s in Laos. They must have started running Op’s far-fl ung operations from Tibet and India to the Congo, like they’d run a fi re out near Huslia with four village from Cuba and South America to the North Pole, and crews. Same damned thing, except I ran four battalions from Arizona to Vietnam. Finally to Laos where a cadre and over 1200 soldiers. of smokejumper air operations offi cers and ground sup- “If you ever do write about the Smokejumpers and the port offi cers fought side by side with indigenous Lao Agency, I think it would be a great contribution to the troops and General Vang Pao’s Hmong army in their history of the smokejumpers and to that of the Vietnam 15-year battle against the North Vietnamese. This war, era. Big project though, big.” known as the “Secret War,” became the fi nal chapter in Since 2003, when I seriously began trying to identify the lives of seven former smokejumpers employed as the former jumpers who were involved in the above Air America “kickers” and one who was employed as mentioned activities, I have been able to come up with a pilot (Charles Dieffenbach/GAC-56). Further, there the names of 96 individuals. Many of the names you see was a case offi cer (Jerry Daniels/MSO-58) who died in on “The List” have come directly from those involved. Bangkok, Thailand, under suspicious circumstances, and I came across other names when reading various books, another pilot (Frank Odom/MYC-63) who was shot newspaper articles, and stories published in Smokejumper. down in Zambia, Africa. It is my opinion that the relationship between the All information was obtained from public sources. smokejumpers and the CIA began in 1951, when the There are many books and websites available to anyone Agency sent two paramilitary-types to Missoula to go who wants to research the subject. A sample of these through smokejumper training. Apparently, when the sources will be listed in this issue. Over the years many two trainees returned to , D.C., the people articles have been published in Smokejumper. in charge fi gured out that there was a group of people Back in November of 2002, I was communicating out West who were already trained in most of the skills with Jim Veitch (MSO-67) while working on a story they were looking for, and who were ready and willing to

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 5 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 take on any challenge. Hence, the CIA recruiting began Grenlin, Les (MSO-46) ...... Deceased 9/10/95 in Missoula, and the rest is history. Grover, Dayton (MSO-55) I used the following criteria to determine who Hale, Glenn (MYC-57) ...... Deceased 8/24/10 belonged on “The List”: Former smokejumpers who Hamilton, Cliff (CJ-62) were Air America “kickers” or pilots and/or were fi eld Harrison, Reed (MSO-60) ...... Deceased 7/23/93 employees of the CIA in “overseas” positions between Herald, Robert (MSO-55) 1951 and 1975, when the “Secret War” ended. I’m sure Hessel, Ken (MYC-58) that the list is pretty accurate, but it is always possible to Hester, Billy (MSO-58) ...... Deceased 4/10/70 miss someone and I am always interested in any updates Shot down Laos and corrections. Six individuals have asked to be removed Houston, Everett (MYC-71) ...... Deceased 6/18/08 from the list below. Johnson, Miles (MYC-53) ...... Deceased 10/26/97 It is important to record history accurately. As seen in Johnson, Shep (MYC-56) the April issue of Smokejumper and Operation Firefl y, if Jukkala, Art (MSO-56) ...... Deceased 7/12/99 it is not recorded accurately, what is written in later years Kalbfus, Charles (MSO-45) is far from the fact and is created by writers far removed Kapitz, Russ (MSO-58) from the events. Kirkley, Johnny (CJ-64) Kofford, Larry (MSO-63) The List Lehfeldt, Bruce (MSO-54) Lewis, John (MYC-53) ...... Deceased 8/13/61 Allen, Max (MSO-48) ...... Deceased 7/6/98 A-America C-46 Crash Andersen, Roland “Andy” (GAC-52) Manley, John (CJ-62) Ball, Herman (MSO-50) ...... Deceased 4/16/14 Marlow, Glen (MSO-57) Banta, Louis (CJ-51) Mathews, Jack (MSO-48) ...... Deceased 2/12/01 Barber, James (GAC-60) ...... Deceased 4/4/02 Mellin, Dave (RAC-66) ...... Deceased 1/26/98 Barber, Michael (MSO-68) Moloney, Bob (MYC-64) Barnowsky, Fred (MSO-42) ...... Deceased 7/15/08 Moore, Larry (IDC-59) Beasley, Ray (MYC-52) Moseley, Charley (CJ-62) ...... Deceased 4/8/14 Bevan, David (MSO-55) ...... Deceased 8/13/61 Newton, Gideon (CJ-55) ...... Deceased 7/17/63 A-America C-46 Crash A-America C-46 Crash Blake, Clifton (MSO-55) Nicol, Bob (MSO-52) Bober, Mike (MSO-46) ...... Deceased 4/15/05 Nyquest, Ted (MSO-54) Bowles, Bill (RDD-57) Odom, Frank (MYC-63) ...... Deceased 4/5/77 Brown, Lyle (GAC-54) ...... Deceased 4/13/12 Shot down in Zambia. Butler, Tom (MSO-61) Oehlerich, Mike (MSO-60) Cahill, Jack (MSO-58) Parker, Ray (MSO-53) Casieri, Al (MSO-52) ...... Deceased 1/26/05 Peterson, Richard (MYC-47) ...... Deceased 10/19/99 Cochran, Art (MSO-42) ...... Deceased 10/3/08 Rainey, George (RAC-68) Courtney, Don (MSO-56) Reed, Barry (MSO-60) Daniels, Jerry (MSO-58) ...... Deceased 4/28/82 Roberts, Harry (MSO-53) ...... Deceased 5/17/10 DeBruin, Gene (MSO-59) ...... Shot down 9/5/63 MIA Saltsman, Joe (MSO-46) Dieffenbach, Charles (GAC-56) ...... Pilot shot down Samsel, Kirk (MSO-60) ...... Deceased 9/9/94 7/23/62, died while walking out Schas, David (MYC-48) ...... Deceased 7/14/88 Dobbins, Wallace (MSO-47) ...... Deceased 11/18/02 Schenck, Ray (MSO-56) ...... Deceased 6/94 Eubanks, Darrel (IDC-54) ...... Deceased 8/13/61 Scott, Lavon (MYC-48) A-America C-46 Crash Scott, Toby (MYC-57) Evans, Charles (MSO-56) ...... Deceased 1962 Seethaler, Karl (MSO-55) Fite, Larry (MSO-60) Smith, George (IDC-62) ...... Deceased 8/16/06 Gossett, Lee (RDD-57) Smith, Kenn (IDC-55) ...... Deceased 8/22/97 Graham, Richard (IDC-58) Smith, Glenn (NCSB-40) ...... Deceased 5/28/88 Granquist, Gary (RAC-65) ...... Deceased Spence, John (MYC-58) Grasky, Jim (MSO-67) Stoleson, Ron (MSO-56)(OK) Greiner, Tom (MSO-55) Stone, Dale (MYC-57) Grenager, Lyle (MSO-48) Swain, Charles (MSO-51) ...... Deceased

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 6 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping Swift, Mick (CJ-56) ...... Deceased 10/5/93 Webb, Wayne (MSO-46) ...... Deceased 11/7/99 Veitch, Jim (MSO-67) Weissenback, Ed (CJ-64) ...... Deceased 12/27/71 Wall, Jack (MSO-48) ...... Deceased 9/28/10 Shot Down Laos Ward, Hal (CJ-62) Whipple, Greg (MSO-59) Watson, Bob (MSO-51) ...... Deceased 12/6/12 Yeager, Charley (RAC-65)

Driscoll Smokejumper Oral History Project

ohn Driscoll (MSO-68) has completed a Smoke- dropped 300,000 rupees into the Tibet so that most of jumper Oral History Project called “There I those funds could be used by the Dalai Lama’s entourage JWas!”, 30 interviews with smokejumpers, mostly after it crossed into India, otherwise carrying only worth- associated with . Digital video discs were less Tibetan currency. given to the University of Montana Library Archivist in November 2014. Information from John’s report John’s Comments At The End Of His Notes: that relates to the smokejumper/CIA articles in this “Though the unclassifi ed CIA seems willing to assist issue is included. in somehow telling the story of smokejumpers engaged in covert CIA operations, I became convinced that John’s Notes: such an effort at this point will be premature, because Art Cochrane (MSO-42), was the senior jumper a University of Montana graduate named Garfield among the fi rst cohort of ten or more recruited by the Thorsrud (MSO-46), who grew up in Missoula and CIA in June 1951 to jump behind enemy lines and train possesses a vast understanding of CIA covert operations nationalist parachute forces during the Korean War. One involving smokejumpers, is the individual most likely jumper watched those jumpers, one at a time, leave his to be consulted by the Agency before fi nally approving barracks for an interview, return, say nothing, pack their any revelations. Though Thorsrud’s own name appears bags and leave for points unknown. in published works about CIA covert operations in Another person recalls, 17 years later, being one in Indonesia, China and the Arctic, the former Missoula a plane load of jumpers, en-route from Missoula to smokejumper is adamant against broadly telling the California, that touched down in Marana, AZ, to be smokejumper story in some fashion. Though all of the briefed by a couple of guys in suits with “skinny ties,” covert operations of which I am aware have long since and asked to come to work for the CIA during the wars been declassifi ed and published openly, my sense is that in Southeast Asia. Thorsrud feels that telling the broader smokejumper There are interviews with three jumpers who worked story will put other operations, or aspects of operations for the CIA that are either current or historical, at risk.” Of the two Missoula jumpers, who would not speak Gar died November 23, 2014, and with him went a lot of frankly about their CIA experiences, one described in de- important and interesting history that probably will never tail how he and other jumpers used a “Fulton Skyhook,” be told. (Ed.) mounted on the nose of a B-17, to recover the body of a dead American scientist from a U.S. research station 85 John was kind enough to send printed copies of miles from the North Pole. his interviews. The following are excerpts from John The other described his long and painful recovery Driscoll’s work: from a serious Border Patrol airplane crash, experienced while tracking immigrants illegally crossing the southern Notes From February 8, 2014, U.S. Border with Mexico. Interview With Art Morrison (MSO-68): The one who spoke frankly about his CIA experiences He said he was fl ying in a DC-3 loaded with jump- was recruited from the jump base at McCall, Idaho, in ers (enroute to California) when it touched down, the early 1960s. He tells of his experiences supporting the and some guys with suits and skinny ties came into Bay of Pigs Invasion by training Guatemalan and Cuban the room at Marana and tried to recruit cargo kick- Airborne troops at a base on the Pacifi c side of Gua- ers, $50K per year tax-free. Some decided to do it. He temala, being wounded at Long Cheng, rigging cargo knows for sure that Jim Veitch (MSO-67) worked for for General Vang Pao’s “CIA Secret Army” of Hmong the CIA. Veitch was “hard core.” Ate “C” rations in a tribesmen in Laos, and rigging the yellow parachute that corner by himself.

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 7 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 Notes From November 6, 2014, Notes From October 28, 2014, Interview With Joe McDonald (WYS-51): Interview With Bob Nicol (MSO-52): Because he had gotten to Nine Mile late, he ended up Bob went to work with Intermountain Aviation in in the barracks with the old men. Joe remembers that the Marana, Arizona, in January of 1962 as a pilot. CIA would come to Nine Mile and call a man down for He was on Project Coldfeet (Smokejumper Jan. 2010) an interview. If they agreed to go with the Agency, they’d involving picking up the body (“Old George” Smoke- come back to the barracks and mum was the word. They jumper Jan. 2011) of a scientist from an ice station in wouldn’t say anything. “I really wanted to go in the worst the artic. Jerry Daniels and Toby Scott were also on that way but they were looking for college graduates. I was mission. One of the guys on the ground later said, “It never called.” They took Art Cochran. Gar Thorsrud was like God came down from heaven. There was old (MSO-46) was one of them and later, Wally Dobbins George sitting there on the ground, and he just slowly (MSO-47) and Jimmy Barber (GAC-60). disappears into the clouds. The shadow of an airplane comes over, and these two parachutes, carrying whisky, Notes From January 1, 2015, come fl oating down.” Interview With Lyle Grenager (MSO-48): In 1968 he more or less became Chief Pilot for the The day he got recruited, the CIA man said, “We Twin Otters. He stayed with Intermountain until they want you because you’re self-reliant and we won’t sold out in 1975. He then went back to the Forest Service have to babysit you like we do some of those Ivy and retired in 1990. Leaguers. Do you want the job?” “Well, what will I be doing?” “Can’t tell you. Do you want the job?” Smokejumpers Mentioned In Other Books About CIA He went to Washington, D.C., then to Taiwan for a Operations: couple of months, then back to Washington. “I don’t Covert Ops/The CIA’s Secret War In Laos by James E. Parker know what that was all about. Then we went back to Jerry Daniels, Shep Johnson and Frank Odom Taiwan and stayed.” The Book Of Honor by Ted Gup Smokejumper Jack Wall (MSO-48) was Lyle’s friend, Gar Thorsrud, Miles and Shep Johnson and Jack very talented. Completely stripped down a DC-3 to fi ll it Wall with propaganda leafl ets to be fl own clear across China, The Ravens by Christopher Robbins then rode along the whole distance as kicker, lying on Shep Johnson, Frank Odom and Jerry Daniels top of them. Honor Denied by Allen Cates Lyle would go over to Quemoy (island, one mile Ed Weissenback, Bobby Herald and Billy Hester off mainland coast) with a CIA radioman and monitor A Code to Keep by Ernest Brace mainland radio traffi c. He used the time to help keep the Gene DeBruin 10,000 nationalist troops on Quemoy busy (recreation, Hog’s Exit by Gayle Morrison etc). Lee Gossett, Glenn Hale, Ken Hessel, Shep Johnson, Back on Taiwan he bunked with Col Rucker in the Bob Nicol, Mike Oehlerich, Barry Reed, Toby Scott, Taipei Guest House and worked during the day in “the T.J. Thompson, GarThorsrud, Jack Wall, Lyle Gre- huge arsenal the CIA had south of town.” The arsenal nager, Herman Ball, Wally Dobbins, Les Grenlin, had thousands of all kinds of weapons and ammunition, Jonathan “LaVon” Scott, Glenn Smith, JackCahill, especially German from WWII, to equip forces once they Jack Mathews, Miles Johnson, Richard Peterson, Lyle gained a foothold on the mainland. “I did that after ex- Brown, Fred Barnowsky, Billy Hester, John Lewis and pressing an interest in guns (nothing more).” At the end Darrell Eubanks. of the Taiwan assignment he went to work at the CIA Air America by Christopher Robbins arsenal in Washington, D.C. for a couple more years. Gar Thorsrud “When I got home, my board wanted to draft Shooting At The Moon by Roger Warner me. CIA said it didn’t have the infl uence to stop it, but Jerry Daniels could get him out of the service.” After basic a General Tragic Mountains by Jane Hamilton-Merritt let him out saying, “You must have some important Jerry Daniels and Toby Scott friends.” That’s when he decided to spend a few more Sky Is Falling by Gayle Morrison years working for the CIA at the arsenal. Jerry Daniels He said Art Cochrane was running the Nine Mile Great Falls Tribune 6/2/14 Base when his contingent (unknown number) was re- Ray Beasley and Shep Johnson cruited and knew Cochrane also went with the CIA, but CIA Notes William M. Leary Univ. of Texas at Dallas seemed “unattached” to “Gar’s Group.” Archive,

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 8 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping Missions To Tibet by Dr. Joe F. Leeker, and Letters from son, Art Jukkala, John Lewis, Richard Peterson, Ray Miles Johnson to William Leary Schenck and Ray Beasley Roland Anderson, Fred Barnowsky, William Dem- Thomas Fosmire interview with Wm. Leary 12/28/92 mons, Darrell Eubanks, Miles Johnson, Shep John- Gar Thorsrud.

Southeast Asia 1967-71 And Roary Murchison by Joe Lord (Missoula ’56)

his is no shit. There I was … in Vientiane, activities in Laos, I wonder where in the hell I was. Laos, January 1971, wrapping up a four-year This all has become even more frustrating as I go on Tcommitment to the United Nations Economic these smokejumper summer projects and run into old Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE). jumpers who were there when I was, and did and saw Vientiane, supposedly the end of the psychedelic trail, and ate the things that I did. home of the Lane Xang Hotel, the White Rose – and For example, Tom Butler (MSO-61). Tom married 1971, the height of the Vietnam War (if there were a Laotian lady and now speaks better Lao (northeast- ever any heights). ern Thai) than I do. And Shep Johnson (MYC-56) I was a civil engineer on loan to ECAFE from the – what a deal he had, doing all that wild, crazy stuff in U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and part of a group of sci- Asia and then going back and jumping in our moun- entists, geologists and engineers studying the irrigation tain West. suitability of the Mekong River. We were also inves- I really enjoy reading all the many stories about the tigating three rivers in Northeast Thailand: the Nam secret war in Laos and the kickers (ex-smokejumpers) Mun, Nam Chi and the Nam Yang. who fought in this 13-year war that three presidents While spending most of my time upcountry, I lived denied ever happened, even though I seemed to have for these four years in Bangkok with my wife, Judy, missed out. and our three children (two were born in Bangkok). I did have one smokejumper reunion of sorts while What is signifi cant about being and working in in Thailand. My wife’s roommate in college dated Vientiane at this time was that Vientiane was the head- a smokejumper, Roary Murchison (RDD-57). He quarters for Air America and the CIA (if there was a visited us in Washington, D.C., while we were going difference between these organizations). I won’t start to through orientation in 1967 for assignment overseas. It tell you how many smokejumpers have a well-recorded was shortly after he graduated from medical school at history of association with one or both of these organi- Ohio State University. zations, primarily because I don’t know. He also visited us a couple of times in Bangkok on But I can tell you my group had offi ces in Air R&R. This guy was a special person, besides being a America and fl ew on a number of their aircraft. And smokejumper. not to brag, but I believe that during my stays upcoun- When I saw him last, he was a captain or major in try and travels, there weren’t many bars that I missed. the U.S. Army Special Forces and a medical doctor I would also note that I had PX privileges and offi cer operating on an A-Team in Vietnam. I loved to hear club passes at the three main U.S. air bases in north- his stories and the wild things he did or was planning east Thailand. to do. I don’t think it would be wise to relate some of In the four years that I knocked around in Thai- them here, but the best was what he was going to do land, Laos and Cambodia, I did not run into one when rotating back to the States. smokejumper. I know that J.B. Stone (MSO-56) was He was planning to buy one of those little French doing his historic things out of one of those bases and cabs that run around in Saigon and put some guns in made efforts to hook up with him … which never hap- the gas tank and ship it back to the states. He prom- pened. ised me an AK-47! When I read the Smokejumper quarterly magazine Roary, as they say, is now “off the jump list,” so and see all these wild tales of Air America and CIA they can’t do anything about what he did. Roary was a

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 9 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 unique guy who tended to things in a special way. obituary. When I couldn’t find it, I looked up his His obituary was published Sept. 5, 1990. He brother, Phil Murchison (CJ-58), on the Jump List. died from leukemia; I had expected him to be shot or Using Phil, and not his real name, John P. Murchison, hanged. he didn’t show up either, so I jumped to the conclu- sion that they, Roary and Phil, had fallen through the Dr. Roary A. Murchison Jr., an emergency cracks. room physician who helped found three occupa- Wrong – they are there, as they should be. We just tional medical clinics, has died at his Woodland need to write an obituary for Roary, which I intend to Hills home. He was 52. A native of Alabama, see done. Murchison graduated from Ohio State Univer- The last year I jumped was in New Mexico in 1968 sity College of Medicine in the early 1960s and with Roland Andersen (MSO-52), Shep Johnson, Art later served in the U.S. Army Special Forces Jukkala (MSO-56) Darrel Eubanks (IDC-54), and a during the Vietnam War. He worked as an emer- number of others who made up a pretty special crew. gency room physician in Chino before coming I look back on the three years that I was smokejumper to Woodland Hills in 1980. as the most special time of my 79 years, and I want ev- erybody who shared this same experience to be notably What got me motivated to write this missive was I recorded. went on the Smokejumper Website to look up Roary’s Six-five-four … biteem dice.

Spotting: An Art? by Doug Houston (Redmond ’73)

ecently I have been travel- The 20-footers were easier to ing to both the North see in the air, also. So, out the RCascades and Redmond door they would go with all eyes reunions. It has given me a lot of glued to the windows to see what time to think about jumping and they were doing. Sometimes the the many experiences that I had decisions to jump weren’t bullet- over 28 years. Spotting smoke- proof; thus an art – or a repeti- jumpers was one that I did for 25 tive, trained procedure? years – mostly well, I think. Examples of those decisions Spotting has a lot of respon- were a jump on the Ochoco sibility with it. You are trying to National Forest, where I kicked give jumpers their best opportu- Jim Reeve (RAC-82) and Mike nity to toggle close to the fire and Lysne (RAC-82) out on a small still make it to the ground, safely. Doug Houston (NSA files) fire. I never saw either of their It is also a job where you can hit parachutes in the air. Out they or slap people and they can’t hit We started out with the went; I pulled in the D-bags and you back. They fall or jump out 10-foot, crepe-paper streamers looked for parachutes, but never of the airplane and they are gone. wrapped around a 10-inch piece saw them. Nasty down air had What a deal. of No. 9 wire taped on to the driven them quite rapidly to the I have been accused of putting end, so it fell about the same rate ground. people out in s—-t holes. Howev- as a jumper would. Then we went The good thing was that er, I judged jump spots – relating to the 20-foot streamer with sand they both lived and were able to them to whether I would jump taped to the end of the crepe pa- scratch a little line with sticks un- them or not – and I would jump per. This was much safer than the til we were back with their cargo pretty much anything, so out possibility of No. 9 wire breaking in an hour or so. The weather they’d go. Wind was a definite through the material and free- had driven us out and back to the factor in all of these decisions. falling to Earth at Mach 1. airport. Once it passed, we deliv-

Check the NSA website 10 www.smokejumpers.com ered just like good spotters do. only one time that the reply was, Another example was a jump “I want to go home” … funny fires. Not sure if that is a record, on the Malheur National For- guy. Out the door he went … but there were two-jumper fires est where we had a pretty steady and lived. The kind of response everywhere, without a lot of wind of 20 mph or so. Steady that you liked was, “Just put me wind. So on every pass with the wind, and the jump spot was on the fire,” which meant that DC-3, it was spotters, jumpers, large enough for all eight to get the whole world was a jump spot cargo – then fly to the next fire. into it. I do remember Bill Bick- and all you had to do was just get We would get rid of that load and ers (NCSB-72) asking me how ’em close. My kind of jumper. then head back for another. Great much wind there was, as he was I know there are a lot more day and really honed by artwork hooked up and ready to jump. stories out there – some good, – spotting. My response was: “Don’t ask; some really not believable. My Art? Not too sure, but you you don’t want to know.” That wife even accused me of mis- do have to be convincing, part was a confidence builder and out spotting her … on a square. I salesman and part motivator, the door he went. I remember thought that was what all that when the spots don’t look all that counting 23 seconds past the additional forward speed was inviting. jump spot before kicking the about – you could drive upwind, So, for all of you who have streamers, then jumpers out. It if needed, etc. experienced this artful work with was windy, but steady – thus art? We put jumpers on 167 fires not-so-great results, I do apolo- At times I would ask, “Where out of Redmond in 1977. One gize. I know there are a few of do you want to go?” There was day I spotted jumpers on 15 you out there.

Fire Call! Bringing in the Cheese by Major L. Boddicker (Missoula ’63)

ire call! The Trimotor Ford sputtered to life un- excited confidence as we der the expert control of pilot Frank Borgeson. lifted off for the short FTed Nyquest (MSO-54), our foreman, called ride northeast toward the roster: “Boddicker, Daniels, Ferguson, Grover, Rhoda Creek. Jacobson, Laney, Peiffer, and Schmidt. Load up,” he The fire was on barked. the slope of a cirque, Grangeville, Idaho, July 19, 1964, a lightning strike a hollowed-out valley had fired up a on the Rhoda Creek, Moose Creek carved by glaciers eons District. We clambered aboard the Ford, then shuffled ago. The valley was around to get into a comfortable squat (until we open and large so the jumped), loaded down in our bulky suits and chutes. Ford could maneuver The Trimotor Ford was an experience in itself. Oats, rather comfortably spilled from burlap bags hauled to Moose Creek for to set us up on a nice pack-out mules, had sprouted where rainwater had jump spot. gathered under the floor slats. We stepped on green I remember the oat shoots as we entered the plane. Engine oil streamed Ford dropping rather down the cowls of both wing engines. The Ford looked low as Frank piloted like someone recycled a cow shed and old tractor to the plane until it felt make a plane out of it. The Ford was the perfect plane Dayton Grover squadleader at like the tops could for Grangeville jumping. Grangeville (Courtesy M. scratch the belly of I loved Grangeville, small, quiet, clean, organized, Boddicker) the plane. The Ford and ready. Ted Nyquest (foreman), Dave Bennett circled and climbed to (MSO-61), and Dayton Grover (MSO-55) (squad about 1000 feet when Ted Nyquest spotted us, and out leaders) had us ready to fight fires. The mood was we went. All eight of us landed safely and signaled to

Check the NSA website 11 www.smokejumpers.com Nyquest that we were okay. the fi re, the latest behavior outrage at a local bar, sex, Dayton Grover was the squad leader. After we re- and beer were the usual topics. ported we were all okay and collected at the jump spot, This packout was no different. As we trudged Grover assigned me to be the camp tender. That was a along, packs squeaking and muscles aching, something job I did not mind, so I got it quite often. amazing happened. I don’t remember exactly, but I The rest of the crew broke out their gear and think Larry (Fergie) Ferguson (MSO-62) spotted a headed off to fi ght the fi re. I collected and organized full-sealed quart of Jack Daniels Black Label whis- the gear, started a hunkering fi re, set up a comfortable key laying in the trail. It likely dropped out of an elk toilet, and dug and lined sleeping spots with bear grass hunter’s pannier the previous fall. Reader, you cannot and spruce bows. imagine the joy several of us Christian drinkers had at A toilet was made from an empty 5-gallon water the reaffi rmation that God really did appreciate smoke- box and plastic jug so the tender butts of my jumper jumpers at that moment. We had about 6 miles of buddies would not be exposed to rough tree bark or trail to hike before we arrived at Moose Creek Ranger mosquitoes and deer fl ies. Those types of thoughtful Station. It was about 3 pm, and we were tired. efforts are what landed me the camp tender job rather Some jumpers drink whiskey, some don’t. Some are than scratching lines in the dirt and ashes. religious, some aren’t. Some appreciated Forest Service In 1964, the Forest Service rations were supple- manual regulations, some interpreted them as mere mented quite nicely with food we bought and stuck guidelines to violate whenever possible. I never was into our letdown rope pockets or fi re packs. Supple- much of a follower of government regulations when mented with trout, grouse, Spam, hams, real canned human frailties were possible. butter, etc., we ate quite well. Fergie was positively elated at fi nding the uncapped The Grangeville crew of 1964 may have been typi- whiskey, as were Digger, Dayton, several others, and cal, but they impressed me as being particularly smart, I. So, off came the cap and the jug was passed around. quick, go-for-it guys. Maybe half of us swallowed a tug on it. Oh, so smooth The Rhoda Creek Fire was about an acre in size and good. It warmed the hurt right out of my legs. A in green grass and light fuels. According to Dayton tug or two was enough for most of the guys, leaving Grover, the fi re was in a tall snag. Burning chunks of the surplus to three of us. To make it last, I dumped popped out the top and fed the small fi re. Day- my canteen and fi lled it about three-quarters full of ton and his partner used a crosscut to drop it. As he Rhoda Creek water, cold and clean snow melt, then I was cutting, Dayton sliced his fi nger badly on the saw. poured in about a third of the remaining whiskey. We wrapped it up as well as we could with the small After one-half mile or so, Digger, always the fi rst-aid kit issued to us, but it needed stitches. Dayton entertainment director, began singing his lyrics and ar- crippled along with the hand wound until we got back rangements of gospel songs like, Bringing in the Cheese, to Grangeville, no complaints. What a Friend We Have in Jesus, and Little Girls Have The fi re was quickly lined and put out by the crew. Blank Blank, but I like Oreos. The fi re was cold enough that there was no need to We were belting out these melodies as we marched man it all night. So the crew came back to camp that into Moose Creek Ranger Station about 6:30 pm. The night. Moose Creek crew was ready for us and came out to Whether at fi res, at the loft, on long packouts, or meet us. The cook crew at Moose Creek was terrifi c if sitting around hunkering fi res at night, the conversa- my memory serves me. It was announced that we had tions were entertaining and generally attitude-morale about 30 minutes to relax before dinner was served. boosting. The Rhoda Creek Fire was no different. I was given, upon request, a glass full of ice cubes. I During the early morning, most of the crew poured the remaining water and Jack Daniels into the checked back on the fi re, while two of us cleaned up glass and sat heavily down into a lawn chair with camp and packed gear for the long packout to Moose spring-type legs, to rest my weary body. Creek Ranger Station. The smiling face of Dayton Grover, who might In 1964, we rarely got a chopper ride out. We have shared the Jack Daniels to reduce his fi nger pain, packed up 80+ pounds of gear, backed into the old is on the mirror of my memory as I remember leaning WWII pack frames with a lurching grunt, climbed to back in the chair and slowly, gradually descending to our feet and headed out. The Rhoda Creek packout the ground, the chair spring-type legs collapsing. was long—12+ miles, but rather gradually downhill. Of course, the immediate question comes to There was usually some kind of conversation going mind: Did Boddicker spill the Jack Daniels? Not a on among the jumpers as we trudged along. The jump, drop of it was wasted. My smokejumper-trained land-

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 12 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping ing instincts came to the fore, and the glass remained Why would Dayton Grover remember this minis- at the precise angle needed to protect this gift from cule event of history so vividly that he reminds me of it God. I fi nished the Jack Daniels, treasuring every each time we get together? Dayton has a great memory drop before dinner. for really goofy jumper trivia. The next morning, the Ford Trimotor picked us up This article written at his bequest is dedicated to for the ride back to Grangeville. my great friend and squad leader boss, Dayton Grover.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

by Chuck Sheley (Cave Junction ’59) 50 paratroopers from CAAF who have been para- Chico Record June 30, 1945 chuted into almost inaccessible areas in Trinity country the past two days to fi ght raging Chico Army Airfi eld forest fi res set by electrical storms. Ready To Aid Reports that the paratrooper had dropped in the flames in the Ripple Service Creek Fire were not borne out yesterday when the men were packed out of the The PLANS THE Army has set for cooper- rugged regions and transported to Red- ating with the US Forestry Service in ding by ambulance. At Redding they were combating forest fi res were announced placed aboard a C-47 and fl own to CAAF today. where two were hospitalized and the third was Chico Army Air Field (CAAF) will be the base transferred to Hamilton Field when it was found he suf- of operations in this area. A unit of engineer troops, fered a broken leg. a detachment of liaison pilots of planes and several The injured men were given quick medical aid when representatives of the Forestry Service are now on the their plight was walkie-talkied to air patrol planes. Lt. base. In addition, a unit of paratroopers, along with Melvin Farris, paratrooper medical offi cer, was quickly their transport planes, will be assigned here soon. dispatched and dropped into the rugged region to give The troops at Chico will be used as a reserve for the men all possible medical aid and direct their removal. manpower in fi ghting the fi res. Theparatroopers will be dropped into areas which cannot be reached any other Chico Record August 9, 1945 way. The ground troops will be brought in by truck. CAAF Paratroop Fire Fighters Not Badly Hurt All the liaison pilots and the ground troops are men Three Chico Army Air Field paratroopers injured in who have seen overseas service and now are receiving forest fi re jumps in north Trinity country and rescued by special training in combating forest fi res. fellow paratroopers, were not seriously hurt surgeons at CAAF station hospital said yesterday. Chico Record August 9, 1945 The most seriously injured was Pfc. Woodroe Spiller, Three Paratroopers Injured In Drops Into Fire Areas compound fracture of small bone in ankle. Pvt. Ernest Three Chico Army Airfield (CAAF) paratroopers, Pritchard, mild pelvic bone injury and Sgt. Thomas D. injured Tuesday in jumps into the inaccessible Ripple Hillman, severe bruises. Spiller was fl own to Hamilton Creek country in north Trinity country in newest attacks Field for further treatment. of local airborne troops on forest fi res raging in that area, The men were fl own to CAAF Wednesday in a C-47 were packed out after receiving aid from a paratrooper after they had been brought out of the rugged area on medical offi cer and fl own here yesterday for medical stretchers by men under direction of Lt. Melvin Farris, treatment. paratrooper medical offi cer, and Pvt. Clarence Shackl- The three were members of units totaling more than eford, who ’chuted in to aid the injured men.

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 13 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 The Klamath Fires of 2014 by Murry Taylor (Redding ’65)

his last summer was a hell of a deal for the That same day a Type 1 Team showed up and was Klamath N.F. and the people that live in it conducting a fi re meeting with locals at Quartz Valley Tor close to it. Around 230,000 acres burned, School. I got there a little late. Davis Perkins (NCSB- most of that in the Happy Camp Complex, the Beaver, 72) had come to help and saved me a seat. and White’s Gulch Fires. From early August until IC Jerry McGowan got on stage and made a star- mid-September we lived under smokey skies, imperiled tling statement, saying that if they failed to hold the by the possibility of being burned out. One friend’s fi re where it was they would back off, come down the 80-acre place near Oak Knoll burned to a moonscape valley fl oor, build contingency dozer lines all along in the Beaver Fire. I was on Duzel Rock, a local Cal the edge of the mountain, then fi ght the fi re there. , putting in 55 days up there. I was on When he left the stage I jumped up, followed him the radio listening every day, keeping maps and notes. out, and got into it with him. I couldn’t understand Even so, I can’t really write accurately about all the why he would pull back so far when the crews had fi res, just too much to cover. But I can tell the story of already contained so much, a little each day, some each the Log Fire, the one just 3-4 miles from my 40 acres night. Cal Fire was gaining on this fi re. He explained, in Quartz Valley. It started on July 30 during a typical in a not very convincing fashion, that his was a good afternoon lightning storm. There are confl icting stories strategy. Hell, it was only his fi rst day there, and I don’t about whether it was manned the fi rst night. The know what he knew, but I wasn’t impressed at all. It Forest Service says it was, but I think what they meant just fl at didn’t make since to give up on fi ve days good was that a crew was somewhere up on a ridge near it. I effort, drop back three miles, and give up 2000 feet don’t think they took direct action. It was steep, heavy of elevation to build a dozer line that—if a big wind fuels, near the top of the ridge. came up—no one could hold anyway. In the mean- The following morning 10 Alaska and Boise BLM time everyone living there would be faced with being smokejumpers jumped it out of Redding. They had burned out. We didn’t agree on much, but I had to come the night before from Utah where they had been leave, go home, and prepare to evacuate. standing by. They jumped—not on the fi re itself—but My son, Eric, had also come to help. Eric, Davis down in the valley, then were driven up and hiked the and I sat down and made a plan. Early the next morn- rest of the way in. They told me later that with the ing Davis and I took the Rhino four-wheeler, picked terrain as rough as it was, no safety zones at all, and the up a neighbor, and went to recon a couple old roads condition and size (fi ve acres) of the fi re, they thought along the base of the mountains—good places to go to that was a good call. I know these guys from the 15 put dozer line, if that became necessary. That’s when I to 20 years ago when they were green-behind-the-ears ran into Derek Patton (RAC-00) of the Alaska smoke- rookies, and I know how good they are fi ghting fi re, so jumpers. We showed him the roads, a D-6 arrived. We I trust their judgment on that. did some fl agging and chain sawing, worked with him Later that afternoon the wind came up and the fi re and the Cat until noon, then went home to evacuate went to 15 acres, and they abandoned the ridge and some things. That afternoon I went into the fi re camp backed off. This fi re was near a state protection zone, in Etna and spoke again, both to McGowan and Keith a mutual aid area between the FS and Cal Fire. While Callison (Cal Fire), who were then functioning as Uni- the FS was calling for a Class III team, Cal Fire went fi ed Command. I pleaded with McGowan, explaining up there and made their initial commitment, fi rst what Cal Fire had done, and urging him to leave the opening up old roads, then hiking crews in, current command (Cal Fire) structure in place. Turned building some direct line, some indirect. The jumpers out, that’s what they did. It wasn’t just me, though. A became Dozer Bosses. The going was tough and slow local Cal Fire Battalion Commander had been to fi re and dangerous. The FS was reluctant. Cal Fire was not. camp and gotten into a yelling match trying to con- Five days passed. The fi re continued to grow, and by vince them of the same thing. Three days later, with then was about 1500 acres. That’s when they called for some good cat work and retardant drops the fi re was an advisory evacuation of the south end of Quartz Val- contained at 3500 acres—its fi nal acreage. ley where I have my home. I had to leave the lookout. The point of this story is that it serves as a good

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 14 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping example. Like most of the other fi res, the Log Fire was the Shasta-Trinity Supervisor’s Offi ce—defi ne the goals in steep, rough country with lots of fuels, reasons the for the team. I was on the lookout when the Coffee FS often gives for not doing more aggressive IA. Cal Creek Fire took off and, from the looks of the smoke Fire proved you could do it. Meanwhile a nearby FS column, fi gured it was gone. It wasn’t! The old dogs fi re went to 45,000 acres, another to 55,000, and the met the team and told them to “Put it out!” Three or other Happy Camp Complex to over 100,000. four days later, they had a line around an 1800-acre The night after I met Derek Patton and his Cat, we fi re and held it. had 10 hungry smokejumpers for a dinner of Mexican The problem with the Forest Service appears to food. We drank beer and told stories. My son Eric be in its leadership, its line of authority, the District loved it. Next morning he said, “Dad, now I see why Ranger, Forest Supervisor, Regional , and the you love these guys. They were dirty, they were tired, Washington Offi ce. Most all the crews want to fi ght they smelled of smoke, and yet they were happy, laugh- fi re more aggressively. Many have complained to me ing, telling stories, and just loving it all.” about being held back, being brought into camp every The passion for good fi refi ghting is developed in night, being moved from one assignment to another, successful Initial Attack (IA). It comes from those not reaching their work area until late in the morn- tough times when you have to work your ass off, climb ing, and having to leave early to get back to a helispot steep mountains, dig line, fall , eat smoke, push so they can be returned to camp, etc. Most all would yourself to a point of misery, but keep going and go- prefer to coyote camp in the and get more work ing until you round the head and contain your fi re. done. It’s my sense, however, that these complaints And when you walk off that mountain, you walk off don’t travel very far up the chain of command. There with something no one can take from you. It’s what appears to be a big disconnect between those in the makes confi dent and strong fi refi ghters. This is not to fi eld and those making policy. This seems especially take away from all the admirable accomplishments in true on big fi res when Incident Teams take over. Safety extended attack. Much of the same is gained there. But is emphasized to the point of the ridiculous. In the catching fi res in their initial stage is where good fi re- long run, the fi res get bigger, expose more people to men are born and most of the satisfaction lies. more hazards, and more get hurt or killed. Most of us worked our whole lives believing in We have an opportunity to also form a group of strong, sound, aggressive IA. Our local Cal Fire guys old fi redogs on the Klamath. We are in touch with the still do a lot of that. Each summer the story is the Shasta–Trinity group. The work has begun. This is a same. A lightning storm comes through, fi res start, Cal complicated issue but, with time, I believe the Forest Fire picks up 30 to 40 in the next two days or so. The Service will turn around and get back to more suc- Forest Service also catches some. But then the smoke cessful suppression. If you want to email me about it, begins to roll out of the national forest, fi res go big, please do. My email: [email protected] huge camps are built, millions of dollars wasted. In the last fi ve years the Klamath N.F. has burned 25 percent of the forest. In their After Action Meetings, they did admit that something had to change. There are a lot of good folks serious about fi xing this problem. By the end of these big fi res, night shifts were started, crews were going direct, operations were more like the old days. In summary, some good things are happening. An extraordinary effort by a couple retired FMO’s, a retired District Ranger, and a Co. Supervisor down in Weaverville have gotten the attention of their lo- cal congressman and the Washington Offi ce. They prepared a report: Fire History and Research, Big Bar Ranger District, Northwestern Trinity County, Cali- fornia: Critique of Fire Suppression Practices—a 65 page report detailing the failed policies applied during How’s This for Steep Jump Country? the season of 2008. Dave Rhodes had a lot to do with Three Prong Fire, Winthrop District, August 8, 1966. L-R: that. Now they have a group of old fi redogs that meet Mike Fort (NCSB-61), Bill Moody (NCSB-57), Dave Taylor (NCSB-64) with incoming teams and—after clearing things with

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 15 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 Ram-Air Program Combines Best Of The Old, New by Bobby Sutton (Missoula ’91)

t 500 feet above ground level you are committed. on the pink X. My challenge was almost complete. I was My challenge: to hit a 10-foot-by-10-foot pink at 40 feet and sinking directly to target. I only needed Atarget the training offi cer had laid out. This pro- to fi nish off with the perfect fl are. At 15 feet, I fl ared. fi ciency jump was at a place called Witts sidehill. What the –? I was still fl ying. With my acute con- Witts side-hill is a steep but large jump spot with lots centration on the pink target, I lost reference to the of room to run out. It has tall Douglas fi r on the top and slope contour and failed to point directly sidehill. Still, sides with a thick patch of aspen at the bottom. Cindy I landed softly 40 feet from the pink X. Champion (MSO-99) had also set out the main target, I was disappointed for not meeting my objective. an old orange cargo chute that everyone else on the load Still, the CR-360 parachute performed exceptionally set as the bull’s eye. well. The canopy accomplished everything I directed The fi rst three jumped rounds. They got right in it to do. I am so happy to be part of the Forest Service there. The fi rst round FS-14 pilot landed about 100 feet ram-air program – to be able to both challenge myself as from the orange, and the next stick of two rounds split a parachute handler and to continually share my lessons the difference. One “hammered” a bit closer and the learned with other smokejumpers. other out about 200 yards. In contrast, let me refl ect to 1991 when I arrived in Then it was our turn. As the streamers fl ew we dis- Missoula a few days early for rookie training. I met Billy cussed our fl ight plan and set-up point for the two sticks Martin (LGD-79) my fi rst evening at the dorms. We sat of two ram-air jumpers. Pete Lannan (WYS-07) was our down and visited and he asked about my background. new West Yellowstone base manager. He would jump Billy was so happy to tell me that he was a Grangeville with Jason Gibb (GAC-03) and planned a left-hand jumper in Missoula doing some ram-air training. pattern. Pete told Jason he fi gured to take a conservative After a few more information exchanges, he asked if approach and probably go long. I wanted to ride with him into town and run some er- Eric Held (WYS-06) and I planned for a right-hand rands. I jumped at the chance to get an orientation of the pattern, but then Eric decided to follow Jason with the big city of Missoula. Then it was on to view the city and left. I was the last person on the load. I decided to stay return to the dorms by early evening. As we departed for with the right-hand pattern and committed to the chal- our rooms, Billy asked if I wanted to watch the training lenge of nailing the pink X. jump the next morning. I said “yes” and he directed me It was placed about 75 feet from a wall of trees with to the “Field of Shame” for the morning jump. three tall snags. It would be a challenging approach. I was I returned from the store in the morning a bit late jumping the newest type of parachute approved for the and was surprised to see the Twin Otter circling above Forest Service ram-air program. After fi ve years of jump- the base. I rushed to the jump spot, hoping to make it ing the CR-360 (Square built by Performance Designs-Ed.) there for the jump. Just as I arrived, I saw a jumper exit canopy, I can’t help but thrive at the challenge of pushing the aircraft. Wow! He was falling, falling and falling. square parachute accuracy. I want to be the most accurate Then, just above the ground I saw a parachute. I knew jumper I can be. nothing about parachute jumping, but it looks odd. At 500 feet above ground level, I saw all the other Then I saw people rush to the location of the jumper. jumpers had landed as planned. I had to focus on target That is when I knew something went wrong. I went and fi nd the sink. I went from sink to stall, then back to directly back to the dorms to fi nd out a couple of hours sink, and found the perfect sight picture. later that Billy had been killed. I was on target. Never mind the three large snags that Ken Heare (MSO-79) knocked on my door early that were also in my sight picture. I was fl ying a CR-360 and evening and asked me to accompany him to a gathering in full control. I checked my forward penetration into a with many of the jumpers who had been there that day. very slight wind. I had lots. I was in rookie training two days later. Then I focused back into the sight picture and locked I gathered information on the ram-air program over

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 16 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping the next several years. I learned about how it started and learning organization that could quickly adapt and utilize evolved, how it had ended and how it affected the orga- new technologies to effectively improve upon time-tested nization and personnel. There has been a lot of animosity operational techniques. toward the ram-air program since its inception. Combining the best of the old with the best of the The Region 1 smokejumper program and the BLM new is a quality inherent to a learning organization. It is operate today within an agreement (for the seventh a quality of the smokejumpers. The ram-air program is year) that permits the West Yellowstone, Missoula and “Breaking New Ground”1 to provide our jumpers with Grangeville jump bases to train and maintain a ram-air a more versatile and effective tool in getting program. I am proud to be working for an outfit that to the fire as fast and as safely as possible. learns and adapts. The smokejumpers still embody the Breaking New Ground by Gifford Pinchot. Copyright traditional values of the old Forest Service conservation 1947 by the Estate of Gifford Pinchot.

Higgins Ridge Fire Was Memorable Due To Size, Intensity by Jeff R. Davis (Missoula ’57)

mokejumper magazine pub- two who hadn’t jumped on the there Aug. 5, Aug. 9, Aug. 10 and lished several articles about dry run. I also ordered a load of Aug. 13 and was only one kicker Sthe 1961 Higgins Ridge from Missoula. The only of dozens who flew countless runs on the Nez Perce National Forest “slop-wagon” we had in those days on the blaze. in Idaho. I was involved with it was a TBM and it carried 500 A crew of 20 jumpers from from the start. gallons. Missoula was trapped at one time I received the fire call at my I watched my four jumpers at- on the fire. Through the heroic base, the Aerial Fire Depot in tacking the fire, as I finished the efforts of Rod Snider (NCSB-51), Missoula, at 4:45 a.m., July 27. I cargo drop, and I was reasonably a Johnson’s chopper pilot, they was a new squad leader that sum- certain they’d control it. were all rescued. Ten required mer. I took off at 5:15 a.m. in “67 My attention was soon drawn hospitalization while the other 10 Victor,” the DC-2 from Johnson’s to the fires burning on other parts returned to Missoula. I was work- Flying Service, with six jumpers of the Nez Perce and on every ing in the loft when they arrived aboard, destined for three two-man other forest in the Northwest. I late one night; all of them held the fires on the Nez Perce. was to make 86 flights that sum- “thousand-yard stare” common to I dropped on the first two-man- mer, dropping men and supplies combat victims. ner easily enough, and the second to every corner of Montana, Idaho, The Higgins Ridge Fire finally fire proved to be a “no-show.” I Washington and California; I went the way of all fires and slowly flew next to the third fire on my re- made 10 jumps myself. The 1961 succumbed to the efforts of mas- quest form, the Higgins Ridge Fire. season was a smokejumper’s dream. sive manpower and aerial attack. Higgins Ridge lay sharply upslope My four jumpers on the Hig- Mother Nature helped even more to the south of the mighty Salmon gins Ridge Fire controlled it quick- as the changing weather cooled the River, just above a sharp crook in ly, and signed the fire over to four fire down and the rains of early the river named Elbow Bend. district firefighters so they could be September began to fall. The 1961 It was burning in a saddle on released to return to Missoula for fire season was history. top of a steep ridge, and it was new fire requests. The fire jumped The season had begun with burning hot. The fire was in a sin- its lines and became wildly out of a bang in early June and ended gle snag, with some of it beginning control. just as suddenly on the last day of to spread to the ground below. It grew to become a crown- August, but with all the intense The intensity of the blaze dis- ing monster that required daily action thousands of us firefighters turbed me, and I dropped the four airdrops of jumpers and cargo for enjoyed, I’ll never forget the fire on remaining jumpers, including the the next month. I dropped cargo Higgins Ridge.

Check the NSA website 17 www.smokejumpers.com As 75th Anniversary Approaches, We Should Remember These Smokejumping Trailblazers by Roland M. Stoleson (Missoula ’56)

his year marks the 75th anniversary of the fi rst perimeter of the parachute which when infl ated causes operational use of smokejumpers for forest a quick opening upon release. To further minimize Tfi refi ghting. It is well known that in 1940, fi res free-falling distance the fi reman descends through an were fought in U.S. Forest Service Regions 1 and 6 by aperture in the airplane fl oor down a lightweight lad- men who were delivered to the fi res by parachute. der until suspended in the parachute shroud lines. The These actions brought to fruition the dedicated pilot releases the parachute at the right moment and experiments conducted a year earlier at Winthrop, his weight draws the parachute from the container in Wash., where some 60 experimental parachute jumps the ship’s fl oor. were made into of the region, proving the feasi- “So far only limited proof of the practicability of bility of the smokejumping concept. this idea is available in the form of thirty-four consecu- Roy Mitchell, assistant supervisor of the Chelan tive successful drops of a 165-pound dummy and two National Forest, where the experimentation took place, deliveries of a man at elevations of from 400 to 150 documented those tests in a paper replicated on page feet above the ground.” 12 of the April 2015 issue of Smokejumper. In the fi rst Additional information and conclusions about the paragraph, Mitchell says, “Parachute jumping was not 1934 and 1935 events was given on page 4 of the No- new. Neither was the proposal to use parachutes to vember 1954 issue of the Region 4 retirees’ Old Timers transport men to fi res as other regions had discussed it newsletter: for several years.” Mitchell was correct. The proposal to transport men to fi res by parachute was fi rst suggested in 1934 “So far as the record goes, the by Thomas V. Pearson, assistant to the chief of opera- fi rst consideration of the use tion in Region 4 at Ogden, Utah. But his idea became more than a proposal. of parachutes to transport Experiments were conducted in the spring of 1935 fi refi ghters is credited to T. V. and were noted in an article titled “Parachutes For Fire Fighters” on page 704 in the Christmas 1935 issue of Pearson who retired from the : Forest Service a number of years “Whether spectators of future forest fi res will be thrilled to see a picked company of forest rangers leap ago. from airplanes and drop with parachutes to the fi re line depends upon tests now being carried on at the “So far as the record goes, the fi rst consideration Ogden, Utah, airport. of the use of parachutes to transport fi re fi ghters is “The latest device to be tried out by the United credited to T.V. Pearson who retired from the Forest States Forest Service in its annual battle with the red Service a number of years ago. enemy is a new type of parachute which will land the “Pearson, who at the time (1934) was assistant to forest ranger near the fi re line direct from an airplane the Chief of Operation in Region 4, had talked with a without the bother of walking or riding from the near- professional parachute jumper about the possibilities est landing fi eld. and was convinced of the practicability of such a proj- “Having used planes to deliver food and equip- ect. Characteristic of the times, there was little enthu- ment to forest fi re fi ghters, the air-minded siasm for the idea, but Pearson was permitted to hire have invented a quick-releasing safety harness, and the professional (J.B. Bruce) as a warehouse assistant have added a one and a half-inch diameter tube to the and was given a small amount of money with which to

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 18 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping carry on his experiments. These were conducted dur- like to add to that article and ask: “Who Were the ing the spring of 1935. Trailblazers of Smokejumping?” The answers should “A second-hand chute was purchased for $10.00 be obvious when considering the documented history and converted to a quick-release type; a number of available. dummy tests were made and Bruce made two success- Thomas V. Pearson should be the chief trailblazer ful live jumps employing the low-altitude technique. for his proposal and belief in the concept of parachute “The consensus of the Washington offi ce and west- delivery of fi refi ghters. J.B. Bruce should also be rec- ern regions, although there were no mishaps, was that ognized and remembered as making the fi rst live jump the project was too risky and it was abandoned at the to evaluate Pearson’s proposal. Although these early close of the fi scal year.” experiments were abandoned, the idea lived on in the Michael Frome, author of the 1962 book Whose minds of others and fi ve years later would mature into Woods These Are, put another spin on this early attempt one of the most progressive fi re-control innovations in to parachute fi refi ghters. On page 217, he states: the . “The fi rst Forest Service experiment of record in the Many questions remain about this earliest experi- use of a parachutist as fi re fi ghter was made as far back mentation with parachuting fi refi ghters. What type of as 1934 by Tom V. Pearson at Ogden, Utah. Pearson aircraft was used for the testing in Ogden? Who was hired a stunt jumper at a county fair for $25 to fl y over J.B. Bruce (i.e., where was he from and what was his the forest and test the practicality of landing in the age)? Why were the 1939 rebirth tests conducted at trees. Not only was Pearson’s report rejected, but his Winthrop rather than at their birthplace in Ogden? I $25 voucher was disallowed – and he had to pay it out have several assumptions about these matters but be- of his own pocket.” lieve a serious examination of records could and should This account is obviously hyped, but it did rec- be made to provide more certainty. This is a work in ognize Pearson as the originator of the idea to deliver progress. fi refi ghters by parachute in 1934. I wish to thank the Librarians at the Rocky Moun- The April issue of Smokejumper contained an article tain Research Station for their help in locating docu- titled “Who Were the Pioneer Smokejumpers.” I’d ments pertinent to this paper.

A “Floyd-Or-Lloyd” Story by Jerry Hagen (Missoula ’75)

believe it was 1976. We had to come down on were those had been dragged under a freight jumped a fi re on the Salmon logs and rocks. Miraculously, train. IRiver breaks with Larry I did a roll across two logs and Eisenman glared at him and, Eisenman (MSO-58) as the fore- landed on the uphill side of a in his normal tone of voice, asked man. Notably, he was the fi rst third one. Shaken, but unhurt, I him what took him so long. stick out. I believe I was around gathered up my gear and climbed Floyd said, “I had a parachute the third stick. to the jump spot. Eisenman was malfunction. The only thing that There wasn’t much of a jump standing there and grumbling saved my ass was that I slid down spot, other than a small 100-foot about why “everyone is scattered a talus slope that broke my fall. It opening between the trees and all over hell.” took me this long to crawl back rocks on a ridge. The winds were After getting geared up and up!” strong and squirrely. I missed the waiting about an hour for every- That could have happened to top of the ridge and our so-called one to gather about – as every- any of us, and I am sure if it had, “jump spot.” I came down on one was scattered all over hell! we would not have survived. But the hillside below the spot, which – Floyd (Whitaker/RDD-65) for Floyd, he kissed the “Grim was covered with large rocks and came crawling up to the top of Reaper” once again. downfall logs. the ridge. He was as “white as a During that entire time on the Initially, I thought I was going ghost.” His Levis blue jeans were fi re, I had never witnessed Floyd to get hurt really badly, as all I all torn up, and he looked like he to be so humble.

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 19 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 Photos & Illustration: Johnny Kirkley (CJ-64)

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 20 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping Photos & Illustration: Johnny Kirkley (CJ-64)

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 21 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 SOUNDING OFF from the editor

contribution to our profes- was living in Chico, on fi tness sion. training over the last two Yesterday, April 10th, months. As a track coach, Jerry Spence (RDD- I planned various interval 94) invited me back and speed workouts, and for the 2nd year to we met two-three times at give the R-5 rookies a the local high school track 90-minute smokejumper for training sessions. He history session. handled the long distance Prior to my his- runs, push-ups, pull-ups tory lesson, Bob Bente and weight workouts on his (RDD-88) took me out own. I added 30 minutes to where the rooks were of pool work to the reg- by Chuck Sheley doing their early morning imen. Having also been (Cave Junction ’59) PT. They had already been a Cross Country coach Managing Editor going an hour before I ar- for over 30 years, I found rived at 0800. I remembered back that inserting a pool workout Wow, these last few months to the day I watched Bob, a smile into a hard running program did have fl own by since the April issue on his face, lead a class of 1999 a fantastic job of cutting down of Smokejumper. With my con- cerns about the revision of smoke- jumper history by the USFS, web- All rookie smokejumpers should have a session sites, and a couple of new books, in smokejumper history added to their rookie I spent a tremendous amount of time researching and writing the training. If the current smokejumpers know evaluation of Operation Firefly our roots and where we came from, it will be for the April issue. I don’t know if we will ever change or slow the harder for future individuals to make changes. fl ow of misinformation about that particular five months in 1945. rooks through a grueling PT injuries and the aches and pains However, the facts written used session. Now, Bob is one of the that come with a heavy training primary documents from the time three jumpers still in the business program. as sources of information. If his- from the 1988 class. As a teacher and a coach, I torians and future authors chose There were 11 remaining was very impressed with his atti- to read that information, it is up from the starting number of 12. tude and dedication to training. to them. The size of the individuals and He already had seven seasons I have stated that I believe all amount of muscle was pretty im- of wildland fi refi ghting—they rookie smokejumpers should have pressive. They went from push- don’t hire two-season people any a session in smokejumper history ups, sit-ups, pull-ups to bar dips more. added to their rookie training. If and started the whole routine It was an enjoyable 90 min- the current smokejumpers know again. Anyone who reports think- utes of smokejumper history our roots and where we came ing they just have to do the basic with these men. I would love from, it will be harder for future minimums is in for a shock. How to have the opportunity to give individuals to make changes. We about doing the minimums every that history presentation to all all need to know who the Derry 15 minutes. the rookies at all the bases. They brothers (MSO-40) and Glenn I had the good luck to be able will be the future “Keepers of the Smith (MSO-40) were and their to advise one of the rooks, who Flame.”

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 22 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping This issue should reach you before the 75th Anniversary of Wanted - Donated Items for Smokejumping National Reunion in Missoula. I’ve been marketing 2015 National Reunion anniversary merchandise for the We are looking for anything from guided fi shing trips, knives, appar- last year and have been busy. I el, framed prints, pottery, etc. for the Silent Auction. We are also looking hope that indicates that you will for larger items that might be raffl e item(s) or even a live auction item. be there July 17-19. All proceeds will go to the National Smokejumper Association to I’ve stated to several people assist in helping our brothers and sisters in need. that this might be the last of the The sales price of donated items will/can go toward a down payment big reunions and have received on a NSA Life membership. If the item is large enough, could pay the questions as to why I feel that entire cost and you become a life member. way. Since the 2004 reunion in If you have interest, please contact Doug Houston, (406) 370-9141 Missoula, I’ve written 430 obits or [email protected]. My personal goal is $10,000 in fi nal sales. for the “Off The List” column Should be fun. Doug in this magazine. Those are just the ones that I know about. The names could make a “Who’s Who Get Smokejumper One Month of Smokejumping.” Out of the WWII CPS-103 jumpers, we Before Anyone Else must be down to fi ve-six left. We NSA members are signing up for the electronic version of Smoke- are an aging group. jumper that is delivered via email. It is sent in a PDF fi le that contains Still, we are able to keep our everything that is in the hard copy issue. membership at a fairly decent The advantages are: early delivery (a month ahead of USPS), ease number. From a high of 1627 of storage, and NSA postal expense savings. If you like the hard copy, jumpers in January 2007, we you can download and print it at home. had 1426 for the April 2015 NSA Director Fred Cooper (NCSB-62) says: “I will opt to have my mailing. We still have another magazines delivered electronically rather than via USPS to save us direct 1500 out there who are not NSA $ in printing and mailing, not to mention your hand labor in process- members. A high number of ing. I think I mentioned in an earlier message that I’m having other non-members use our website magazines/newsletters delivered electronically. It takes less space to store and attend the NSA-sponsored them electronically and if I do want a hard copy, it is easy to print using reunions. If you know one of the Fast Draft printer option which allows printing 48 pages in less than them, please encourage them to two minutes on my printer and uses a lot less ink.” join. We are the keepers of the If you want to be added to the electronic mailing, contact Editor smokejumper fl ame and need Chuck Sheley (CJ-59): [email protected]. everyone’s support to remain strong. That said, the donations to Are You Going To Be our annual President’s Letter hit an all-time high for 2014. Your “Temporarily Away”? dues pay for the magazine and the website, the donations allow As more of our membership moves with the weather, we are getting an us to function as an organiza- ever-increasing number of Smokejumper magazines returned by the post of- tion, give scholarships, and aid fi ce marked “Temporarily Away.” Since we mail the magazine via bulk mail, fellow jumpers and their families it is not forwarded, and we are charged fi rst class postage for its return. through the Good Samaritan If you are leaving your mailing address during the months of March, Fund. Many thanks to all of you June, September and/or December, please let Chuck Sheley know. He for your generosity. can hold your magazine and mail it upon your return OR mail it to your Get your reunion registra- seasonal address. Please help us save this triple mailing expense. Or join our tion form fi lled out and mailed. email list (see above). Chuck’s contact information is in the information box I hope to be able to see you at on page three. Missoula in July.

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 23 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 SAM PFAHLER AND TODD JOHNSON RECEIVE AL DUNTON LEADERSHIP AWARDS

ongratulations to Sam and Todd for their se- as opposed to what is best for him. Thanks to Sam’s lection for the Al Dunton Leadership Award. selfl essness and tireless efforts, there is work for the CAssistant Foreman, Dan Cottrell (MSO-01), bros when they return in the spring, and if we have a nominated Sam and tells us why: slow fi re season or smokejumpers are looking to work into the fall, Sam has projects lined up and ready to SAM PFAHLER (MSO-03) personifi es many, if not all of go. Sam’s efforts with the BLM agreement have made the identifi ed qualities that are listed as prerequisites for the prospect of getting laid off early a thing of the past the Al Dunton Award. Sam makes sound and timely in Missoula. decisions. He sets a strong example for other smoke- One of the principles of the Al Dunton Award is jumpers and he develops his subordinates for the future. that the nominee looks out for the well-being of their While Sam is an excellent smokejumper and also subordinates, and builds the team. Sam personifi es this embodies the Forest Service principles of duty, respect because he is humble and doesn’t have a selfi sh bone and integrity, the reason I am nominating Sam is in his body. He works to empower those that work for something he has done that goes well above and be- him, and by thinking fi rst of what’s good for the pro- yond his duties as a smokejumper. Sam’s involvement gram. While he would be the last to say it, he deserves in the creation of an agreement between the Missoula to be recognized for his efforts. Sam’s work to create Smokejumper base and the Missoula District of the and maintain this agreement with the BLM has made Bureau of Land Management has been extensive. the entire Missoula Smokejumper program stronger This agreement provides the smokejumper staff with and better prepared for the demands of the future. extensive work in hazardous fuels reduction, timber stand improvement, and prescribed fi re, along with TODD JOHNSON (NIFC-98) was nominated by the other projects. Sam’s dedication to Great Basin Smokejumpers for the Al Dunton award maintaining this relationship has reaped huge benefi ts as a person who embodies the qualities needed in a to the smokejumper program. person who receives this award. From their narrative: This agreement has allowed us to employ our tem- In 1998 Todd sent in one last application to be- porary and short-term appointment employees in the come a BLM Smokejumper after applying the seven spring and fall shoulder seasons. It has allowed us to previous years without success. Todd was not initially expose smokejumpers to management roles on district hired but, one week before training was to start, Todd and forest level implementation projects. Our jumpers got the offer to start with the 1998 BLM rookie class have gained experience through this agreement writing in Fairbanks, Alaska. With only one week’s notice, burn plans, doing NEPA analysis, and working with Todd showed up to rookie training and quickly rose the public to accomplish forest management and for- to the top of his rookie class as the most physically fi t est health projects. Finally, the agreement has opened candidate in the group. Todd has continued to excel various trainee assignments to smokejumpers especially and lead by example, not only in the fi eld of physical in regards to Prescribed Fire Burn Boss (RXB2) and fi tness, but in his selfl ess attitude and dedication to Firing Boss (FIRB) assignments. uncompromising fi re leadership. Todd is often called While to many, maintaining an agreement such as upon by leadership to step into leadership roles, both this may not seem like a big deal. The average Smoke- in and out of the jump program. His willingness to jumper probably doesn’t even realize the tons of work always accept these challenges without complaint is a that goes into keeping this relationship going, or the model for all smokejumpers. sacrifi ces Sam makes for their benefi t. There are pre- In 2012, the Boise BLM District lost their Unit season meetings, site visits, cost tracking and budget Aviation Manager to retirement and Todd was asked to databases that need to be kept up, and endless phone take over the program for the summer until a replace- calls between the cooperators. While it’s not a glorious ment could be found. Todd accepted the challenge project and Sam would probably rather be jumping knowing it would impact his fi re season and would be a fi res or out in the fi eld, he, nonetheless, recognizes setback for achieving some of his long-term career goals the importance of keeping this partnership a healthy in fi re. Todd did an outstanding job in a role that he one. Sam thinks about what is best for the program, had never done before. In speaking with pilots and con-

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 24 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping tractors of all types who worked with him that summer, again, stepped in to help the wildfi re community at- it was apparent that the level at which Todd operates, tain its goals by dedicating himself to an ASM plat- both personally and professionally, is without equal. form for most of the season. Todd has been an active ATGS and has contributed Todd’s decision making and supervision as the greatly to the success of the BLM ATGS program Assistant Operations Manager has helped the BLM throughout the years. Throughout the summer of Smokejumper program be a success in fi re manage- 2013, while recovering from an injury, Todd, once ment both in the Bureau and with cooperators.

Jumper Returns To Fire Business After 30-Year Layoff by Gary Shade (Missoula ’69)

ith over 30 years since my last fi re call, I The downside of the job was having aching ribs after had a chance last summer to get back on sleeping on the ground for two weeks. This getting Wthe fi reline with my experience and quali- old crap ain’t for wimps. Oh, and the upside, I made fi cations as a professional trucker. After twenty years $4,200 in 14 days. The following report was turned in the fi nancial services biz, I’ve spent the last six years into my boss at Grayback Forestry, White City, Oregon. doing something I always wanted to try, “truckin.” In (Grayback Forestry is owned by NSA Life Member Mike August 2014, I was out two weeks on a fi re complex in Wheelock CJ-76 Ed.) southern Oregon operating a 3,000-gallon . On August 11, 2014, I was assigned in Tanker-5

Gary Shade and Tanker 5 (Courtesy G. Shade)

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 25 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 to the Camp Creek Fire Complex on the Rogue River National Forest. In the early evening of August 11, our Initial Attack Strike Team was dispatched to an active Festival Honoring 100-acre fi re threatening structures several miles south of Shady Cove, Oregon. The Strike Team was made up Maclean Slated For of about 20 vehicles and was to initially regroup and stage in the Shady Cover Market parking lot. As water tender, I brought up the rear of the convoy and took Seeley Lake my time getting off the mountain down to the fi re in four-day festival will honor renowned the valley. Aauthor Norman Maclean in Seeley Lake, When I drove into the heart of Shady Cove and Montana, July 10-13. approached the market, the scene before me can only Maclean is perhaps best known in the be described as a “cluster f__k.” I apologize for the smokejumping community as the author of language, but I can’t think of a better set of words. The . The Alpine Artisans orga- convoy was stacked up in the market parking area and nization created this festival, highlighting those had just been told they were to immediately leave town who remember Maclean’s life in Seeley Lake and head several miles south to another staging area and those who worked with him as he wrote the closer to the fi re. book. Writers and scholars who have reviewed, The lead trucks in the Strike Team were trying to analyzed and appreciate Maclean’s works will get out of the parking area, but the heavy private ve- also attend. hicle traffi c heading south on 62 was not cooperating. Also scheduled are tours of the actual fi shing This had the makings of a grand “C.F.” in the heart of holes described in the book and fi lmA River town. Seeing this, I pulled my tender off to the side of Runs Through It and updates on the successful the road and jumped out of the truck. After putting conservation efforts on the Blackfoot River. on my hazard fl ashers, I stepped into the middle of the Festival events are scheduled on the Black- southbound lane and raised my hand-held radio high foot, in Seeley Lake at the Double Arrow in the air, and made the south bound traffi c stop. With Resort, and at nearby Camp Paxson on Seeley my free arm, I vigorously waved the Strike Team onto Lake. Camp Paxson was the site of Montana’s the highway. When the whole convoy was safely headed fi rst smokejumper training center and will host down the road, I let the private vehicles continue their the event’s Sunday focus on Young Men and Fire merry way. and the heritage of smokejumping in Montana. The next morning at the routine morning briefi ng, Saturday’s events will recognize Maclean’s the Incident Command’s Safety Boss made note of my writings and A River Runs Through It. Monday’s attempt at traffi c control. He said, “ Yesterday, when events will feature a writers’ workshop and a our Strike Team was put in a potentially unsafe traffi c tour of Mann Gulch, the scene of the tragic situation in Shady Cove, our Grayback tender driver wildfi re documented inYoung Men and Fire. recognized this safety issue and pulled his truck partially You can fi nd more program details atwww. off the road and stopped traffi c. He took control of the macleanfootsteps.com. situation until our fi re fi ghters were out of harm’s way. There was a risk involved to him, but he made the right call and did what was needed to keep our fi refi ghters safe. I expect that we all have this heads-up attitude about watching out for each other and when you see an unsafe act or hazardous situation, you should take action to keep your fellow fi re fi ghters safe.” After the Safety Boss’s comments, I looked up at the Overhead Team’s faces and they were all looking at me with smiles and approving nods.

Gary has written an interesting book covering his and Barb’s six years spent as long-haul truck drivers. If you want an enjoyable read, you should get a copy of “The Hotshot Chronicles” from Gary at “[email protected].”

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 26 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping BOOK REVIEWS A Look at Richard Holm’s book - Bound for the Backcountry

by R. K. Dick Williams (Pilot) Smokejumpers need airplanes. They might not all love them, but they can’t do their jobs without them. As a smokejumper pilot for ten years, I came to realize, and maybe even begin to understand, the love/hate relationship many of these elite fi refi ghters have with their mode of transportation. Many jumpers consider the ride to the fi re more danger- ous than the jump itself, or the fi refi ght. They, like many normal people, don’t all like airplanes. And many strong personality types just don’t like to give up control of their lives to a qualifi ed pilot or anyone else! However, some famous jumper pilots, like Jim Larkin and Nels Jensen (MSO-62) - I was fortunate to be able to fl y with them both - earned great respect from the jumpers for their steady hands and cargo delivery accuracy. There is certainly a close relationship between jumpers, the birthplace of their mission in the Idaho backcountry, and the aircraft that enable them to do their incredible fi refi ghting work. on Idaho aviation. He documents guard stations along the way. He That is why they will be inter- airstrips, pilots, homesteaders, includes the major drainages of ested in Holm’s massive 570-page lodges, ranger stations, etc., and Loon Creek, Camas Creek, and book – Bound For The Backcoun- accompanies each with tremen- Big Creek on his journey before try: A History of Idaho’s Remote dous old pictures of airplanes, a couple of side trips up the Airstrips. Not only does it expand pilots and jumpers. historic South Fork and the East on earlier books on the subject, Holm methodically ap- Fork of the South Fork. it goes into great detail about the proaches the subject, fi rst with From there he takes us around aircraft and aviation support of an historic overview, then with a the Chamberlain Basin and on smokejumping. trip down the Middle Fork of the down into the Main Salmon Smokejumpers and pilots alike Salmon River, including USFS River. The reader is treated to the will enjoy Holm’s history book involvement with airstrips and rich airplane history of Travelairs,

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 27 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 Trimotors, Piper Cubs, and subjects. The detailed index in Cessna 185s along the way. The the back makes it enjoyable to Flossie Fire of 1966 gets some research a particular subject or special recognition. area. Next, Mr. Holm heads north Bound For The Backcountry: A through the Clearwater Moun- History Of Idaho’s Remote Airstrips, tains, denoting ten separate is a quality coffee table book with historic locations on his way into over 1000 photographs. By far the Selway-Bitterroot Wilder- the most comprehensive book on ness. He goes through all the Idaho backcountry aviation ever Selway ranches and up to Fish available, it is bound to become Lake between the Selway Crags the standard that similar books and the Lochsa River. His section will be compared to. He has re- on Moose Creek is exceptionally cently released a followup edition rich in fi re and smokejumper (Volume II), which is a similar lore, including never before approach to the history of air- printed details of the fi rst offi cial strips and aviation in the Wallowa jump to a wildland fi re, and of accounts of both the Douglas Mountains, Hells Canyon, and course, a thorough account of B-23 that crashed at Loon Lake the Lower Salmon River. Jump- the tragic DC-3 accident in the and the Boeing B-17 that crashed ers with experience in the area of Selway in June 1979. near Challis (crew bailed out eastern Oregon and western Idaho Not willing to end there, along the Middle Fork of the will recognize many places and Holm devotes an entire chapter Salmon River in March 1943). pilots in this book. to the “Evolution of Smoke- Both sagas are backed by primary The cost for Volume I in hard- jumper Aircraft,” followed by documentation, including never bound is $59.95, in softbound stories about communication, before published information $39.95, and the cost for Volume spruce budworm control, salt obtained from rescue pilots Penn II is $29.95. Each copy requires distribution, beaver relocation, Stohr Sr. and Dick Johnson’s a $6.00 shipping fee (reduced for fi sh planting, game management, (many may recognize as early multiple orders). Books are avail- mail routes, fi re lookouts, and jumper pilots) logbooks. Holm able through select bookstores, backcountry fl ying in fi lm. completes this new book, referred the website: www.coldmountain- Although not meant to be to by many enthusiasts of the re- press.com, or by contacting the a “crash book,” Holm does gion as the “Backcountry Bible,” author directly by email: bound- incorporate a very interesting by including meticulous chapters [email protected], chapter titled “World War II on every Travelair 6000 and Ford facebook (boundforthebackcoun- Military Airplane Crashes In The Trimotor that fl ew in the Idaho try), or mail at: Cold Mountain Backcountry.” To my knowledge, backcountry. What a tremendous Press (c/o), Richard H. Holm this is another fi rst. He gives the single source that makes it the Jr., P.O. Box 294, McCall, ID reader the most comprehensive go-to book on a multitude of 83638.

Coming Soon—“A Few Jumper Stories” by Rod Dow (McCall ’68)

How many great stories from smokejumpers in the ago, fi nally started writing them out in full. past have now been lost because nobody wrote them Just a Few Jumper Stories is a collection of 70 of down? That’s why, when I retired from jumping in them, mostly funny stories, but also some more seri- 1999, I began writing down one-sentence reminders ous notes, from my years in McCall and Alaska, with to myself of things that happened during my career. I a few from other guys thrown in. Jump stories, pilot ended up with almost 200 of them and a few months stories, fi reline stories, silly stuff from back at the

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 28 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping base, you know what I mean. My jump stories, no one does it purpose was simply to archive better than Rod Dow. For years the events. I doubt if anybody he talked about a few stories he but you guys would be interested wanted to write. Well, here they in them, but I loved those years are, unbridled, unleashed and, in and I hope the book repays in all cases, pure Dow. Rich in detail small part my enormous debt to and sometimes hilarious, they smokejumping. embrace the heart of what makes Here’s what Murry Taylor smokejumping such a unique wrote on the back cover: “When it comes to telling celebration of life. Read this and laugh your butt off.”

Jokers; War, Love, and Helicopter Pilots— What Could Go Wrong? Review by Karl Hartzell and later returned stateside mission experiences, that were (Boise ’70) as Vietnam vets, collaborated apparently typical for “Huey” Authors Vern Hammill in constructing this attention helicopter pilots who served in (MYC-66) and Ed Kral (MYC- holding, adventure story which and near combat zones in the 66), long term friends since they adeptly relates the daily do- Vietnam War. From this platform fi rst met as “Neds” in McCall ings, but many times harrowing that succeeds in fl eshing out

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 29 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 the personalities, leanings, and a chopper such as the UH-1, or embrace the good life of perfect skills inherent to each of the two Huey, and its role in Vietnam, powder and lovely ladies encoun- protagonists, pilots Eric Bader Jokers provides an eye-opening tered in their long anticipated and Paul Eason, the reader is overview of what this chopper getaway to the Austrian Alps. quickly taken from their Vietnam could handle and what the men But not for long. They soon service fulfi llment to a European who crewed it endured. An apt accept an irresistible, moneyed setting. Now enjoying a needed example from the book has Bader proposition and begin prepara- release into leisure and skiing in at the controls, but in a very tight tions to fetch a doctor’s East Ger- the Austrian Alps, the two chop- spot as he attempts to rescue man family from a pick-up point per pilots are offered and accept a some Green Berets hunkering in in communist-held Czechoslo- beyond-the-Iron-Curtain rescue elephant grass and surrounded by vakia, using a French Alouette mission which will utilize their the enemy. helicopter. As Vern relates, this Vietnam-gained, chopper pilot- part of the story was Ed’s contri- ing expertise. Eric saw a place that the troops bution, a many decades gestating In personal communication had trampled down and maneu- scenario he long desired to bring with both authors, explanation vered his rapidly falling helicopter to print. was provided of how their book to that spot. He called his door gun- Propelled by Vern’s lucid came together. Vern, by virtue of ners. “Get ready to go hot. We don’t storytelling from Vietnam, his experience as both a support know what we have down here.” Bader and Eason’s continuing and gunship helicopter pilot in Eric hunched over the controls adventure as two now loose and Vietnam, called upon many a and the crew knew this was not a commitment-free vagabonds, memory to weave a factual recol- normal landing. having fun but ready for anoth- lection and fl owing story that Over the clearing, Eric pulled er challenge, mostly works. But competently captures the day- pitch into the blades to start their given how the life of a helicop- to-day experience of the fi ctional fl are. The ship groaned as it tried ter pilot in Vietnam is so richly characters, Bader and Eason. We to overcome a combination of too detailed and explained earlier, follow these guys through every high an altitude and far too much the story of the characters’ Aus- facet of their Vietnam service: weight [due to a recently acquired tria-based rescue exploit and its going on chopper missions that full fuel load, courtesy of Eric’s dramatic conclusion, though were never routine, but nearly al- green co-pilot]. When he realized he historically plausible and geo- ways fraught with enemy fi re and could no longer slow their descent, graphically accurate, seems cut unforeseen glitches; working with Eric exhaled in disgust and yelled, short. It deserves more breadth commanding offi cers and crew “Hang on.” and weight. Perhaps provid- members who were top-notch, Dust fl ew as they hit the ground ing additional description of as well as those of that always- and the rotor blades fl exed down setting and helicopter used, and present incompetent minority; and clipped the tall grass. As the more thoroughly detailing the getting away for needed R and R blades fl exed back up, Eric didn’t rapid progression of events that in some mostly safe city; drinking feel anything unusual in the unfold into the suspenseful, but through many a post-mission bull controls, so he was fairly certain too quick conclusion, would session with fellow pilots in the the blades hadn’t knocked anything have served to bolster the end- offi cers’ club; and all the while off the tail section. He glared at ing of this lively tale and thus sweating through the ever perva- his ashen-faced co-pilot and said. make it more in balance with sive tropical heat and humidity of “Love it.” He quickly turned to his the Vietnam portion of the Vietnam. two gunners and said, “Get ‘em on book. According to Ed, who later board, guys, load ‘em up.” With that perceived short- received training and became a coming noted, authors Kral and career fi xed-wing pilot after his Such is the drama that carries Hammill appear to have suc- service in Vietnam, “probably Jokers through more than two ceeded in making Jokers a solid 90% of what was written by Vern thirds of its length. In the fi nal story that is certainly informative, [regarding Vietnam chopper third, the reader can revel in the often entertaining, and nicely pilot stories and experiences] is freedom and carefree life that spiked with anxious moments true.” For a reader, either famil- is afforded the now civilian ski to keep the reader attentively iar or not with the operation of bums, Bader and Eason, as they engaged to its fi nish.

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 30 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping THE VIEW FROM OUTSIDE THE FENCE

• Closing the base and moving is going to be compromised, at the 30 jumpers and overhead least, on hot days. to Missoula. Closing West Yellowstone and • Building a new base in Bel- moving everyone to Missoula grade, Montana, at Gallatin seems to leave a large area in Field, the busiest airport in Eastern Montana with a slower Montana in terms of passen- response time and a greater gers. potential for small fi res to grow • Moving the base to Billings. into large fi res. A base in Bill- ings would eliminate the need to Leasing a new base would boost Miles City, so there would cost an estimated $1.55 mil- be at least some savings there. lion ($242,233 annually). To It would seem the best option buy existing buildings and lease would be a major investment by Chris Sorensen land at the airport in Belgrade or in the West Yellowstone base. A (Associate) Billings would cost $5.45 million decision will be made this fall. ($115,108 annually). Moving Closure of West Yellowstone, if We have been hearing ru- the West Yellowstone jumpers to that’s the decision, would prob- mors for several years about the Missoula would cost $3.95 mil- ably take about fi ve years. possible closing of the North lion ($83,195 annually). Should West Yellowstone Cascades and West Yellowstone The Custer Gallatin National close, the National Smokejump- bases. We had not heard anything Forest encompassing seven ranger er Association will need to be recent about NCSB closing, but districts has been requesting proactive to protect the material the West Yellowstone News report- money for upgrades for the past culture of the West Yellowstone ed in February and April about 10 years with no luck. Smokejumper Base – including the future of the base in West photographs, jump records, old Yellowstone. Projects and cost: gear, etc. – lest we face another According to the article, the • Ramp work: estimated $2.96 Cave Junction situation where base needs $5 million to $10 million much of the material history million in repairs, upgrades • Roads and buildings: $600,000 of the Siskiyou base ended up and improvements – including each in dumpsters when the base resurfacing the ramp, fi xing a • Water and wastewater up- closed. broken water line, repairing fl ood grades: $750,000 damage from a broken pipe last I asked Jack Hughes’ son-in-law, winter, upgrade of the septic The 800-pound gorilla in the Ed Kemmick, about the photo system, and general repairs and room is the 15 C-23 Short Sher- of Jack in the last issue of Smoke- upgrades. The current base was pa airplanes being assigned to jumper. built in 1965 to accommodate 15 the smokejumper program. The Ed said that photo was taken jumpers. Sherpa doesn’t perform well at around 1962 as part of a national the altitudes encountered in the advertising campaign for Lipton The options: Great Yellowstone area and can- Tea. The theme was a series of ads • Investing $5 million to $10 not fl y with a full smokejumper showing people with unusual jobs million in the current facility payload on hot days out of either drinking Lipton Tea. For some and have a base that will be West Yellowstone or Silver City. unknown reason, the advertising useable for the next 50 years or If a Sherpa is assigned to West campaign was scrapped and the more. The minimum invest- Yellowstone in the future, smoke- photo was never used. ment is $5.2 million. jumper operational capability

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 31 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 Proof # 1 Limey Tees SMOKEJUMPERS 09713 01 P1 Order using Please check copy and spelling, Proof Date: 08/07/2014 design layout, and color placement. With these handsome caps, you’llItem: be1832 - Stock Shapes & Sizes Decals - Oval - Clear (static face) - Horizontal Layout the form on Size: 4 x 2.5 Material(s): Clear Static Cling Vinyl Colors: Black; 39 Emerald Green; 40 Mineral Orange; the insert! styling no matter which one you chooseWhite Choose from the silky feel of smooth, durable nylon with the navy blue SMOKEJUMPERS cap (top), the dignified khaki twill U.S. Forest Service Smokejumpers (right) or YEARS the unique design on soft brushed cotton rich royal blue logo cap of the history-packed Siskiyous Smokejumper 75 Base from Cave Junction, Ore. All three feature attention- 1940-2015 grabbing style and long-lasting construction! The SMOKEJUMPERS cap offers gold embroidery and trim with a velcro strap. The U.S. Forest Service cap has a brass buckle and green-and- white “sandwich”-style bill, while the Siskiyous cap is a rich royal blue with khaki bill and brass headband buckle. Why not order one of each? • SMOKEJUMPERS cap $19.95 • U.S. Forest Service Smokejumpers cap $15.95 • • Siskiyou Smokejumper Base logo cap $15.95 •

You asked for them ... and now they’re here! Perseverance pays off! We received dozens of requests for window decals and we now have a large supply in our inventory. These stickers show your pride in “the greatest job in the world!” Each one measures 2½ high by 4 inches wide. Buy a bunch – you get FREE shipping!

MERCHANDISE $2.95 SMOKEJUMPER Polyester weave that’s so silky-smooth, it truly fools your skin! Scratchy and heavy, polyester used to be a material that offered easy care compared to cotton and wool … but wasn’t easy on your skin. Now, try this 3.8-ounce, 100-percent polyester polo shirt from SportTek’s Dry Zone. It keeps you cool by wicking moisture AWAY from your skin … with a weave that’s silky smooth and so light you’ll hardly know it’s there. Sharp, embroidered SMOKEJUMPERS logo on the left front. Choose from black, navy blue, forest green and white. Available sizes include S, M, L, XL and XXL. As this is a custom order, please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery. $29.95

Are you still hangin’ around? Our most popular t-shirt! These high-quality t-shirts feature spec- People love this shirt ... and the quan- tacular artwork of an “old” smokejumper tity we’ve sold proves it! Shirt features dangling from a tree. Ash-gray t-shirt will stylized “SMOKEJUMPERS” on the withstand many years of washing. Perfect front with fabulous artwork of jumping for the gym, around the house or around action on back. Hazy light blue (M, L, town! M, L, XL and XXL. $16.95 XL, XXL) with short sleeves. $16.95 Polo shirts that bring you style and comfort! How will you wear them? Honeycomb pique ... it offers breathability and outright comfort – combined with sharp, crisp looks – better than anything on the market. You get it all with these outstanding polo-style shirts ... with the SMOKEJUMPERS logo embroidered on the chest. This is a special-order shirt, meaning you should expect 3-4 weeks for delivery. Looks great on the golf course, tennis court or with a pair of cotton slacks. Wear it to “dress up” a pair of jeans. You can’t go wrong! S, M, L, XL and XXL. Red, navy, black, green and white. $31.95

Check the NSA website 32 www.smokejumpers.com Author’s first-hand experience takes you to the fire lines Your all-time Ralph Ryan shows you the definition of action in : Memories of a Wildland library of NSA . Murry Taylor, author of Jumping Fire, says: “Wildfire is a first-hand ac- count of one of America’s last great true-life adventures – smokejumping. Live it and publications feel it from inside as they smokejumpers themselves do. Experience the passion, This handy thumb drive with the NSA the pride, and the sheer guts of parachuting to amidst the grandeur of the logo contains every edition of The Static mountainous West and Alaska.” $15.95 Line (1993-99) and Smokejumper maga- zine (1999-present) ever published. Cave Junction jumper fought fire before going to the moon Looking for an article about the early Smoke Jumper, Moon Pilot: The Remarkable Life of Apollo Astronaut Stuart days of jumping? Trying to find a name Roosa by Willie Moseley is the family-authorized biography of Apollo 14 Command of a smokejumper featured in a story sev- Module Pilot Stuart Roosa. It’s the quintessential, All-American chronicle of the life eral years ago? This thumb drive gives of an Oklahoma farm boy whose initiative, drive and personal integrity earned him a you total access. Makes an excellent, place among the 24 individuals who made the most dramatic voyage in human history environmentally friendly gift! $24.95 after parachuting to fight forest fires from Cave Junction in 1953. $24.95

1952 movie inspired many Exhaustive DVD tells story of dreams of smokejumping smokejumping from the start Loosely based on the tragic Mann “Smokejumpers: Firefighters From Gulch Fire in which 12 jumpers the Sky” DVD is a definitive record of and a firefighter died, “Red Skies smokejumping, featuring 120 minutes of Montana” fascinated many of history from 1939 to 2000. Foot- young men about life “out West.” age and action shots filmed at current Released in February 1952. Color. bases and in the field. $14.95 $14.95

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Big pride in this little pin You’ve been framed! NSA pin looks great, offering the final touch Top of this license plate frame reads of class no matter what you’re wearing. “Jumpin’ Fires” while the bottom Stays secure with double-post fasteners. reads “Smokejumpers.” White letters Shiny chrome finish. Order several ... you on a black background. Buy one for get FREE shipping! $2.95 each of your vehicles, and save! $4 each, or two for $7

Check the NSA website 33 www.smokejumpers.com An Oregon Visit – Wine, Beer and Museums! by Denis Symes (McCall ’63)

y wife and I visited Oregon in August 2014 National Historical Landmark status! for a tour of the wineries in the Willamette, As you enter the base, you fi rst pass through the MCentral Oregon, Rogue and Applegate offi ce/operations center. It looks ready to dispatch Valleys; craft beer breweries and museums. Oregon’s jumpers and for returning jumpers to stand there argu- Willamette Valley wines are great, but I never thought ing over overtime. Period furniture and maps create I’d get tired of Pinot Noir; after multiple tastings at 15 the image of operational readiness. In the adjacent wineries I was “Pinot’d out.” Southern Oregon wines loft, packing tables stand ready to re-pack chutes and include Bordeaux and several Riesling varietals that are sewing machines are ready to repair chutes and equip- top notch! ment. The walls are lined with photos and jumper As for the craft breweries, Rogue Ales, Deschutes artwork. On a table in the rear, jump helmets (the old Brewing, and Hopworks Urban Brewery are well leather and recent motorcycle) are displayed. worth the visit! Rogue Ale’s Russian Imperial stout is In the ready room, jumpsuits are hung on hooks; the superb. Try it! jumpers’ names are engraved on brass plates above them. The Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville Several that I recognize include Chuck Sheley, John is a top-quality museum with over 100 aircraft on McDaniel and Stuart Roosa (CJ-53). There is also an display, including Howard Hughes 8-engined “Spruce excellent presentation on the 555th Parachute Infantry Goose.” Until the advent of the Boeing 747 and Battalion (Triple Nickles). A jumper fi repack with shov- Airbus A-380, this was the largest aircraft ever built, el and handles sticking out, with cargo chute and it was constructed out of wood (beech, not spruce) attached, stands nearby. Remember how those shoulder to conserve strategic materials. Additional exhibits straps dug into your shoulders? There is even an old pot- include a Lockheed SR-71 with a number of accouter- bellied stove against a wall, ready to be stoked. ments that I had not seen before (e.g., electronic coun- Outside on the tarmac stands a Beechcraft C-45 for termeasures equipment), Beech Stagger-wing, Douglas which restoration is planned. All parts are available, DC-3, Boeing B-17, P-51, FW-190, Me-109, etc. but the plane needs to be reassembled and painted; There is also a Smokejumper exhibit with suited man- probably a job for another work crew – any takers? nequins in 1939 and current (Kevlar) jumper regalia. Wes said that they hope to acquire a DC-3 to An excellent discussion of jumping and fi refi ghting is accompany the Beechcraft on the tarmac. A fi re was presented in the showcase. This is one museum that is burning about 10 miles from the base, and helicopter worth a detour from your chosen path to visit. operations (with Bambi Buckets) were underway. A Continuing south, we visited Cave Junction and Sikorsky CH-64, Bell 206, and Boeing CH-46 came the Smokejumper Museum. It is a restoration of the and went, as if on a schedule. base as it was during its operational days (some of It is great that one old jumper base has been pre- the work was performed by NSA crews several years served for all to see and will serve as a legacy to all. It is ago). There are about 15 old guys (former jumpers) the way things were, and it’s a shame that things have living within the area and they are the museum hosts changed. and tour guides. Wes Brown (CJ-66) was my host. We spent a wonderful two hours discussing the base, equipment then and now; how CJ operations differed Evergreen Avation Museum from MYC; mutual friends Mike McCracken (CJ- 60), Jim Dollard (CJ-52), Chuck Sheley (CJ-59), John McDaniel (CJ-57) and, Rick Blackwood (CJ- 79); and old guy stuff. The amount of work required to restore the base was obvious, and it looks just like it did 50+ years ago. Actually, it is representative of USFS facilities in the 1940s and 50s, and (I believe) it merits

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 34 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping ODDS AND ENDS

by Chuck Sheley Ken Hessel (MYC-58): “Wanted to tell Congratulations and thanks to Larry you that you did a fantastic job on the Newman (MSO-60) who just became last issue of Smokejumper. It’s a good our latest Life Member. thing you are there to monitor the USFS Gary Hannon (MSO-60): “Hi Chuck, I and keep them from re-writing history. just fi nished the April issue ofSmoke- I can’t believe they have clueless repre- jumper. You did yourself proud. It was sentatives (spokesmen/women) talking to an outstanding work on the Pioneer media people about something they know Smokejumpers and Pilots. It needed to nothing about, and have not taken the time be done before the history is lost. The ar- and effort to research the subject matter. Keep ticle on Operation Firefl y needed to be set up the good work.” straight. I enjoyed it. You did a very good Don Mathis (MSO-54): “I just fi nished de- job on Gars Obit. I know he would approve. vouring the last issue of Smokejumper magazine. Again Bravo.” Thank you for producing a historic document Bill Derr (Associate-USFS Ret. Law Enforcement): about the project. My professional training is in “Your Triple Nickle articles were ‘outstanding.’ Facts historiography, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading outweigh fi ction every time. I continue to be con- the background you so ably reported. cerned about how well the National Forests are being “As I read the last issue of the Smokejumper, many managed and whether fi re suppression is on track.” memories fl ooded back of my time as a jumper. My Denis Symes (MYC-63): “The TN was and is justifi - wife and I have continued our association with the ably proud of being Airborne in a segregated military. Forest Service by doing volunteer work on historic They served with distinction and, in so doing, helped site restorations and hosting at Forest Service visi- integrate the military. tors’ centers. We remain physically active and have “If we do not confront false claims and they be- had many adventures in years of service in Eastern come accepted history, I’m afraid that the FS his- Europe and projects that have taken us to all conti- tory of developing smokejumping, timber jumping, nents of the world, even Antarctica.” protective equipment, air cargo operations and tech- Stan Cohen (Museum of Mountain Flying): “Just got niques, etc. will be lost. Frankly, I value FS Smoke- the latest issue and read your comments on smoke- jumper history more than I do revisionist history, jumping etc. mistakes, even from Tidwell. This kind even in today’s climate of political correctness.” of historical nonsense drives me crazy, and I see more Ron Thoreson (CJ-60): “Chuck - what a great issue of and more watching the history and military channels. the jumper magazine (Jan. 2015). You worked your It has become a hobby now to catch mistakes that I tush off on this one, didn’t you? It’s indeed important happen to know something about. Anxious to read to get the history right. After 75 years, I think the For- about all the original guys.” est Service and the military probably didn’t know the Davis Perkins (NCSB-72) was recently awarded “Sig- real history and sought the simplest reconstruction for nature Member” status by the Board of Directors of a plausible story. Thanks for all the work you’ve done the Oil Painters of America. This prestigious award is for so many years to keep the true jumper story alive. only given to a few individuals a year under a highly Great job that you and KG have done.” selective process. Rich Grandalski (RDD-64): “Your recent articles on Davis is doing an oil painting honoring 75 years Pioneer Smokejumpers, First Actual Forest Service of Smokejumping for the National Reunion in July. Fire Jump (1940), and Smokejumper History-Don’t It will be auctioned at the Reunion. Prints of this Ask the Forest Service were excellent. I think your painting will also be available through the NSA. articles need to be distributed to historians and the Even though the USFS is unaware of it, early smoke- media so history is not distorted or changed by mis- jumper operations played an important part in the information or distortion of the truth.” development of the US Army Airborne Program.

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 35 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 Now smokejumping might be contributing to another League of Families of American Prisoners and Miss- “pioneer” military program. ing in Southeast Asia. In 1963, Pisidhi, along with In Oct. 2014, Major Jennifer Snow contacted American Gene DeBruin (MSO-59), was captured me, via the NSA website, seeking input on a Dept. of in Laos where he was imprisoned. After several failed Defense project integrating women into the Army’s attempts at escape, he ultimately escaped after a rescue Special Operations teams. I forwarded a potential was successfully implemented on January 7, 1967. contact and had almost forgotten about the inquiry. Since his escape, Pisidhi has continued to assist the Last week (Jan. 2015) I got the following reply U.S. POW/MIA mission to account for the missing from Major Snow: and to repatriate recoverable remains of those who “Chuck - I just wanted to drop you a quick note died during the Vietnam War. His efforts have been of thanks. We got some great feedback from the instrumental in resolving multiple cases. smokejumper team to help round out our data in In the Jan/Feb issue of Montana Magazine, there is an integrating women into the army special operations article about the Monture Guard Station cabin in the team. Currently the fi rst women ranger school par- Blackfoot Valley. Shortly afterwards, Hank Brodersen ticipants are getting lined up - close to 300 appli- (MSO-54) sent me a copy of a letter that he sent to cants, but they can only take 160 this year. We are the magazine. It tells of a group of smokejumpers in very excited to see how this progresses. In particular, 1954 that went to that Guard Station and replaced the the in-depth feedback from Lisa Allen (NIFC-03) old shingle roof. Hank, from 61 years after the fact, was extremely helpful to our physical fi tness/injury tries to ID some of the jumpers from photos: Jack analysis, mixed team interactions and operations in Haase (MSO-54), Jack Cromer (MSO-54), Cedric the fi eld, and the establishment of gender neutral Blackwell (MSO-54), Larry Anderson (MSO-54) standards/job based standards. and Ray Carter (MSO-54). If you were among that “Thank you again for helping me to make con- group, you might want to touch bases with Hank at tact with the right folks. The Naval Post Graduate the National Reunion in July. School and the Defense Analysis Department sin- Lewiston Tribune Feb. 8, 2015: Bill Bull (MYC-64) and cerely appreciate the collaboration with the BLM on his wife, Bonnie, will be honored during a reception this project!” at the First Church of the Nazarene on their 50th In Jack Demmon’s (MSO-50) column “Blast From The wedding anniversary. Bill jumped at McCall 1964-68, Past,” he recounts historic smokejumper articles from retired from the Lewiston Police Department after the early 40s, mainly from the Missoulian. One such 22 years as a lieutenant, and became a pastor of two article from 1945 recounts a fi re call that came in at Nazarene churches in the state of Washington. 0900. Even though Dick Johnson had to stop and Harry L. Cummings (MSO-46) just turned 92 in May. pick up a Ranger at Moose Creek, there were jump- Harry, who lives in Orofi no, Idaho, retired from the ers on the fi re by 1100, and the fi re was “dead out’ USFS in 1980. He was with the 101st Airborne in by that evening. It took two days for the jumpers to WWII and jumped at Normandy, Market Garden in hike out to Moose Creek, so you can get an idea of Holland, and was in the Battle of the Bulge. Harry how isolated the fi re was in the forest. Wouldn’t it be received two Purple Hearts during his service. great to get back to quick Initial Attack? Eric Paieri (MYC-92): “I just received my current issue In a note with his annual donation addressed to NSA of Smokejumper magazine and am always excited to President Jim Cherry (MSO-57) from Tommy dig into it and see what is going on past and present. I Roche (WYS-02): “I am the jumper who lived in would like to commend you and everyone involved Long Beach, NY, during hurricane Sandy. I can’t tell with the magazine on the wonderful job being done you how much it meant to have had the help from to keep us linked to the Smokejumper World.” the NSA after that devastation (NSA Good Samaritan Bob Derry (MSO-43): “It was great to read about my Fund). A bright spot in my life was meeting with Bob brothers (April 2015 Smokejumper). Super job!” Reid (MSO-57) down in Florida. Lifted my spirits Bill Fogg (son of Pioneer Smokejumper pilot Bob up considerably since my brother was deploying for Fogg): “I really enjoyed reading the tribute to the his 4th time to Afghanistan.” Pioneer Smokejumper Pilots, including Dad. That US Embassy: On January 22, 2015, Chargé d’affaires W. was a very nice article and many thanks to you and Patrick Murphy honored Pisidhi Indradat (Associate the Smokejumper magazine staff for publishing this Life Mbr), a Thai civilian who helped the U.S. mili- article and pictures.” tary during the Vietnam War, in a ceremony hosted Ron Siple (MYC-53): “What a great job you did on the by the U.S. Embassy and attended by the National April SJ magazine. Really enjoyed it!”

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 36 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping Paul Nicholas (MSO-42): “I enjoy reading the quarterly the Life Member pin and cap. Thanks very much magazines. I remember Frank Derry (MSO-40) for your thoughtful consideration. It is a wonderful putting on a parachute and strapping himself to the organization, populated with guys and girls proud of wing strut of the Trimotor to take moving pictures of the ‘best job they ever had.’” us during our practice jumps. When we landed, he Major Boddicker (MSO-63): “The April issue of found out he forgot to take off the lens cover during Smokejumper arrived yesterday. Excellent! Agree en- the flight. I imagine some timber cruiser found the thusiastically with your view of the USFS’s attempt camera years later in the forest where Frank threw it. to re-write smokejumper history, regardless of their “I’m a veteran of WWII and Korea. Was in an ‘intent.’ Credit should be placed where it is due and Air-Sea Rescue unit and did assignments in the west- in direct proportion to whom it is due.” ern U.S., Philippines and Japan. Retired out of the Mike Apicello (CJ-78) retired December 12, 2014. He Air Force in 1964.” and his wife, Joanne, are living in Brookings, OR. John Manley (CJ-62): “Greetings, Chuck. I recently You can reconnect with him at PO Box 911 or 541- caught up with my mail and found your package with 469-4254.

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

Charles A. Robinson (Redding ’77) Washington. After attending a year at Augustana Col- Charlie died September 23, 2014, at his home in lege in Sioux Falls, SD, he enlisted in the Navy where Bear Valley Springs, California. He grew up in Lebec, he served on the USS California and the USS Cleve- CA, and attended Bakersfield High School. Charlie land during WWII. started working with the USFS on the Mt. Pinos After the war he went to the University of Montana District, Los Padres NF, before joining the Marines in where he received his degree in Forest Management. 1967 and serving one tour in Vietnam. He returned to Chuck briefly worked for Weyerhaeuser before join- the Los Padres after the service and was an engine fore- ing the Forest Service where he had a 33-year career in man at Gold Hill and assistant foreman on Chuchu- Northern California and Montana. He retired in 1985 pate . Charlie jumped at Redding during the and moved to Sequim with his wife. Chuck jumped at 1977 season. Missoula for the 1947 and 1948 seasons.

Allen J. Moyer (Missoula ’43) Douglas L. Conrady (Missoula ’63) Allen died December 20, 1990, in Deer Creek, Doug died January 26, 2015, after battling non- Oklahoma. He grew up in that area, attended North- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Parkinson’s disease. He ern Oklahoma Jr. College, and later transferred to graduated from the University of Montana and Bethel College in Kansas. He was one of the few jumped at Missoula the 1963 and 1965 seasons. After Civilian Public Service Smokejumper to jump all three graduation Doug spent 30 years with the phone com- years that the CPS jumpers handled operations out of pany in Montana and ended up living in Clancy. Missoula. He was a skilled leather worker, arrow maker and Allen served on local school boards and was in- outdoorsman whose family made the Bob Marshall volved in raising sheep in the Deer Creek area. He was Wilderness their second home. a member of the Mennonite Church and served on the board of directors of his local church. Carl B. Shaver (McCall ’52) Carl died January 25, 2015, at his home in Loomis, Charles W. Burk (Missoula ’47) CA, after a 15-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He Chuck, 92, died January 13, 2015, in Sequim, jumped at McCall 1952-55 and Idaho City in 1956.

Check the NSA website 37 www.smokejumpers.com NSA Good Samaritan Fund Contributions Contributions since the previous publication of donors April 2015 Donor In Memory/Honor of

Lynn Biddison ...... Gar Thorsrud MSO-46) Chris Sorensen (Assoc) ...... Jedidah Lusk (FBX-10) Nancy Jett ...... Gar Thorsrud (MSO-46) Linda/George Vensel ...... Gar Thorsrud (MSO-46) Brad Willard (MSO-58) ...... John Rolf (MSO-57) Jane Wall ...... Gar Thorsrud (MSO-46) J.L. Scott (MYC-48) ...... Gar Thorsrud (MSO-46) Janice McGill ...... Gar Thorsrud (MSO-46) Todd/Martha Watkins ...... Gar Thorsrud (MSO-46) Bill Kickbusch (MSO-49) ...... Bob Sallee (MSO-49) Squad VI ...... Bert Tanner, Willie von Bracht, Steve Walker (MSO-68) Ron Siple (MYC-53) ...... Stan Tate (MYC-53) Alton Wagnon ...... Jay Anderson (MYC-53) Jane Berger ...... Gar Thorsrud (MSO-46) Sierra Pacifi c Airlines Total funds disbursed to smokejumpers and families since 2004—$55,340 Mail your Good Samaritan Fund contributions to: Chuck Sheley, 10 Judy Ln., Chico, CA 95926

Carl began his newspaper career as advertising captain of the UNH basketball team. Gerry fought fi re director for the Idaho Statesman, then after 10 years in Montana and Alaska before he rookied at Fairbanks joined the Sun Telegram in San Bernardino, CA. He in 1965. He taught school in Fairbanks for a couple then moved north and became Senior VP of Market- years and also worked as Recreation Director for the ing for the San Francisco Newspaper Agency, retiring labor union during the oil boom of the late 60s. in 1988. After retiring, Carl formed his own media After a stint in Texas in construction, Gerry moved management business, CBS Associates. to Monument, Colorado, where he ran a drywall busi- ness for many years. Gerald L. Fuller (Fairbanks ’65) Gerry died October 9, 2013. He graduated from Jerrald E. Giles (McCall ’56) the University of New Hampshire in 1967 and was the Jerry died August 10, 2014, in Grass Valley, Cali-

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 38 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping fornia. He graduated from the University of Idaho in Jay R. Anderson (McCall ’53) 1959 and earned his Masters Degree in 1973. Jerry’s Jay died March 2, 2015, in his home in Ogden, 20-year career in the Marine Corps began in 1959 Utah. Jay graduated from Ogden High School and where he rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel. He served attended the University of Wyoming before graduating three tours in Vietnam where he earned the Silver Star, in Civil Engineering from Utah State University. He two Bronze Stars, the Navy Commendation Medal and founded Great Basin Engineering, a consulting civil a Purple Heart. While in Vietnam from September engineering and land surveying fi rm in 1959. Today 1966 through July 1967, he commanded Kilo Com- that business continues as Great Basin Engineering in pany, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. Ogden and Anderson, Wahlen and Associates in Salt Jerry fi nally retired in 1998 to Grass Valley. He Lake City. jumped at McCall 1956-59. Jerry was buried at Ar- His passion later in life was big game hunting. He lington National Cemetery in February 2015. was the fi rst person in the State of Utah to success- fully take each of the “Once in a Lifetime” Big Game Roary Murchison (Redding ’57) animals in Utah through the draw, accomplishing this Dr. Roary A. Murchison Jr., an emergency room in 1998. physician who helped found three occupational He helped found the Bastian Ranch Cooperative medical clinics, died at his Woodland Hills, Califor- Wildlife Management Unit in 1993. He loved being nia, home August 27, 1990. He was 52. A native of the operator of this property and providing hunting Alabama, Roary graduated from Ohio State University opportunities for people and especially spending time College of Medicine in the early 1960s and later served on the mountain with his children and grandchildren. as a doctor on a U.S. Army Special Forces A-Team Jay jumped at McCall during the 1953 season. during the Vietnam War. He worked as an emergency room physician in Chino, CA, before coming to Jerry Vice (Redding ’69) Woodland Hills in 1980. Jerry, 72, died February 27, 2015. He started his Roary was one of the founders of the California career with the USFS on the Plumas N.F. in 1960. Occupational Medical Clinics, which had offi ces in After his retirement in 1995, he lived in Redding to be Canoga Park, Saugus and Rancho Cucamonga. In the close to Shasta Lake, where he enjoyed his houseboat early 1980s, he was on the staff at Tarzana Regional and fi shing. Jerry jumped at Redding in 1969-70 and Medical Center and Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial was part of the retread program. Hospital. Roary jumped at Redding 1957 through 1962. Thanks to Joe Lord (MSO-56) for the obit infor- Alan O. Inglis (Missoula ’45) mation. Al, 91, died February 14, 2015, in Lakewood, Colorado. He served with the CPS-103 smokejump- Charles C.R. Stelling (Missoula ’48) ers in Missoula during the 1945 season. Al graduated Chuck died February 24, 2015, in Missoula. He from Earlham College in 1949 and Yale Divinity graduated from the University of Montana after serv- School in 1952. Al served Congregational churches in ing in the Navy during WWII. After starting work North Dakota, where he fl ew to fi ve churches every in the car dealership business in Polson, he began Sunday. Moving to Colorado in 1967, he worked for working in the real estate business in Missoula over a the Federal War on Poverty until 1970. 37-year period. An additional note from his daughter Carol: “Dad Chuck was an avid outdoorsman and was involved served a year with the Smokejumpers out of Missoula, in the outfi tting and guide business. He jumped at Montana, before returning to college and becoming Missoula during the 1948 season. ordained. Although many people considered much of the way he went through life as different from the Glen B. Youngblood (McCall ’47) ordinary, this particular experience was probably the Glen, 82, died July 4, 2010, in Boise. He joined the highlight of his life, next to his marriage to Margaret Navy in 1945 after completing high school in Council, Tollefson. It led to his acquisition of a Piper Cub and Idaho. Glen graduated from the University of Idaho service as a fl ying pastor of fi ve little churches in North with a degree in Forestry and jumped at McCall dur- Dakota in the 1950s, and culminated in his ownership ing the 1947-48 seasons. He worked for Boise Payette of an ultralight plane and home landing strip when he Company until 1962 when he and his wife, was unable to obtain a regular pilot’s license in his ’70s Melba, bought and ran the Cascade Star News. and ’80s. “He celebrated his 90th birthday by jumping from

75th Anniversary of Smokejumping 39 National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 a plane (tandem with a professional). He admitted to Hal A. Samsel (Missoula ’49) not particularly caring for the long ‘free fall’ but was Hal died April 2, 2015, just two weeks after the once again thrilled by the parachute, despite a growing passing of his wife of 64 years, Betty. His Dad was Dis- wind from an approaching storm.” trict Ranger on the Seely Lake District, and he started fi ghting fi res at age 14. Hal is well known in jumper Kenneth A. Cavin (Pilot) circles having stayed with the job from 1949 until his Ken, 87, died February 3, 2015 in Dayton, Nevada. retirement in 1980. Brothers Bill (MSO-61) and Kirk He obtained his pilot’s license in 1948 and fl ew for the (MSO-60) were also jumpers. Forest Service as a Tanker, Lead Plane and smokejump- After graduating from high school, he rookied in er pilot. Ken was based at NCSB from 1963-1977, 1949 before joining the Marine Corps. Hal returned where he lived with his wife and four children in the to jumping in 1952 and was hired full-time at Mis- little trailer across the runway. soula in 1957. During the last 10 years of his career, he Ken fl ew the Doug and Twin Beach and dropped was the parachute loft foreman, retiring in 1980. over 2000 jumpers. He went on to fl y lead plane pilot In a 2004 interview with Smokejumper, Hal said he in Redmond from 1977-81. was detailed to just about all of the bases, at one time Ken fl ew many different types of airplanes: in- or another, during his career. He told about one time cluding DC-3, DC-4, N3N Biplanes, Twin Beech, 16 Missoula jumpers were sent down to Medford. Cessnas, Pipers, Bonanza, B-26, T-34, Aero Com- It was the summer the airstrip at Cave Junction was mander, and his Navion, in which he landed on the closed for repairs. Being in Medford, there was no mess Loup Loup Highway in 1973 with jumper Jim Detro hall. They were on their own for food, and their money (NCSB-67) after a prop failure. In 1963 he fl ew what ran out quickly. They prayed for fi res so they could get is now known as “The Sentimental Journey” B-17 something to eat. The welfare fund sent down $200 when it had been modifi ed to drop retardant on forest that didn’t go too far with 16 jumpers. Hal said it was a fi res. good thing there was a peach orchard nearby. Hal had seen many changes in smokejumping dur- Fred W. Rungee (Missoula ’45) ing his tenure on the job. There were many veterans Fred died March 27, 2015, at the age of 93. One of returning from WWII in his rookie class as well as the few remaining CPS-103 jumpers, he was immense- men like Fred Brauer (MSO-41) and Fred Barnowsky ly proud of his service to his country as a conscien- (MSO-42), who jumped before going off to war and tious objector with the fl edgling smokejumpers of the were returning to that job. He had seen the jumpers Civilian Public Service program during WWII. He go from the college types, who jumped and went on to diligently worked toward a world at peace throughout another life, to the career jumpers. his entire life. After retiring, Hal and his wife lived in Missoula for As a , Fred qualifi ed as a true Alaskan. several years while they were completing their cabin at He was an adventurer who looked comfortable in a Flathead Lake, where they lived until their passing. canoe or kayak, on snowshoes or a motorcycle, heli- copter, or Oldsmobile. More often than not, he could Robert H. Painter (Cave Junction ’44) be found in the woods, on foot with his double bit , Bob passed away on January 28, 2015, in Grant, his model 70 Winchester hunting rifl e and a 60-pound Michigan, at the age of 93. He grew up in New pack. He was a true leader by example who, after a England and after graduating from Earlham College brief residency in Montana, made his home in Alaska in Richmond, Indiana, he was drafted into the Civil- where he worked for the Bureau of Land Management ian Public Service as a Conscientious Objector during as the Fire Management Offi cer of the Glennallen WWII. District, responsible for all forest fi re control in that After smokejumper training in Missoula, he joined area –about the size of New York State. the jumpers at Cave Junction where he chalked up Of his more than 70 years in Alaska, he resided 15 jumps, the most memorable being north of Lake primarily in the town of Glennallen. Upon retire- Chelan, WA. Bob returned and jumped the 1945 ment in 1978, Fred moved to the Slana area to a season at McCall. cabin that he himself built two and a half miles from After discharge in 1946, he completed Medical the nearest road. Packing all the materials and even a School in Philadelphia. He practiced general medicine massive wood stove he needed for the cabin on foot, until 1987 in several rural towns in Michigan. In ad- he did concede using a buckboard to move in his dition to his medical practice, he served on the town piano. council, as a Trustee at the local Community College.

National Reunion, Missoula, July 17–19, 2015 40 75th Anniversary of Smokejumping