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H U
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The National Smokejumper Quarterly Magazine
Smokejumper
Association October 2021
Ben Musquez—My Story..................................................................................... 5
1946 Rookies— The Vets Come Home ............................................................. 37
Reflecting on Tim Hart’s Passing ..................................................................... 43
CONTENTS Message from
A Tribute to Chuck Sheley—A Great Brother ..........4
My Story .................................................................5
What Torch?............................................................7
the President
A Smokejumper’s Dream .......................................8
Recording Smokejumper
a smokejumper comes shin-
History ...........................................................10 ing through in their words as
NSA Publishes 4th Book........................................12 shared by Patrick.
Sounding Off from the Editor ................................13 Also striking are Patrick’s
Civilian Public Service—Smokejumpers
During the War Years .....................................14
reflections about what it
Fastest to Get There ..............................................15 means to be a smokejumper,
Off-Duty Jumpers ..................................................17 the people it attracts to its
Snapshots from the Past........................................18 ranks, and the bond all smoke-
We Need Your Biography ......................................19
jumpers share. In his words,
The Jump List— Men of the ’50s ..........................20
The Good Sam Fund—Your Donations at Work....23
“Once a smokejumper, always
Odds and Ends .....................................................26 a smokejumper.”
More Fires, Less Staffing Taking Toll on by Bob McKean Whether one jumped in the
Wildland Firefighters......................................27
(Missoula ’67) 50s or jumps in the 2020s, we
Another Case of Limited Resources—
What About the 80 Smokejumpers? ................29 know we are all bound togeth-
Caring for Our Forests: The Key to Tragically, the smokejump- er. We are a tight-knit commu-
Less Destructive Wildfires ..............................30
er community lost one of its nity. Every individual in the
Stocking Nugget Lakes By Air ................................33
A Gathering on Sacred Ground .............................36
own this past June when Tim greater smokejumper family
Off the List ............................................................39 Hart (GAC-16) succumbed to feels Tim Hart’s loss and is
Living Our Best Life—Reflecting on injuries received on a fire jump concerned for his family. I per-
Smokejumper Tim Hart’s Passing...................43 in New Mexico. Tim’s loss was sonally visited with numerous
Gallatin Lake Rescue Jump ...................................45
mourned by the entire wild- smokejumpers (mostly inac-
land firefighting community. tive) who were also concerned
Of course, all jumpers were about jumpers close to Tim
particularly impacted. And in life and on this particular
Tim’s family has suffered an fire jump. All who were close
incalculable loss! to Tim need and absolutely
Patrick McGunagle (WYS- have the support of their entire
SMOKEJUMPER, Issue No. 115, October 2021 19 and NSA Board Member) smokejumper family.
ISSN 1532-6160 knew Tim well. His reflections The following poem is
Smokejumper is published quarterly by: about Tim’s passing are includ- offered for those close to Tim
The National Smokejumper Association
c/o 10 Judy Lane ed in this issue of Smokejumper: and those close to smokejump-
Chico, CA 95926 “Living Our Best Life—Reflec- ers previously lost in the line
The opinions of the writers are their own and do tions on Smokejumper Tim of duty.
not necessarily reflect those of the NSA. Permis-
sion to reproduce Smokejumper in any manner Hart’s Passing.”
must first be obtained in writing. Patrick’s account is compel- Young Life Cut Short
NSA Website: http://www.smokejumpers.com
ling. Beyond the tragedy itself,
Managing Editor: Chuck Sheley
there are the smokejumpers
– for the brother of a
Associate Editor: Ed Booth
who stood vigil for Tim. There dear friend
Editing: K. G. Sheley Author Unknown
is the breathtaking courage,
Photo Editor: Johnny Kirkley
wisdom, and love expressed
Illustrator: Dan Veenendaal Do not judge a biography by
by Tim’s mother, Pam; Tim’s
Layout/Printing: Larry S. Jackson, Heidelberg its length,
Graphics, www.HeidelbergGraphics.com wife, Michelle; and Tim’s
sister, Meg. Tim’s wisdom, love Nor by the number of pages
Front cover: Ben Musquez (Courtesy B.
Musquez) for family, and love for life as in it.
Check the NSA website 2 National Smokejumper ReunionJudge it by the richness of its contents
Sometimes those unfinished are among the Having Your Correct Email
most poignant
Addresses Is Very Important
Do not judge a song by its duration
In order to save the NSA time and money,
Nor by the number of its notes
I’m sending renewals and the merchandise
Judge it by the way it touches and lifts the soul flyer via email. The National Reunion has
Sometimes those unfinished are among the most been postponed until August 12–14, 2022,
beautiful. in Boise. I will be sending information on
that event via email whenever possible. Send-
And when something has enriched your life
ing via email is a good cost-efficient move.
And when its melody lingers on in your heart
Is it unfinished? To see if we have your correct email ad-
Or is it endless? dress, go to the NSA website at www.smoke-
jumpers.com. Click on “News and Events” at
the top of the page. Click on “Jump List” on
National Smokejumper the pulldown, type in your last name.
Reunion Please contact me if we need to update
August 12–14, 2022 your email. My contact information is on the
left column of this page. (Ed.)
Boise, Idaho
NSA Members—Save
This Information Get Smokejumper
Please contact the following directly if you One Month Earlier
have business or questions:
Many NSA members are switching to
Smokejumper magazine
the digital version of Smokejumper delivered
Articles, obits, membership,
by email instead of the printed edition. It is
change of address sent as a PDF identical to the hard copy issue.
Chuck Sheley
530-893-0436 Advantages include early delivery (a
ChuckSheley@gmail.com month ahead of USPS), ease of storage, and
10 Judy Ln NSA postal expense savings.
Chico CA 95926 NSA Director Fred Cooper (NCSB-62)
All else says: “I will opt to have my magazines deliv-
NSA President ered electronically rather than via USPS to
Bob McKean save us direct $ in printing and mailing, not
971-404-5659 to mention your hand labor in processing.
mckeanbob@gmail.com I think I mentioned in an earlier message
5465 Aspen Meadow Ln that I’m having other magazines/newsletters
Mountain Green UT 84050 delivered electronically.
Smokejumper base abbreviations: To request email delivery contact Editor
Missoula ............MSO
Anchorage .......... ANC Grangeville ........ GAC Redding .............RDD
Chuck Sheley (CJ-59) cnkgsheley@earthlink.
Boise ................. NIFC Idaho City .......... IDC Redmond ............RAC net.
Cave Junction ........ CJ La Grande .......... LGD West Yellowstone WYS
Fairbanks ............ FBX McCall ...............MYC Winthrop ......... NCSB
August 12-14, 2022 in Boise 3 www.smokejumpers.comA Tribute to Chuck Sheley—A Great
Brother
Ben Musquez (Missoula ’56)
I
’m sure many of you would agree with me of the Static Line was dim.
that many of us could not do the work or as My wife and I proceeded on our trip, and
much as our bro’ Chuck and his wife have our last stop was to see Chuck Sheley (CJ-59) in
done for the NSA and its mission. I think they Chico, CA. This was the first time I had met him.
have done an outstanding job since the first issue When we met, I told Chuck about a jump I did
of Smokejumper magazine (Oct. 1999). Every issue out of Redding fighting several fires with six other
has lots of information, great pictures and stories. jumpers at the Shasta/Trinity N.F. I thought that
Way back, Jack Demmons (MSO-50) was doing was a good story and I talked about some other
a good job with the Static Line newsletter keeping memories, too. Of course, he told me some of his
us all informed. At that time, I was living in Texas stories. I really love talking to a former jumper
and never knew who was doing all the work put- no matter where they jumped, because to me, a
ting it together. I either did not read it or I forgot. jumper is a jumper, a “bro’ of the trade,” and the
I did keep all letters and copies of the Static Line. main thing is the mission. Many smokejumpers,
One in the group was Don Courtney (MSO- me included, have said smokejumping has been
56). After Jack Demmons, he took the job of one of the greatest jobs to have because you form
temporary editor and with the help of Roger so many comrades/bros’.
Savage (MSO-56) and others, kept the Static Line Throughout my almost 30 years of military
going. However, Don wrote a letter that appeared service, I have made many friends; however,
in the summer ’99 issue as to how hard it was to smokejumping and Forest Service work, devel-
keep the newsletter going. A few of us from 1956- oped more bonds. My wife, Mary, and I met with
57 who stayed in contact knew it was a problem Chuck for breakfast and had a nice visit and, as
because it takes a lot of time and work to gather we were talking, the Static Line newsletter came
all the material and put it into a newsletter or up. We all were sad about it, so we started think-
magazine for publishing. We were incredibly sad ing about what we could do. Chuck said, “I’ve
and wondered what we could do. been doing some research and gotten some good
During this time, my friend Tom McGrath leads to publish a magazine instead of a newslet-
(MSO-57) flew his small plane to Hondo, Texas, ter.” We thought that would be great for the NSA.
to visit us. I had told Tom that we were planning a We had a problem—it would take a lot more
trip up north to the high line, then across through work for a magazine. Chuck’s contact said he
Missoula, then to Seattle, stopping along the way could publish a quarterly magazine, but even with
visiting friends. He said great and, that while a fair price, it was still more money, eight hundred
we were in Missoula, to get in touch because he dollars to be exact. I said, “That’s chicken feed.
would be at the smokejumper warehouse for the We (the NSA) raised $100,000 for the Smoke-
summer. jumpers history video, surely, we can raise $800.”
We started the trip and along the way we met I told Chuck, “Give me three to four days to get
with Roland Stoleson (MSO-56) and Joe Gutkos- back to San Antonio, I think I can help. I think I
ki (MSO-50). We arrived in Missoula and had a have a source!”
great get-together with Roger Savage, Bob Whaley My brother-in-law, Chris Rodriguez, and the
(MSO-56), Ted Nyquest (MSO-54), and Robin rest of the Rodriguez family are proud of our
Towgood (MSO-56). That evening I met my family and our past accomplishments. I do not
friend Tom McGrath. We realized that the future remember if it was during this time frame or after
Check the NSA website 4 National Smokejumper Reunionthat they, and all of Chris’ employees, became the team (he, his wife, Johnny Kirkley, and Ed
Associate members of the NSA to help the cause. Booth), and all contributors make each issue
I called Chris the next day after our arrival home. wonderful reading. Good information keeps us
One of his first words after welcoming us back all connected. My brother-in-law has passed on;
was, “Did you see the smokejumpers and how are however, like all smokejumper brothers and many
they doing?” I told him I had a great time and of my combat veterans that have departed, they
a great trip and visited many; however, I had a left many wonderful memories that I will live with
project to help the NSA with a magazine instead the rest of my life.
of the newsletter. Please remember all bases and jumper associ-
Chris knew about the Static Line and asked ates and others that contribute towards the mis-
how much they needed to raise. I told him it was sion and develop friendships along the way.
lots of money. He asked again and I answered Many thanks to Chuck, his wife, and the many
$800 for the first year. His reply was, “Brother, contributors that make it possible to publish the
that is just chicken feed.” I laughed and told Smokejumper magazine.
him that’s what everyone would say. Chris asked, In closing, may I say that Missoula is very dear
“When do you want to pick up the check?” “I’ll to me and my family. We have many fine memo-
drive over, right now!” After receiving the check, I ries all because of having had the opportunity to
added a quick note and mailed it. serve with the smokejumpers there. May God
Now, you know the rest of the story. Chuck, bless everyone.
My Story
Ben Musquez (Missoula ’56)
I
t has been more than 49 years since I met the
boys of Charlie Company at Fire Support
Base Hawk Hill in a place called NAM. The
following is my story, my history, and memories
that I will have for the rest of my life.
Over the years, there have been many people,
like me, who have served overseas for months or
even years. When we returned home, there was
a great feeling that we were home. It made one
feel like kneeling and kissing the ground, and I
can attest to doing just that. After being away in
foreign lands, I realize how lucky we are with our
freedoms that many do not have.
During WWII many young men from our
town of Sabinal, Texas, were drafted. Eleven of
these men did not return home, and our commu-
Ben (left) with squad in N.C. 1952
nity felt the loss. I felt a sense of patriotism, and it
was then that I thought that I, too, would join the in the south through the central highlands to the
Armed Forces. I joined the U.S. Army in January DMZ. I’m proud to say that I accomplished all
1949 at age 17. assigned missions without losing a single soldier
I served for almost 30 years through the Ko- on my watch.
rean conflict and two tours in Vietnam. I operated My life started on my grandfather’s ranch
as a platoon sergeant from the top of the Delta where my father was working. He met my mother
August 12-14, 2022 in Boise 5 www.smokejumpers.comthere. My mother died when I was 18 months old,
and I was mostly raised by my grandparents. We
moved to Sabinal, Texas, when I was six years old,
and I was raised by my Aunts and Uncles.
When I joined the Army at age 17, I was as-
signed to AA Artillery at Fort Bliss, Texas. We
were ready to deploy to Korea, but the mission
was cancelled. Later, I requested Airborne duty
and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.
After three years, I Ieft to become a smokejumper
and continued serving in the Army reserves.
Before I left the 82nd, I married my childhood
sweetheart, Maria Rodriguez, and we were blessed
with two sons and four daughters.
I jumped at Missoula 1956-57 and decided to
go back into active military service and started at
the bottom as a buck private. I soon was selected
for drill sergeant duty and later would become Se- Ben with radio operator Chu Lai Vietnam 1971
nior Drill Sergeant at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. We were
getting feedback from Vietnam that the trainees at home, but she agreed. I had to push and pull
from Ft. Polk were some of the best. some strings, but I went off to Vietnam in for my
I thought that we were losing too many sol- first tour of duty.
diers and that this could have been prevented. On September 16, 1968, while serving in the
At the time, no Drill Sergeants were allowed for central highlands, I received word that I was the
combat duty as we were needed more at the train- father of a baby girl. Twenty five years later, she
ing centers. One evening I talked to my wife and would join the military and do her own combat
said that I had to go and do my duty in Vietnam. duty overseas.
I felt that if I went and was able to save even one Through the ups and downs it has been a
life, it would be worth it. At the time, my wife wonderful journey. Now you know the story. “We
was expecting our 5th child and had four children were Soldiers Once and Young.”
Check the NSA website 6 National Smokejumper ReunionWhat Torch?
by John Culbertson (Fairbanks ’69)
T
he July issue of Smokejumper gives one you do in life. That thing shared by all the authors
much to think about. Articles by Super- in the above articles. What Wally Humphries
visor Carl Pence, Spotter Tim Quigley, describes in the July issue—caring about the land.
Forester Doug Stinson, and Ranger Karl Brauneis What happened to people that can have fun no
speak to their experience and convey lessons we matter what predicament they find themselves in
might consider no matter the task. Pence and or what sorrows they must carry?
Stinson’s articles should be required fire manage- Where are the base reports? Stories from cur-
ment reading in Washington DC. Most of us have rent jumpers? That great writing style that for so
learned a skill by watching someone like Quigley many years described the feats and follies of the
work, and in turn, we practice that skill for others bases and anybody else that fell in their sights?
to learn by. District Rangers like Brauneis set an This certainly has not been the age of communi-
example of the involved land manager that is a ref- cation.
erence point for our actions as we take on leader- The only thing I draw from the anonymous
ship roles in life. article is that maybe the Forest Service made a big
Sheridan Peterson and the unnamed military mistake complicating what used to be a relatively
contractor tell good stories. Peterson tells what simple seasonal job. When jumpers start to resem-
could be a story of frustration in a manner com- ble the system they are working for, it’s not a good
pletely devoid of anger showing a positive attitude sign. But guaranteed OT, and non-competitive
that served him well in life. Our military contrac- promotion to GS-12. Are you kidding me?
tor is a good writer and conveys a sense of both Pat McGunagle is making a good attempt at
responsibility and caring for the people and the bridging the gap. I enjoy reading the thoughts
mission in his timely article. in his column and was impressed with his good
Tommy Albert reaches out to help others when reporting passed on through threads in the jumper
he himself has just suffered loss showing leader- community following Tim Hart’s tragic death. His
ship by example. Your editorial, “The Sheriff is word was the jumper story those days and report
Dead,” is well told and includes a timely message of his news was quickly spread and shared. Pat
on several fronts. What we respect in a good edi- is to be congratulated for keeping people in the
tor. loop.
All these writers represent what I think of as In other matters, I admit I don’t always get the
the smokejumper story. The names change but drift of what he is saying, so I must ask: What
the faces remain the same. Each time I read the Torch? Who is passing a torch? Most of the jump-
magazine, I think these people never stop trying, ers and land managers that write for Smokejumper
and these are stories that should be told. are still running, as far as I can tell. Many have
What confuses me is the anonymous article on been deeply affected by the increasing fire threat
the challenges of being a current smokejumper. and are currently involved with change needed
We all know the pay is not equal to State and Lo- to adapt to new fire conditions. From editorial
cal agencies. Want fire department pay and ben- writing, burn councils, and regional planning
efits? Smokejumpers and hotshots are a primary to State and Federal testimony and legislation
hiring pool for many fire agencies. at the highest level, public involvement in fire is
And when have there not been challenges? No not something in the past but part of who these
generation has been handed an ideal work world. NSA members are today. And that’s just the folks
What happened to this being a great job? Jumping involved with fire. Our members are key support-
can be the best stepping-stone to the next thing ers and leaders in so many humanitarian business
August 12-14, 2022 in Boise 7 www.smokejumpers.comand professional enterprises it would be difficult functional program that makes a difference in our
to list them all. world. I have full faith current jumpers will
I know some will not agree, but I still believe continue to do so.
smokejumping should be a simple job with one
purpose—put the fire out. And in learning that John is a retired Administrative Fire Captain, Santa
job, we learn a lot. I say to all with encourage- Barbara Fire Department, with wife, Kathy, run J.N.
ment, do that job to learn, get a step up in life Culbertson LLC Fire Management doing fire risk as-
and move on, or not. It’s your choice. Jumpers sessment and research, is a Trail Steward for Montecito
have taken both paths to great success. It’s an Trails Foundation, works in educational field with
imperfect world and so is smokejumping. But the Friends of Franklin, is an ocean and open water swim-
jumpers have always made smokejumping a mer and writer.
A Smokejumper’s Dream
Cecil Hicks (North Cascades ’62)
T
he other night I dreamed that I was still avoid the snags with their angry spikes pointing
a smokejumper back in my prime years. skyward that were mixed in with the rest of the
In my dream, I was suspended in mid-air, evergreens.
hanging beneath the canopy of a round 32-foot As I descended, I steered the chute to the top of a
orange and white Forest Service parachute. It was tall Grand fir. I crashed down through the top limbs
a mid-July morning with a light breeze blowing. I and finally came to rest with my back against the
was jumping a two-manner in a remote wilderness tree trunk. The canopy had stopped my fall and was
of Washington’s Northern Cascades. draped securely over the crown of the tree. I checked
There were still some snow-covered peaks in the for my jump partner and saw he had safely landed
surrounding mountains. We had jumped from a in a tree some 100 feet away.
Twin Beech about 1,000 feet above a tree-covered From the leg pocket of my jump suit, I pulled
ridge top. As the airplane circled, my jump partner out my 150-foot letdown rope, ran the end through
and I drifted earthward. the rings on the front of my jump suit, and tied it
As I looked down between my boots, all I could off to my parachute. Next, I threw the rope to the
see were trees, trees, and more trees. About an hour ground where it landed with about 20 feet to spare.
before we arrived from our base back at Winthrop, I figured I was nestled in the top of a 160-foot tree. I
a spotter in a patrol plane, tracking behind a small was just glad I wasn’t on a backup crew and jumping
lighting storm, threw a roll of toilet paper over the out of Cave Junction, Oregon, into their tall trees.
trees where he had seen smoke drifting upward. When Winthrop jumpers headed for Cave Junction,
When we arrived over the fire’s location, nobody also known as the Gobi, they replaced the 150-foot
in our plane could see any smoke, but the spotter jump rope with 300-footers. I rappelled slowly to
decided two smokejumpers would jump anyway to the ground.
check out the potential fire. On the mountainside The year in my dream was 1962 (my rookie
there were no clearings, or larger openings in the year, NCSB) and we didn’t have a radio dropped
trees to use as a jump spot, so this would be strictly on this fire. We located a very small clearing near
a tree landing. our jump site and laid out our double LL streamers
With no landing spot, I knew I had to hang my for the signal to the airplane that we were safely on
chute over the top of a sturdy, live tree and keep the ground. The plane made a low pass checking us
away from Tamaracks, as I was warned they had out. Then it circled back around for a cargo drop.
brittle tops that could easily break off. Of course, As the plane roared by, the spotter kicked out two
Check the NSA website 8 National Smokejumper Reunionfire packs attached to white cargo chutes. They, too, the tree when I was climbing up and around the up-
hung up in the trees. On the final pass, the spotter per tree limbs. When the stub broke, it flipped the
freefell the climbing spurs in a small bundle with line around my right boot nearly pulling me out of
a long, orange-colored streamer attached. We had the tree. For a few seconds my hands maintained a
to climb two trees to get the fire packs and cargo vice-like grip around the tree and my left spur was
chutes. Later, we would climb to retrieve our chutes planted solidly into the trunk. With my right leg
after working the fire, if we could find them. hanging in the air holding the full weight of the
Personally, I was not fond of climbing trees. 100 pound elephant bag, 20 pounds of cargo chute
Over my smokejumping career, consisting of seven and probably 50 pounds of the tree top, I frantically
seasons and 91 jumps, I hung up in tall trees four kicked my boot trying to free the line. Fortunately,
times. Once I had to use the smaller one-inch pole after a couple seconds and a quick prayer, it slid off.
spurs in attempting to climb a huge Ponderosa pine. Back to my dream jump. I woke up and realized
This involved climbing the tree with a small, fold- the dream was actually what had happened during
ing saw tucked in my back pocket that I would use my first fire jump onto toilet paper some 50-plus
to top the tree so my partner could pull the chute years ago. I guess as a smokejumper you never forget
down using the letdown rope. Sometimes, if you your first fire jump as it is forever ingrained in the
were lucky, you could pull and slide the chute off recesses of your mind.
the tree top.
Picture, if you will, spurring your way up a large
Ponderosa pine, hoping to get to the first limb some Smokejumpers: CIA
40 feet up, and then climb up through the limbs.
Ponderosas have thick bark, and I found out it Clandestine Weapon In
comes off in pretty large slabs if your pole spurs do
not reach the trunk. After nearly falling out three
America’s Secret Wars
D
times and only reaching 20 feet up, I decided it was r. Paul T. Carter, Ph.D., retired US Army
unsafe and came down. Using the saw and Pulaski, Intelligence officer, recently put together
we felled the tree to retrieve my parachute. an outstanding YouTube presentation
After I made my last rookie training jump, I was about this interesting and unusual bit of history.
involved in another climbing incident. We were Dr. Carter served as the 82nd Airborne Division
spotted over trees, but I managed to steer my chute Chief of Intelligence Operations in Afghanistan
to the ground. Later, after all the gear was retrieved, and also at the US Defense Intelligence Agency.
the plane returned to make cargo drops. As there He currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand. His
were 17 rookies, there were 17 bags of cargo kicked presentation received over 2,000 views in the first
out. Nearly all the cargo hung up in trees. couple weeks that it was online.
Each rookie had climbing spurs and a small Beginning in 1951, the CIA begin to hire
folding saw and was assigned a bag to retrieve. The smokejumpers for its unconventional war opera-
bags, used for packing out from a fire, were called tions, employing at least 115 during the Cold
elephant bags and were each filled with 100 pounds War. Why did the CIA hire smokejumpers? What
of rocks. Once everyone had their bags safely out of operations did they execute? Where were they
the trees, we shouldered them and had a five-mile deployed? How did the CIA first find smoke-
hike back to the base. To prevent any rookie from jumpers? Dr. Paul T. Carter in this 48-minute
dumping out some of the rocks on the hike, the top video, ”Smokejumpers: CIA Clandestine Weapon
of the bags were tied off securely with a parachute in America’s Secret Wars,” provides the answers
riggers seal. with this fascinating, action-packed, non-mone-
Anyway, I climbed the tree with no problems tized video with interviews, old film footage, war
and sawed off the tree top. The chute and bag fell scenes, declassified documents, rare photos, and
about 20 feet and hung up on a tree stub some 85 more at:
feet above ground. I climbed down and kicked the https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfB_yydD-
stub breaking it off. I didn’t have a safety line around FbsAwZwzWozjSHQ
August 12-14, 2022 in Boise 9 www.smokejumpers.comRECORDING SMOKEJUMPER
HISTORY
1946 Rookies—The Post Mike Bober (MSO-46)—Airborne, Bronze Star
Battle of the Bulge, career CIA.
WWII Era King Brady (MSO-46)—Airborne WWII, Doctor
NSA History Preservation Project of medicine 1954-89.
I’m going to jump from the 1943 rookies to the 1946 Bob Caldwell (MYC-46)—Patton’s 80th Infantry
rookie group since the emphasis in this issue is our vet- Div., PH.D. professor of Philosophy at Univer-
erans. Smokejumping moved from the Conscientious sity of Arizona.
Objectors to the vets at the end of the 1945 season. Jack Carver (MSO-46)—Navy, was with Bombing
Thousands of vets came home from WWII and the Squadron 14 when he and his pilot were credited
ranks of the 1946 rookie class was filled with them. I’ve with inflicting heavy damage on the Japanese bat-
always wondered, how do you handle a group of rook- tleship Yamato. His photograph of that bombing
ies who are chronologically 24 years old but, through has been reproduced in the U.S. Navy’s official
combat, are aged another 30 years? You can see that story of the 2nd Battle of the Philippines and has
many took the GI Bill and received an education they been used in many newspapers and magazine to
otherwise would have never gotten. Smokejumping illustrate the actual sinking of the Yamato. He
moved from the hard-working Mennonites to the hard- received a Navy Unit commendation Ribbon,
to-handle combat vets. I’m almost overwhelmed with the Air Medal, and the Silver Star Medal.
the records these men achieved in their lifetimes. There’s Paul Clabaugh (MYC-46)—Airborne medic D-
a reason Tom Brokaw called this the “Greatest Genera- Day, captured and was a POW.
tion.” There is so much information that I’m going to Dick Courson (CJ-46)—Para Marine, 30 days on
have to do a very short bio on each individual—there Iwo Jima, evacuated due to wounds, District
is a lot more saved in our History Preservation Project. Court Judge and D.A. for 25 years.
There were 197 rookies in 1946. What follows is only Bob Crowe (MSO-46)—Airborne, Battle of the
about a third of them. (Ed.) Bulge, decorated, career in private forestry.
Harry L. Cummings (MSO-46)—Air Corps,
Ed Adams (CJ-46)—Airborne Master Sergeant architect of 50 years, designed and supervised
WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Jumped at CJ 1946- construction of hundreds of projects in Seattle
47 and went back into the Army. area, including 40 schools.
Jim Allen (NCSB-46)—101st Airborne, jumped Harry L. Cummings (CJ-46)—101st Airborne D-
Operation Market Garden (A Bridge Too Far), Day and Market Garden, two Purple Hearts,
wounded Battle of the Bulge. Base Manager at USFS career.
Cave Junction. Oroville Dodge (MSO-46)—Major US Army Gua-
Norman Allen (MSO-46)—82nd Airborne, Purple dalcanal, Ph.D., head of education department
Heart/Bronze Star, Jr. H.S. teacher and USFS at Carroll College (MT).
career. Jack Dunne (MSO-46)—Tail gunner B-29, over
Dick Anderson (MSO-46)—Tail gunner B-24, flew 30 missions over Japan, career elementary school
more than 50 missions, shot down over northern teacher.
Yugoslavia, USFS career. Bob Dusenbury (MSO-46)—Petty Officer LST
Francis Anywaush (MSO-46)—Airborne, Bronze Omaha Beach D-Day, career BIA.
Star, USFS career. Bruce Egger (MSO-46)—Army infantry Sergeant,
Al Bellusci (MSO-46)—All State quarterback Bronze Star, described by Stephen Ambrose in his
Missoula County H.S., USAF pilot and Special book Citizen Soldiers, “Among the best of these
Weapons and Electronic Counter Measures. are Bruce Egger and Lee Otts, G Company’s War:
Check the NSA website 10 National Smokejumper ReunionTwo Personal Accounts of the Campaigns in Europe, Glen “Ace” Nielsen (MYC-46)—Navy pilot. 1944-1945.” Career USFS. Dan O’Rourke (CJ-46)—Marine Corps, part of Loren Fessler (MSO-46)—OSS D-Day, China, all-military 1946 crew at Cave Junction. Ph.D. Harvard, author, and expert on China. Clayton Ogle (MSO-46)—B-17 ball turret gunner, Hank Florin (MSO-46.)—B-17 pilot, when asked 25 combat missions, Purple Heart, three air med- which 15 minutes he’d like to live over, it was als, career US Soil Conservation Service. the bomb run over Berlin. That was the most Danny On (CJ-46)—101st Airborne, Battle of the intense year of his life and remained riveted in Bulge, Purple Heart, career USFS, noted nature his memory ever after. photographer. John Frankovich (MSO-46)—Tail gunner, lawyer, Dick Peltier (MSO-46)—11th Airborne South lead council Anaconda Mining. Pacific. Howard Gorsuch (MYC-46)—Airborne, Battle Bob Petty (MSO-46)—Army Air Corps, Distin- Bulge, career USFS. guished Flying Cross, career newspaper editor. Roy Goss (NCSB-46)—Battleship USS Indiana, Clem Pope (CJ-46)—Airborne, OSS China, career Ph.D. Agronomy. lumber industry. Bob Gossett (MYC-46)—Son of Idaho Governor Bob Reed (MYC-46)—Army, Bronze Star, career Charlie Gossett, Navy pilot, founder of computer free-lance writer. and business accounting firm. Carrol Rieck (MSO-46)—Marine paratrooper age Les Grenlin (MSO-46)—Combat veteran South 17, South Pacific campaign, career Washington Pacific, CIA Formosa. State Dept. of Game. Bill Gropp (MSO-46—Marines Iwo Jima, “I was Kenny Roth (MYC-46)—Gunner’s mate USS Sun- lucky to come out in one piece.” mer, career Johnson Flying Service Pilot. Al Hammond (MSO-46)—Airborne, USFS career. Joe Saltsman (MSO-46)—Army Holland, POW Bill Helman (MSO-46)—Marine Corpsman, killed Stalag 2A, career CIA. at Mann Gulch. Neil Shier (CJ-46)—Joined Navy at age 15, career Steve Henault (MSO-46)—Major US Army, two USAF retired as Chief Master Sergeant with tours Vietnam, Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters. rank of E-9. Wally Henderson (MSO-46)—Navy pilot, USAF Jerry Sparkman (MYC-46)—82nd Airborne, career pilot, 72 missions over North Korea, Colonel. Anchorage public works. John Hydes (MSO-46)—Enlisted in Marine Corps Stan Sykes (MSO-46)—Marine Corps, career at age 16, saw action Kwajalein, Guadalcanal, railroad. and the Marianas. John Tauscher (NCSB-46)—Army, wounded in Ed Ladendorff (MSO-46)—B-17 pilot 29 missions action. Europe, Vice Pres. Lipton Tea Company. John Thach (CJ-46)—Joined Army at age 17, was Jack Larson (NCSB-46)—Airborne, Battle of Bulge, wounded at Schofield Barracks on December 7, Operation Varsity, Purple Heart and Bronze Star. 1941, in Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 101st Jack Lyman (MSO-46)—Sergeant 82nd Airborne, Airborne, Market Garden and Battle of Bulge, USFS career. Bronze Star, Chief Accountant for Colorado State Steve Maciag (MSO-46)—Airborne, Purple Heart, Treasury Dept. retired as Lt. Colonel. Gar Thorsrud (MSO-46)—Pilot Montana National Bob Manchester (MSO-46)—Sergeant 10th Moun- Guard, 35 years with CIA, planner of many tain Div. Italy, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple covert operations, founder of Mountain West Heart, USFS career. Aviation, and a lot more unknowns. Cliff Marshall (CJ-46)—Master Sergeant Airborne, Jim Ward (MSO-46)—Marine Corps, Bronze Star, D-Day, Market Garden, Battle of the Bulge, fore- two Purple Hearts, high school Athletic Director/ man at CJ in 1947. Football Coach, private industry. Joe Martinez (MSO-46)—Army Air Corps crew- Wayne Webb (MYC-46)—Airborne, Battle of man, 29 missions over Japan, career public school Bulge, career USFS, loft foreman McCall, 175 teacher. fire jumps. August 12-14, 2022 in Boise 11 www.smokejumpers.com
Bud Wyatt (MYC-46)—WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Year in 1983, University of Montana Distin-
career Army, Colonel. guished Alumnus 1984.
Herb York (MSO-46)—B-29 crewman, career Ernest Zecha (MSO-46)—2nd Lt. killed in Korea
teacher, National Science Foundation Presiden- 1953, graduate of Keene Teachers College in New
tial Award as Montana’s Science Teacher of the Hampshire.
NSA PUBLISHES 4TH BOOK
Chuck Sheley world. His response was very Ops like they’d run a fire out
(Cave Junction ’59) thought provoking: near Huslia with four village
Thanks to the work of Stan “I was in charge of Saravane crews. Same damned thing,
Collins (MYC-67) and Mark (Laos) for about six months. except I ran four battalions and
Corbet (LGD-74), we now One Raven died there and two over 1200 soldiers.
have our fourth book com- others were shot down. As far “If you ever do write about
pleted by the NSA History as giving info on what went on the Smokejumpers and the
Preservation Project. with the Agency, it’s fine with Agency, I think it would be a
La Grande Smokejumper me. I would like to see the em- great contribution to the history
Base—A Base History is now phasis put on smokejumping. of smokejumpers and to that
available on the NSA webstore “There have been a lot of of the Vietnam era. Big project
or via the merchandise insert smokejumpers involved in though, big.”
in the May “Special Issue.” The Agency work over the years A lot of thanks goes out to
History of the Siskiyou and North and basically, no one knows Stan Collins for his expertise.
Cascades Smokejumper Bases about it. I don’t know why the Writing individual stories and
are the other two base history Agency chose jumpers, but articles and putting them into
works. there had to have been a reason. a magazine is something that I
Stan has recently updated I think it was because we could have become proficient at over
Smokejumpers and the CIA add- go anywhere, anytime, and do a the last 20 years. Arranging that
ing Johnny Kirkley’s (CJ-64) tough, confusing job and then information and putting it into
Air America, The Ranch and the keep our mouths shut. I think a book, editing and publishing
Veil of Secrecy from the April smokejumpers have what it is another thing. Thanks, Stan.
2021 issue of Smokejumper takes. They are not just fit and Need not to forget the edit-
magazine. strong but have the ability to ing work done by my wife, KG.
When I was going over the think independently and work She has meticulously gone over
text, I re-read the start of Chap- towards a solution, no matter thousands of pages of text and
ter 41 and was again impressed what the odds. articles correcting punctuation,
with the words of Jim Veitch “The real story is about the spelling and fact checking. I
(MSO-67) from one of our com- type of people it takes to make have a habit of speed reading
munications twenty years ago. a smokejumper because you can and going by obvious mistakes
Chapter 41: “Back in No- take that type of person and in text. She does not.
vember of 2002, I was com- drop them anywhere. Next—Who is going to step
municating with Jim Veitch “One thing that amazed me up and do histories of the re-
(MSO-67) while working on then, and now, is how the war maining smokejumper bases?
a story about the ‘Ravens.’ We in Laos was so much like fight- Missoula and McCall would be
were communicating about ing a forest fire. I think that was a daunting task but it could be
Jim’s time in SEA, and I asked because smokejumpers set the broken down into eras. If one of
about recording smokejumper/ pattern in the early 60s in Laos. us does not do it, it will be lost.
CIA work in that part of the They must have started running What a shame if that happens.
Check the NSA website 12 National Smokejumper ReunionSOUNDING OFF
from the Editor
signs. Way more jobs or, for the most part, want to
than workers. Start- work in jobs that involve in-
ing hourly pay at tense physical labor. Result:
Subway is $16. less potential labor force.
Pay for helpers Rather work at Subway in
at local land- air conditioned place at $16
scape companies or on the fireline for $15?
runs $16-$20 per Our youth are not condi-
hour. Local labor tioned to hard work, but they
goes at the same are also intelligent.
rate. None of these As an experiment, at
jobs is as labor-in- least seven years ago, I
by Chuck Sheley tensive as wildland took seven of the top
(Cave Junction ’59) firefighting. hard-working athletes
Managing Editor I saw this coming from Chico High School
six or seven years ago. There and we worked three days of
To Solve a Problem, are very few jobs as labor-in- farm labor with the Hispanic
tensive as building fireline. As workers. I chose Cross Coun-
You Have To a person who has worked long try runners and Wrestlers as
Recognize the Roots after retirement age, I have I’ve found out that these kids
of the Problem found that our young people are the toughest workers in
are lacking in work ethic. athletics. Reason: Each sport is
The news (July) is filled with There is a job that is about as individual, no teammate help,
articles about federal wildland close to wildland firefighting and, most importantly, you
firefighting jobs that are not as it comes in labor-intensive- can give up at any time it hurts
being filled. By the time you ness—field workers. too much. Similar to SEAL
read this, we will see the results A third of the nation’s training when the recruits can
of a workforce that is unable to vegetables and two-thirds of “ring the bell” when they want
meet the demand. Let’s iden- the other crops come from this out.
tify some root problems and state. We have over 500,000 Of the seven, two were
see if they are being solved. farm workers. In Chico, we sit women (white), four were
Pay is the issue that is al- in the middle of a 6.3 billion Hmong males, and one was an
ways at the top of the list. The $$ a year industry in almonds African-American male. We
current administration has alone. Add in the walnuts and worked for three days, started
proposed that the minimum rice, and you have a lot of at 0600 and quit at noon.
hourly rate be increased to $15 income involved. The work was backbreaking,
per hour. Good that there will 2022 will be the 60th year intense; picking up limbs from
be an increase, but common that I have been coaching or an orchard that had been torn
sense will tell you that this involved with high school- up and loading them on the
won’t work. All over town, and aged youth. With the move back of a tractor and trailer
Chico is not much different away from a hands-on working that moved at the speed at
that other university commu- society, I’ve found out that our which the throttle was set. It
nities, there are “help wanted” young people are not skilled did not stop until it reached
August 12–14, 2022 in Boise 13 www.smokejumpers.comthe end of the half-mile row to do this work again, AND, system of the ’70s and hire
and turned around. You did the Hispanics are some of the 5,000 of these hard-working
not fall behind or you would hardest working people I have Hispanics. There will always
be left out. ever seen. be a number of our young
I thought that we would Ironically, I concluded that people who will thrive in the
be ahead of the Hispanic crew editorial with something like, wildland firefighting scene the
by showing up at 0600, but “If I had a crew of these guys same as there will always be
they had been on the job for (Hispanic field workers), I people willing to jump out of
an hour already. I took the could build fireline from the an airplane and put out a fire.
kids home at noon, and the Mexican Border to Canada. Will there be enough of
Hispanic crew continued on I still feel the same. Very few these people to meet the need?
for the rest of the day. Sacra- in our culture can handle the No, in my opinion. The youth
mento Valley—temperatures intense work of building fire- of today are better suited to
105/110. We could not keep line. Look at the highest paid find fires via satellite and send
up with those guys. firefighters in the nation—Cal someone else to put them out.
Were my athletes subpar? Fire. Their hand crews are in- I was working out today at my
No way. The African-Amer- mates from the prison system. local fitness club. Saw all these
ican young man went on to One of our NSA board people, men and women, cut
Cornell on a wrestling schol- members, who is active in fire, with muscle, very small body
arship, placed in the NCAA related his experiences from fat—they would have been
tournament four years, and the 2020 fire season when he statues. Also saw they had
was National Champion his was in California where we developed a curvature of their
senior year and has been a burned four million acres. The neck as they couldn’t look up
contender for the U.S. Olym- need for hand crews was great. from their cell phones during
pic Team. Trying to get Engine Crews to their workout. And they are
There are a couple bottom build fireline is a wasted effort. the people who bothered to
lines with this story. Every How do we solve this lack show up to work out. Would
young person said they wanted of firefighters? Let’s go back they last on the fireline—not a
an education so they never had to the Green Card farm-labor chance.
Fastest to Get There
by Karl Brauneis (Missoula ’77)
I
met Norman Maclean in either 1978 or ’79 at Both Norman and Laird roared with laughter.
the smokejumper base in Missoula. Foreman I was puzzled. Did they not know I was work-
Laird Robinson (MSO-62) assisted Norman ing to earn my 50 jump wings? In retrospect, my
at the time as his guide and technical advisor for response proved a key point in Norman’s yet to be
a book “Young Men and Fire.” Laird introduced completed book. Smokejumpers live to jump fire
us. Norman asked if I could accompany them and drink beer. It’s what we do.
over the weekend to Mann Gulch. They wanted I ran cross country and track at Colorado
to time me hiking up the gulch on the path of State University for Del Hessel (MYC-59), who
Wagner “Wag” Dodge (MSO-41) and his smoke- jumped out of McCall 1959-61. Unknowingly, he
jumper crew of 1949. I declined as I was in the was the reason I received the invite to accompany
top ten on the jump list and planned to jump a Norman and Laird. Coach Hessel’s workouts were
fire and come back to Missoula and drink beer. the stuff of the gods of winged feet. They were
Check the NSA website 14 National Smokejumper Reunionbrutal but they produced results. At peak “Hes- Alaska when I first strapped the revolver on after I
sel” conditioning, one experienced a sense of no sprayed down with bug repellent while taking off
chest, lungs, or body. Only air flowing in and my jump gear. I thought about Wag and his crew
out, unrestrained. Sometimes I would stop by his and Norman and his son—John Maclean’s fire
office and marvel at the smokejumper pictures books and Del Hessel and all the smokejumpers—
displayed there. What better combination for a as I hiked up a trail along a river that cuts though
budding young forester: Cross Country, Track and the Wind River Mountains near our home. I
Smokejumping. Coach Hessel set the blade for me thought about woodsmen past and present and
in physical fitness and character. The smokejump- fire and parachutes and horses and time and the
ers honed the edge. first to get there.
Years later I took my family to visit Earl Cooley I also marveled at the Maclean correlation
(MSO-40) at his home in Missoula. Earl, along between parachutes, horses, and “outfits” in the
with Rufus Robinson (MSO-40), made the first “magic realm” so eloquently described in the
fire jump on July 12, 1940, on Marten Creek in Young Men and Fire manuscript. A horseman and
Idaho. The kids were overwhelmed with Earl’s a smokejumper will grasp it. I did and I do. It is
bowling alley in the basement, and that gave me perhaps my favorite line in American Literature.
time to ask questions and soak in the history of They were the fastest the nation had in getting
the early smokejumpers. Earl spotted the Mann to where there was danger, they got there by mov-
Gulch jumpers on August 5, 1949. He said that ing in the magic realm between heaven and earth,
when he next saw foreman Dodge, he still wore his and when they got there, they almost made a game
trademark Stetson Fedora as worn on the fire. Earl of it. None were surer they couldn’t lose than the
remarked that the hat was not even singed. It was a Seventh Cavalry and the Smokejumpers.
physical tribute to the wisdom of his escape fire. Fire can either renew or destroy. It also tempers
It’s been 42 years since I earned my 50 jump and sharpens character. “Fastest” is a virtue of
wings. Still, I keep that outfit with me every day. youth. I suppose that is why Norman Maclean
Colorado State Cross Country, Track, and the called his endeavor “Young Men and Fire.” It is an
Smokejumpers gave me a thirst and eye for tradi- open-ended book about an event that quietly
tion, history, excellence, and quality. When you whispers to a future wherever an outcome is held
run and jump with the best, it simply absorbs in doubt. This is the place where time becomes
you. blurred. I can see that now. Fortunately, for the
Today I wore one of my old Stetson Fedora’s in Christian, our end is never in doubt. That victory
the Wind Rivers. It has a price tag of $12 dol- was decided 2,000 years ago on a cross. It is in
lars and 95 cents inside the brim to fix it in time faith, hope, and love that we honor the giants
with Wagner Dodge and the Mann Gulch jump- whose shoulders we stand upon and the “13
ers. Even my Ruger 357 Magnum (the grizzly Stations of the Cross” at Mann Gulch near a river
bears are out) brought back those fire jumps in that Maclean might say “Runs Through It.”
Sorry, Forest Service: Fire is NOT our
Friend
by Congressman Tom McClintock (R–California 4th Congressional District)
O
Congressman McClintock’s op-ed taken from Mike n July 4th, lightning struck a tree in the
Archer’s “Wildfire News of the Day”. This piece is Humboldt-Toiyabe N.F. igniting a small
edited to shorten. fire that smoldered for days in a quarter
August 12-14, 2022 in Boise 15 www.smokejumpers.comacre. According to Sheriff Rick Stephens, Cal Fire burned last year. Nature is a lousy gardener.
dispatched a crew to put it out. But they were told In 1988, when the federal “let burn” policy
to “stand down” by the USFS, which proceeded to produced the disastrous Yellowstone fires, Presi-
“monitor” the fire instead. That is to say, they did dent Reagan reversed it. “I did not even know
precisely nothing. Twelve days later, the Tamarack (the policy) existed. … The minute that this
Fire exploded out of control consuming nearly happened out there and Don Hodel went out,
70,000 acres. he made it plain that, no, we were withdrawing
One of the towns in its path was Woodfords, from that policy,” President Reagan said. Reagan
California. In 1987, the Woodfords Fire Depart- left. The policy returned. And the devastation
ment responded to a report of fire on Forest Ser- it has caused since then is tragic, avoidable, and
vice land near their town. They too were turned incalculable.
away. Federal officials threatened Woodford’s Especially given the hazardous condition of
residents with arrest for even trying to extinguish today’s forests, sensible policy would give top pri-
the small blaze. Hours later, the fire exploded to ority to extinguishing small fires before they can
6,500 acres, costing 25 families their homes. Ap- explode out of control.
parently, the Forest Service has learned nothing in Scrambling to explain their obvious dereliction
34 years. of duty, Deputy Forest Supervisor Jon Stansfield
This “let burn” policy of federal land managers complained that the Forest Service just didn’t have
began in 1972, during the height of the radical the resources to put out the small fire when a sin-
environmental movement. Essentially, it holds gle water drop by helicopter could have stopped it
that “fire is our friend.” It stems from the premise cold. Yet they had the resources to photograph it
that fire is nature’s way of cleaning up forests, and by helicopter, had the resources to do countless air
that active suppression of fires leads to a build-up drops after they allowed it to explode, and appar-
of excess fuels. ently even blocked a Cal Fire crew from putting it
That’s right, as far as it goes. An untended out.
forest is like an untended garden. It will grow and The federal government owns 96 percent of
grow until it chokes itself to death and is ulti- Alpine County, leaving it with virtually no tax
mately consumed by catastrophic fire. That is how base and entirely dependent on tourism attracted
nature gardens. The USFS was formed to remove by the national forest. The fire has not only taken
excess growth before it can burn and to preserve people’s homes and destroyed their businesses, but
our forests in a healthy condition from genera- it has severely damaged the forest resource that the
tion to generation. Or more simply, to do a little entire economy depends upon for tourism.
gardening. It is dangerous nonsense to “monitor” fires
In California, active land management re- in today’s forest tinderbox, even if they seem to
duced acreage annually lost to wildfire from pose no immediate danger. No person in his right
more than four million acres in pre-Columbian mind would “monitor” a rattlesnake curled up
times to just a quarter million acres during the in his bedroom because it isn’t doing much of
20th century. Federal foresters suppressed brush anything.
growth and auctioned off excess timber to logging In our national forests, only the Forest Service
companies that paid for the harvesting rights. can prevent small blazes from becoming forest
Those revenues funded local governments and fires. It’s time they did.
the Forest Service.
Environmental laws adopted in the 1970s now As stated in this issue of Smokejumper, there were at
require years of environmental studies at a cost least 80 or more smokejumpers available each day preced-
of millions of dollars before forest thinning can ing the blowup of this fire. Twenty-five of them were an
be undertaken. That essentially brought the era hour away. I wish there was some way to let Congressman
of active land management to an end. The re- McClintock and the USFS know that smokejumpers were
sult? California’s wildfire damage has returned to available and can put out fires. I’ve tried every avenue pos-
its pre-historic level: more than four million acres sible. (Ed.)
Check the NSA website 16 National Smokejumper ReunionOff-Duty Jumpers
Chuck Pickard (Missoula ’48)
L-R: Dave Burt, Jack Nott, Chuck Pickard, George Harpole, John Scicek, Bill Rude.(Courtesy C. Pickard)
N
ow called skydiving, this group of off- NSA Life Member living in Colorado. He passed
duty jumpers performed on weekends at away April 8, 2021.
rodeos and other events. Delayed open-
Jack Knott (MSO-47): Jack and Dave worked
ings were the order of the day. A bag of flour tied
out some fancy maneuvers during those days that
to the leg and released by a string left a trail for
thrilled onlookers.
viewers. A bit about these guys:
Chuck Pickard (MSO-48): Went on to join
Dave Burt (MSO-47): Dave would try any-
Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Police Dept. As a Detective
thing from wing walking to dangerous delayed
Sgt., he left and started a private investigative firm.
openings. He was technical director for the old
Made jumps dressed as Santa Claus and made
TV series “Ripcord.” One time he jumped into
last allowable jump at Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood
the Grand Canyon with Starr Jenkins (CJ-48) and
Airport during air show. Resides in Florida and is
floated down the canyon in a rubber raft for a few
active at age 95.
days. Dave died in an automobile crash in later
years. John Scicek (MSO-49): When not in smoke-
jumping, he was employed by a power company as
George Harpole (MSO-49): George con-
a “high climber.”
tinued jumping at fairs and air shows and was a
career USFS employee. His team in Madison, WI, Willis “Bill” Rude (MSO-49): Very cool with
developed OSB board (chip board). George was delayed openings. Later years unknown to me.
August 12-14, 2022 in Boise 17 www.smokejumpers.comSnapshots from
the Past
We’d all had a belly-full of fires fires this summer. They knew this
and jumps, which is a rarity for one was a “go” and they didn’t
smokejumpers. But around 1500 want to go. Hell no, they didn’t
we got a request for four jumpers want this jump. They wanted to
for a fire up on the northern part party with the rest of us tonight
of the forest on the Beaverhead at 2100. I didn’t have the heart
District. It was a half-mile south- to continue my drop. These guys
west of Black Mountain Lookout, had seen plenty of action all sum-
who’d reported the smoke. mer long, and they’d never once
Shit! We all echoed the same let me down. I considered.
word of disgust, but that’s why “Tell you what, guys. This
by Jeff R. Davis we were here, enjoying perhaps fuckin’ smoke suddenly looks
(Missoula ’57)
the heaviest concentration of like it’s too windy to jump, and
lightning-caused fires in the we’re probably gonna, hafta take
The Dry Run Near entire country. you back home.” Then, “Control
I loaded up the crew and One, Jumper One, we’re dry-
Black Mountain within minutes we were airborne running this fire—wind—and
It was close to the end of to the fire. “Control One, this is returning to base.”
another intense fire season in Jumper One, rollin’ for the Black The lookout on Black Moun-
Silver City, New Mexico, with Mountain Fire with four aboard.” tain had an AirNet radio too,
the jumpers covering the Gila I made the radio call to the dis- and he was listening in on the
National Forest. Twenty-four patcher’s shack in Silver City as whole conversation. “Whaddaya
of us had been battling fires I’d done hundreds of times before mean, there’s too much wind?”
for nearly three months. We’d during this busy fire season. he blurted into the transmission.
had all the action even us fire- Within a half-hour we were over “I’m only a half-mile from the
hungry smokejumpers could the fire; it was a jumper’s dream. fire. I can see it from here and
handle. Most of us had made at A tiny little smoke, snugged up there’s no wind here at all!”
least fifteen fire jumps apiece, against one of the many open “I don’t know what kinda
and I, as foreman, had been in meadows of the Beaverhead. The wind Black Mountain’s got,
the air for weeks at a stretch, smoke indicated almost no drift Control One, but it’s blowin’ up
dropping men and equipment at all. I went “ten-seven” on the a storm here and we’re comin’
on wildfires when I wasn’t busy AirNet as I crawled back to the the hell home!” The dispatcher
jumping them myself. We’d aft end of the AT-11 Twin Beech at Control One, Cal Salars, was
received notice we were being we called Jumper One. The first the best dispatcher I ever worked
shipped back to our individual set of streamers validated the with. He and I worked closely
home bases up north, and the glimpses of smoke we’d already together like a well-oiled team.
termination party was on for seen. There was almost no drift at What one said to the other went
tonight. all and the jump was a certainty. without question.
This final day, I took a skele- I prepared to drop my jumpers in “Ten four, Jumper One, I
ton crew to the Grant County Air- two-man sticks. copy you’re dry-running Black
port—four men and myself. We As I got them ready, I couldn’t Fire and returning to Grant
weren’t expecting any fires, and help but notice the long faces of County,” came Cal’s response. I
frankly no one even wanted one. my crew. They’d been on enough told the pilot, Tuck Grimes, to
Check the NSA website 18 National Smokejumper ReunionYou can also read
