This recent addition to our library collection “Smoke Jumping on the Western Fire Line: Conscientious Objectors During World War II” by Mark Matthews, forward by George S. McGovern, tells the story of an alternative to fighting in the war chosen by some of our Mennonite young men during WWII. You are welcome to check it out.
You will find a good review of the Civilian Public Service Camp where they served by visiting this link: CPS Unit Number 103-01, including a list of the 262 workers who served in the program at this location.
Our Institutional Collections include Civilian Public Service (World War II) (CPS) and Civilian Peace Service (post – WW II) (CPS) and Box 3, Folder 1 of this Personal Collection includes the DVD produced by Richard Hostetler: “Leap of Faith, CO Smokejumbers During World War II”; including Video footage by former CO Smokejumper Lester Gahler and brief history of Lester by his oldest niece Eileen Weaver.
If any of you have additional stories and resources from family members from the Pacific Northwest that served in this program that you would like to have archived, we’d be happy to hear from you.
