Smokejumpers

Abstract A smokejumper from 1941 to 1942 and 1945 to 1958, Fred O. Brauer describes the early development of the smokejumper program. He discusses the many challenges the program faced during that time, including equipment development, wartime shortages, and funding issues. He also describes the personnel changeover from conscientious objectors who served as smokejumpers during World War Two to military veterans who replaced them after the war ended. Brauer was in charge of the smokejumper program in...

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Jim Lindell discusses the three summers he worked as a smokejumper out of McCall, Idaho, from 1964 to 1966. He recalls experiences from training, jumping, and socializing as a smokejumper, particularly in Idaho City, Idaho. Lindell also discusses the transition from smokejumping to the military.

Abstract Robert Derry talks about working as a smokejumper in 1943 and 1946. He also discusses his brothers Frank, Chet, and Virgil, who were all smokejumpers and were involved with the early development of the program. He recalls supervising the conscientious objectors in 1943 at age 17, and returning to the program as a war veteran in 1946. Derry talks about his disillusionment with the U.S. Forest Service, which caused him to leave the smokejumper program, and his later career as a professional...

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Wendy Kamm discusses being one of the first three women smokejumpers at the Missoula, Montana base in 1982. She describes the training and the injuries she sustained, and compares fighting fires in Alaska to Montana. Kamm talks about the psychological and emotional harassment by male smokejumpers that she endured, as well as strength she felt it took to be a female smokejumper.