Helping Out
Background
New Mexico
Photos & Postcards
Pennsylvania
Commentary

 

< PREVIOUS  | NEXT >

Pennsylvania CCC Camp (1941)

Dad's arrival at the Pennsylvania CCC camp when he was 18 years old was a result of an interesting incident that Bob Pigman described. According to Bob, Dad joined Bob and friends Elmer Giba and Albert "Whitey" Hooke in quickly signing up as a group for a CCC camp in Pennsylvania in 1941.

Siphoning Gas - Laying Low in CCC Camp

Bob said that one day in late spring or early summer in 1941, these four friends were looking forward to driving around in Elmer Giba's father's car but couldn't come up with 25 cents among them to purchase gasoline. Whitey Hooke thought it would be a good idea to siphon gas from someone's car, and after selecting a car, the group started siphoning gas.  Unfortunately for them, the owner noticed what they were doing before they could finish getting the gas. Needless to say, the group scrambled in all directions hoping not to get caught. Fearing that they would be turned into the police and go to jail, the four friends banded together and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps the very next day. Bob said they were on the "lamb" and were using the CCC as a way of "laying low". Later they found out that the police were never summoned and their fears of arrest were unfounded. However, they were already enrolled in the CCC. For Dad, Elmer and Bob, this would be their second experience in a CCC camp.  (Bob Pigman - July 2002)

Camp Designation

The Camp (S-66-P) where the group eventually was assigned is listed below. This Soil Forestry Program did work developing a nursery where pine cones were dried and pine seedlings were planted.
 
PROJECT
COMPANY
DATE
RAILROAD
POST OFFICE
S-66-P
306
5/6/33
Mill Hall
Loganton

Side Camp Arrival - Forewarning of Rough Camp

About 8-10 days after signing up in Homer City, Pennsylvania, the group of four new enrollees were eventually "volunteered" for assignment to a "rough" side camp in the mountains near Bellefonte, PA. This group of "Braddock Boys" was forewarned that the civilian leader at this side camp was a real "rough neck" of a boss who was feared by all new enrollees. Although this group considered themselves capable of taking care of themselves in the event that trouble would arise because of the "rough neck" boss, they didn't have to worry. After traveling in a pick up truck over rough roads to reach the Mill Hall side camp, it turned out that the "rough neck" boss was from Ambridge, PA and already knew many of the friends that Dad, Bob, Elmer, and Whitey knew in Braddock. Bob said that this fact made the experience of the "Braddock Boys" at the camp uneventful.

Short Stay for All Except Bob
 

Bob Pigman with other Pennsylvania CCC enrollees Bob, as it turned out, was the only one that remained at the camp for the term of his enrollment. Dad only stayed at this Pennsylvania CCC camp with Bob Pigman for several weeks before landing a job with US Steel in Homestead, PA. Dad worked at the Homestead steel mill as a crane operator until he enlisted in the US Navy on June 29, 1942. Whitey stayed only for about 3 weeks and Elmer went home for leave one weekend and did not return.

Left is a photo of Bob Pigman shown with other enrollees who were on, in front of, and underneath an automobile at Bob's previous CCC camp.  Note: License Number of the CCC Camp automobile in photo: U.S.C.C.C. 51258

Bob Pigman and Stanley Galik at Mill Hall Side Camp

BOB PIGMAN AND STANLEY GALIK

AT MILL HALL SIDE CAMP
 

Elmer Giba (L) and Bob Pigman (R)
ELMER GIBA (L) & BOB PIGMAN (R)
 
Stanley Galik
STANLEY GALIK
 
Albert "Whitey" Hooke
ALBERT "WHITEY" HOOKE
 
T H E   L I F E   O F   S T A N L E Y   G A L I K  
BIOGRAPHY CIVILIAN
CONSERVATION
CORPS
 W O R L D   W A R   I I   E X P E R I E N C E S POST-WAR
1942 1943 1944 1945
  1943 1944   THE CREW ABOUT THE
LANDING CRAFT INFANTRY
T H E   L C I   ( L )   3 5
PHOTOS POETRY RESOURCES LINKS SITEMAP SEARCH CONTACT ABOUT THIS SITE


Unless noted otherwise, all content © 2002-2009 Stanley G. Galik. All rights reserved.
Please contact us for permission to use any photos or content from this site.
Site design and development by slashmedia.