Pennsylvania CCC Camp (1941) (updated January 28, 2017)

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 October 1941.

Siphoning Gas - Laying Low in CCC Camp

Bob said that one day in early fall 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)

Enrollment - October 3, 1941

Dad and his group of friends enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps on October 3, 1941 in Homer City, PA (Company 2328).  Dad, according to his personnel record, was assigned to Project SCS-13, Company 1383 in Sunbury, PA (Synder County), but his stay was short-lived, however.  After being assigned to Mill Hall Side Camp, and three days after his arrival, he left the camp and was discharged from service on October 20,1941.

Dad returned home and landed a job with US Steel in Homestead, PA. Dad worked there as a crane operator until he enlisted in the US Navy on June 29, 1942.

BOB PIGMAN AND STANLEY GALIK

AT MILL HALL SIDE CAMP
 

Camp Work

Bob Pigman indicated that the group was assigned to a Soil Forestry Nursery Program where pine cones where dried and pine seedlings were planted.

Forewarning of Rough Camp

Soon after arriving at the Sunbury CCC camp, the new enrollees were "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 this "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, as it turned out, was the only one that remained at the camp for the term of his enrollment. Dad left camp within a few days, 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