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Memories of District C: Civilian Conservation Corps

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  • Company 1467, Tenn. P-51, Morristown, Tenn. OFFICERS Leland T. Rogers, 1st. Lieut, Eng. Res., Commanding F. Newell Wimberly, 1st. Lieut. Inf. Res., Second in Command Loyal D. Farragut, 1st. Lieut. Med. Res., Surgeon HISTORY Company 1467 was organized at Fart Oglethorpe on May 25, 1933 under the command of 1st Lieutenant Sam Purswell. The men were conditioned for several days at Fort Oglethorpe and moved to the present site at Morristown on June 7, 1933. The camp site is located about one mile east of Morristown. Lieutenant Purswell was relieved on August 21, 1933 by 1st Lieutenant Logan C. Berry who assumed command on that day. Camp McKeller is named in honor of Senator McKeller, who is one of the most famous senators that Tennessee has produced. Lieutenant Berry remained in command until December 1, 1933, when he was relieved by Captain W. H. Obenhour. Captain Obenhour was assisted by 2nd Lieutenant William R. Callaway. On March 27 he wes relieved by Lieutenant Callaway. On April 6, 1934, Lieutenant Callaway was relieved by 1st Lieutenant Leland T. Rogers, who assumed command on that day. 1st Lieutenant F. Newell Wimberly also joined the company on that date. 1st Lieutenant Loyall D. Farragut joined the company on January 6, 1934 as Camp Surgeon. The City of Morristown contributes water and lights to the camp free of charge. Two Side Camps have been esablished, one at Hall's Top, near Newport, and the other at Montvale Springs near Maryville. The work carried on by the Forestry Service is under the supervision of Forestry Superintendent M. S. Spencer. Much work has been ably performed by the men in building Fire Observation Towers, construction of telephone lines and mountain trails roads and much erosion work. Originally most of the members of this camp were from West Tennessee, but later replacements were from East Tennessee. All the men are Tennesseeans. In fact, since the camp came into existence no other state has been rfepresented on the company roster. Seventy-five men were honorably discharged June 30—the only remaining members of that heroic 185 who dropped their barracks bags on top of the treeless hill where thriving Camp McKellar now stands, and mopped perspiration from heated brows 12 months ago and wondered just what this reforestation army was all about, anyway. Since that day in June, 1933, Camp Tennessee P-51 has changed from a shadeless clover field into a well-organized unit possessing four well-aired barracks, a spacious recreation hall with a circulating heater, an ample mess hall with the facilities for comfortable messing, and all the other accoutrements for civilized living. With sufficient space we could take you through the painful growth from straw ticks to mattresses, tents to buildings, dust to gravel driveways and grass areas; through the fun of boxing matches, group singing, putting on a minstrel, and very successful dances. However, mere mention will bring a laugh to those who remember—the night the cornfield was overflowing with pork eaters, when George Thacker asked Colonel King for a " tight roll,' when Dr. Farragut initiated 30 men into the "Jew Club," and on and on. To give due credit to local interest and co-operation, however, let us add that Morristown made our lot easier by having free running water and telephone service on the grounds by the time the tents were set up on that first day and accepting us with open hearts from that day to this. Page Fifty-three
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).