Albert D. Herrin, CCCMan, Company 1503, SCS Camp, Moscow, Idaho

Biography of Albert D. Herrin

CCCMan, Company 1503, Camp SCS-1 Camp Moscow, Moscow, Idaho

I'm Albert D. Herrin of Salmon, Idaho. I am 84 years old, being born in Somerset, Kentucky in 1917.

One Monday morning I was looking for work and they were signing up boys to go to the CCC. I enrolled April, 1937 in the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps). The CCC paid $30.00 a month. I would get $5 a month and $25 would go to my parents. I would also be furnished food, clothes, and medical care.

I went by train from from Stearns, Kentucky to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where I was for one week. We got our shots then went by train to Camp.

I was sent to the CCC Camp in Moscow, Idaho, Company 1503, Camp SCS-1 Camp Moscow, one mile south of Moscow, Idaho. I think the camp was about a year old when I got there. We had barracks to sleep in, and a rec hall, with a canteen in it where we could boy candy, cigarettes, stamps, tablets. and envelopes, and we got our mail too. We could buy footlockers. I bought one. We set them at the foot of our bed.

I was assigned to the Soil Conservation Division as a truck driver. I drove Crew Trucks, flat beds, dump trucks and hauled wood for the winter. I worked mainly around Moscow, Idaho. Work sites were 5 to 25 miles from camp, we worked on several jobs while I was there. However, I was detailed to Lewiston, Idaho a few times.

Mr. Banks was the foreman over the crew I took out on the job. My Project Superintendent of Company 1503 was Mr. James Rabdau of Moscow, Idaho.

Camp Moscow was under the supervision of the Soil Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture. Camp Moscow was the first SCS camp to be started in the Northwest, therefore it became the pioneer camp.

I helped build rock and concrete dams across ditches on people's farms and filled in with dirt and seeded grass to control erosion. We also worked on erosion along highways. Later years I came back to the Moscow area and the ditches had been seeded down and the farmers were farming across the ditches where we built the dams.

The CCCs was different, but I liked it. It was like leaving home. I liked it, but you could only stay in the CCC camp 2 years.

They served a lot of stew and hot dogs. I got burnt out on stew. Friday night was hot dogs. I liked them. I remember hotcakes for breakfast and coffee and eggs. They got the beef and bread in Moscow. One Sunday morning they got me up early and sent me up town for 1/2 beef and several boxes of bread.

We were under very strict military rules when in camp. We wore dress uniforms to meals and at night. One day a week we would line up at 7:00 PM and had roll call. 5 Days a week at 6:00 PM we had to stand retreat while they played bugle and lowered the flag. There was morning roll call and raising the flag. Then we would march two abreast to the Mess Hall. After eating I would go get my truck and get bag lunches for the crew, load the boys up, and head to the job. I had to make coffee for the boys in the field for lunch.

The camp was clean and very well kept. Beds had to be made at all times and your blanket stretched tight. There were inspections. You had to be ready at all times. There were also special inspections from the District Headquarters.

Sheet and pillow cases were changed every week. They were sent out to be washed, the company did not do the washing.

We could leave camp Saturday evening over Sunday and after Six P.M weekdays without asking. From retreat to roll call next morning and from 12:00 PM Saturday to 7:00 AM Monday we could go anywhere we wanted to go. I would go to town 2 to 3 times a week at night. They had dances in a hall in town on Saturday night, it was for the public. It was good to get out of camp. Sometimes I would get back from town on Saturday night about 12:00 midnight and I would got to the kitchen and fry a steak.

When not going to town, in the rec hall we also had a pool table and a ping pong table. There was also a boxing arena. Anytime two boys had a fight they were made to put boxing gloves on and finish it in the arena. Everyone watched.

They had a cub bear as a pet in camp when I got there in April. It loved ice cream cones. Some of the boys would lead it up town like a dog. By the Fall it got big and mean so that Fall they took it to the timber and let it go. At one time I had my picture with the bear. We also had a group photo made of the company.

We also had training in camp. I had to take a mechanics class from the shop mechanic who was hired to keep the trucks up, and a first-aid class from the camp doctor. I took them at night. I had to take them to be a truck driver. There was also a cooking class.

One mile south of Moscow, Idaho on Highway 95 still stands today one of the Barracks and the buildings that housed the Officer's Headquarters and the Recreation Hall that I remembered. This is all private property today. Two businesses exist there, Chinese Village and The Plantation.

In the early 1960s, I was living in May, Idaho and I was an Operator/Owner of a Cafe', Bar and Store. To my surprise James Rabdau walked into my business and he remembered me. Mr Rabdau was living in Idaho Falls, Idaho at that time. He had been my Superintendent of Soil Conservation Field Work in the CCCs.

To my surprise after I got settled in the CCC Camp at Moscow, Idaho, I met an enrollee named Earl Mercer and he was from Monticello (Frazer) Kentucky. He was raised only 17 miles south of my home town of Somerset, Kentucky. Earl and I became great friends, not only friends but brother-in-laws. I married a lady from Moscow, Idaho and Earl married my wife's sister. Earl lived most of his life, after serving four years in the Army, living in Spokane, Washington. Earl Mercer enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps April, 1937, till April, 1939. Earl was a Cook all the years he was in the CCC. Earl Mercer passed away in 1998 and he is buried in Spokane, Washington. He was not only a relative but a very good friend.

Also I met another Kentuckian at the CCC Camp in Moscow, Idaho. His name was Doc Woods. We was assigned to the Soil Conservation Division as a truck driver. He later hired on to the Garret Freight Line and drive trucks for many years. He was a very good friend.

I was released from the CCC Camp in January, 1939, to accept another job. I went by train, with one complete uniform I was allowed to keep. With a good recommendation letter as a good truck driver, I got a good job with Carter Bros. Wholesale Grocers. Later I was drafted after I left the CCCs but was classified 4-F and not eligible for the military.

I'm now retired and live in a small town, but I think back many times on my adventures going West at such a young age. I learned a trade made lots of friends and really enjoyed my CCC days. The money I earned I sent to my parents in Kentucky and that really helped them out because things were pretty tight back then. No jobs were available in my area and I came from a family of eight. I was very grateful to have had the opportunity to get to participate in the Civilian Conservation Corps - CCC - program.

----- Albert D. Herrin