Carl Leiner, CCC Man, Company 1156, Chicopee Falls & Company 1174, Westfield, MA

Biography of Carl Leiner

CCC Man, Company 1156, Chicopee Falls & Company 1174, Westfield, MA

Sailor, LST 906 & LST 526, USN

My father, Carl Leiner, passed away July 29, 1998 at age 81. He was always a story teller, but never heard him say much about his days at the CCC camp. The day before he died I was visiting him, and he asked me how my father-in-law was doing (my father-in-law was a retired medical doctor). After I told him my father-in-law was fine, my father proceeded to tell me a story I had NEVER heard about how he used to be called "doc" and how he would have made a good doctor. Said something about a doctor he used to work with and did a great job doing it. Busy with little ones, I never pursued further questioning and he died the next day. After going through his papers, I found this article about my Dad being a medical orderly...and a good one.... in the Springfield Republican about working with Dr. Paul Davis at the CCC camp in Chicopee Falls, Mass. 1156th Co. I couldn't believe my father had never shown any of us this article! (below)

I made a copy of the article and sent it to my Uncle (my Dad's older brother). My Uncle Joe then wrote me this letter about his memories of my Dad at the CCC camp.

"I don't know if your father ever told you about this incident that happened at the camp but we were riding to work one day when he told it to me, his version was funny.

It seems the cook had a cat to keep the mice away. This cat had the run of the kitchen, sometimes sleepign on the high shelves where it was warmer. It was breakfast time and the boys were coming into the mess hall for their breakfast. Cocoa was served every day and there was a huge pot on the range. The cat woke up and started to makie his way along the shelves, somehow he slipped and would you know he fell right into the cocoa. The cook yelled for Carl to help him and between them they got the cat out of the pot. There being no time to make another pot, Carl and the cook frantically, with sieves, went athough the cocoa to get the cat hairs out of the cocoa and then they wheeled the cocoa out to be served. Carl said that somebody made the remark that the cocoa tasted different and if they had changed their brand."

My Dad had a photo album of his days at the CCC 1156th in Chicopee Falls (and 1174th in Westfield MA). After the CCC camps, my Dad was in the US Navy during WWII. He served On the LST 906 and LST 526 in the European-African Middle Eastern area from September 1943 until November 1945.

Articles in local paper mentioning my Dad's name, Carl Leiner, orderly Louis Kimball and Dr. Davis.

August 1936 Andrew "Red" Aldrich and Jerry (l to r)

Winter 1935 Chicopee Dining Hall

Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts January 1936

Entrance to CCC camp, Chicopee Falls, Mass. 1936

Flower Garden square at entrance to CCC camp 1936 Chicopee Falls Massachusettes

The Infirmary 1936. This is where my Dad worked.

1935 Boys of 1156th at retreat

Chicopee Falls Massachusetts Company 1156th Visitors weekend

1936 Chow Line - 1156th Company CCC Chicopee Falls MA

Looking into the camp 1936 Chicopee Falls, MA 1156th Company

December 1935 - My Dad, Carl F. Leiner, is on the right. He has his initials as his tie tack.

Army truck leaving camp - Summer 1936

Barracks - 1936 Chicopee Falls 1156th Company - I still have my Dad's wooden foot locker.

Dispensary 1936 - where my Dad worked. 1156th Company

"The Old Gang" 1935

1156th Company - Chicopee Massachusetts

Watching the last of the September 1936 Departures

1936 medical Ward - where my Dad worked.

Entrance to camp June 1937

Haviland Pond Ludlow Mass. July 1935

Haviland Pond Ludlow Mass - Summer 1936

Jerry, Mike and my Dad, Carl F. Leiner on the right

My Dad, Carl Leiner, on left, hospital orderly and ambulance. 1156th company Chicopee Mass.

Louis Kimball June 1936 - Louie - New Britain (CT) boy.

l to r - my Dad, Carl Leiner, Andrew "Red" Aldrich, Lt. Harry J. Jenkins, Gould the Rat Ralph Goudrealt and Red March. Ralph Goudrealt was from Haverhill MA