Edward Garnett Radcliff, CCC Man, Company 841, Camp 24-1-M, Reserve, NM & Camp Cody F-24-W, Cody, Wyoming

Biography of Edward Garnett Radcliff

CCC Man, Company 841, Camp 24-1-M, Reserve, NM & Camp Cody F-24-W, Cody, Wyoming

My father Edward Garnett Radcliff was in the CCCs. He was born 11/22/1914 in Carmen, OK. Due to circumstances and the depression they moved around a lot. He graduated from high school in El Paso in 1932 while living with his Aunt & Uncle. He enrolled in the CCC in 1933.

He didn't speak much of his youth or the CCC. He did mention that he did not care for the strictness of the Army officers. He also told of cutting timber with another fellow and the tree as it fell, twisted and went downhill into a ravine. He said they had to cut it up and haul it out of the ravine. It was difficult. I also have 3 letters he sent from the camp. He says camp life is drab. In the summer, he states everyone is brown since they work without shirts. A letter in January 9, 1934, that the weather is fine. "the temp drops down to about 10 degrees zero every morning at 8:00 o'clock, And the little streams in the canyons never thaw out". He lists the address on the letters as Reserve, NM. I believe he was at Pueblo Park, which is identified with Reserve NM.

I have his Certificate of Discharge from the CCC at Cody Wyoming on June 30, 1934. It states he was discharged from Camp F-24-W. The record has all his duty stations on the back, starting with Fort Bliss May 20, 1933, then Company 841, Camp 24-1-M, Reserve, NM and finally Wyoming. He went back to El Paso where he was discharged from. The discharge also lists his CCC number and the commander of the unit, Captain Stanley E. Watkins, a Field Artillery Reserve Officer.