ccccamp

1937 OFFICIAL ANNUAL CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS
JEFFERSON BARRACKS
CCC DISTRICT
SIXTH CORPS AREA

Alexander County Illinois Genealogy Trails

Contributed by Jim Dowdy

OFFICERS

    Capt. Ben W. Thorman, Inf. Res.........................................................................................................Commanding Officer
    Second Lt. Edmund G. Sperlin, Sig. Res.........................................................................................................Junior Officer
    Dr. J. J. Seivers...........................................................................................................................................Camp Surgeon
    Milton C. Keene........................................................................................................................................................CEA

Technical Personal

H. G. Miller..................................................................................................................................................Project Supt.

D. J. Morris
C. E. Willis
O. N. Thompson
R. W. Shearer
C. C. Hoover
O. Brown
T. E. Carter

CAMP DELTA
637TH COMPANY
F-3
TAMMS, ILLINOIS

THE JUNIOR OFFICERS WITH THE ORGANIZATION WERE:
Lt. E. F. Dempsey, Lt. Marshal A. Glazebrook, Lt. Leroy P. Oman, Lt. Earl Wood, Lt. Harold F. Bishop, and Lt. Harold V. Catt.
The camp surgeons were: Lt. Walter A. Keitzer, Lt. Mowery O. Pressburg, Lt. Milton A. Dushkin, Lt. Noah M. Koenigsberg and Dr. Jerome J. Seivers.
Two educational advisers have served the company. They are Elmer T. Ebersol, who joined the company upon its arrival from Wisconsin, and Mr. Milton C. Keene, who was transferred here August 15, 1936.
The location is peculiar in that it is in the extreme southern part of the Corps Area. Located in the Shawnee National Forest, it is surrounded by one of the most varied tree growths in the United States. One of the educational projects recently initiated is a wall case in the company library exhibiting samples of the bark and leaves of the various trees.
The camp site on the side of a sharp ridge presents serious problems in drainage and the like. At present, however, by the judicious use of native rock in constructing ditches and a company street, the drainage problem has been solved. Landscaping has transformed this once uninteresting spot into one of great natural beauty.
Perhaps the most conspicuous example of public service rendered by this company was that of the Ohio River flood in January and February, 1937.
First to arrive and last to leave, this company along with others of this area literally labored day and night to erect the twenty-six miles of bulkhead surmounting the levees around the city of Cairo.
At one time when the raging Ohio River had reached a crest of nearly sixty feet, running eighteen inches high on the bulkhead, the situation was critical. But, sleeping on concrete floors, eating irregularly, at times cold, wet, hungry for a smoke, and scared, the men at all times maintained a cheerful, wisecracking attitude.
Even at Mound City--when the river began to pour over the hastily-constructed bulkhead, the men of this company stood firm until ordered from the levee by the officer in charge. During the ensuing eight hours they were marooned in the upper story of the rickety old courthouse with the water constantly rising around them. At midnight they stumbled from the rescuing barge at the Cairo dock. Half dead from fatigue and loss of sleep, they ate hurriedly but enormously, slept a few hours and were back at work the next morning. And still no grumbling.
The memory of the spirit of Company 637 during those trying times is one to be cherished by all who observed it.

HISTORY
COMPANY 637 first appears in the records on June 7, 1933 at Fort Sheridan.
On June 22, it was moved to Camp Chippewa River, Loretta, Wisconsin, and from there to Camp Delta, McClure, Illinois, in April, 1934. It has been a Forest Service Company during its entire existence.
Eight officers have commanded the company. They are: Lieut. Dwight B. Johnson, June 7, to June 22, 1933; Lieut. William L. McCulla, June 22 to June 30, 1933; Lieut. E. F. Heidland, June 30 to July 31, 1933; Lieut. Chas. H. Bryan, July 31 to August 25, 1933; Lieut. Heidland again, August 25 to December 14, 1933; Lieut. Harry L. Calrk, December 14, 1933 to March 11, 1936; Lieut. Clifford P. Ramback (USNR), March 11 to November 18,1936; Capt. William B. Reitmeyer, November 18 to December 2, 1936; Lieut. Ramback again, December 2, to December 15, 1936; Capt. Michael P. Halpin, December 15, 1936 to February 4, 1937; Capt. Reitmeyer again, from february 4 to the present date.

MEMBERS
Reading, left to right--First row: Charles O. Foster, Clyde Kelley, Thomas F. Elkins, Charles C. Hazelwood, Earnest Timmons, Paul W. Mathis, Tuie W. Cox, Jesse Harvell, Jack G. Yates, Clarence Conley.
Second row: Howard W. Cook, Charles V. Rushing, Harvey J. Healy, Jim F. Crews, Stanley B. Mainer, Charles E. Davis, Jesse T. Erwin, Treft W. Schultetus, Clyde J. Hooker, Ben Harget, Jr., George V. Full, Paul W. Pearce, Charles E. Ray, Charles K. Harris, Maurice D. Smith.
Third row: Van K. Casper, Ward D. Jenkins, Lee R. Ragsdale, Darrell L. Stoner, Homer Kerr, Alvin Jaco, Shelby J. Norman, William e. Bishop, Raleigh Jobe, Kenneth R. Hunroe, Eunice J. Justice, William H. Teckenbrock, Raymond Eichorn, George W. Kerley, Glenn E. Wilmouth, Loran E. Pribble.
Fourth row: Earl Hazelwood, Oscar O. Brown, Henry c. Fisher, George R. Roach, Everet Matlock, Robert E. Pease, Howard E. Wright, Carl Perry, Robert M. Miller, Bennie McDaniel, Lewis McDaniel, Jessie J. Trexler, Edward Matlock, Rolland L. Crowell, Raymond C. Randolph, Albert L. Woods, Charles E. Todd, Floyd C. Kimmel.

MEMBERS
Reading, left to right--First row: Charles G. White, Ray E. Bollinger, William Watkins, John D. Spiller, Charles Guether, John Goins, Quentin Wm. Williams, Paul Lawrence, Milo A. Ledbetter, Bennie McDaniel, Leslie E. Odle, Raymond Adams.
Second row: Clarence H. Felts, Robert M. Coleman, Curtis Jacobs, Marion J. Mueller, Thomas I. Underwood, Sherrill McDaniel, Harry L. Lancaster, Woodrow Griggs, Oryn L. Cartner, Herman F. Jackson, Cloyd E. Mainer, Albert W. Wolfe, Harley B. Keef, Frank E. Kroljac, Charles P. Thomas, William L. Sorrels.
Third row: Maynard Weber, George S. McIntire, Heber P. Porter, Owen Schultz, Albert W. Groner, Ernest L. Huck, James E. Harris, ?Leonos Schultz, Monroe Harris, Harry E. Creighton, Elwood P. Hawes, Russell Bryan, Ralph V. Ledbetter, Carl S. Brownfield, Durward Kerley, George M. Fyle, Arthur L. Phillips.
Fourth row: Roscoe Kinley, William H. Gullett, George T. Smith, William R. Buie, Robert J. Eairheart, Joseph E. Hooker, John L. Crider, Albert Brown, Vernon H. Tinsley, Leo H. Smith, Farrell V. McCrite, Leroy Street, George R. Benefiel, John H. Campbell, Fredrick E. Johnson, Tommy Crabb, Seldon Scurlock, Paul E. Franklin.