The 90th Birthday of Civilian Conservation Corps Company 2425

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (seated center) with Robert Fechner (seated right)

National Archives and Records Administration

“I’ SE READY” Company 2425 Civilian Conservation Corps

By 1932, the people of the United States were deep into what would be called “the Great Depression,” and in November of 1932, they elected Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) as the 32^nd president. Before taking office, the country had 13,000,000 unemployed (approximately 25%). FDR promised he would take immediate action to bring relief to his fellow Americans within his first one-hundred days. FDR and his cabinet proposed a somewhat radical program intending to bring recovery to businesses, farmers, and the average citizen, and with that, his famous “Alphabet Agencies” were born.

On March the 4^th of, 1932, President Roosevelt was sworn into Office, and by March 31^st, he signed the Federal Unemployment Relief Act into law, calling for the program to begin in two weeks. Initially, the enrollment was limited to healthy young men between 18 to 23 who were both unmarried and unemployed. However, this changed to address more significant issues that faced the nation.

“I propose to create [the CCC] to be used in complex work, not interfering with normal employment and confining itself to forestry, the prevention of soil erosion, flood control, and similar projects. I call your attention to the fact that this type of work is of definite, practical value, not only through the prevention of great present financial loss but also as a means of creating future national wealth.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

FDR estimated that this new Act would provide 250,000 new jobs as well as provide housing, meals, uniforms, and medical care for young volunteers. With his interest in conservation, FDR wanted to put these men to work in national forests and other governmental properties where both the citizens and the nation would benefit. The Emergency Conservation Work (ECW) Act was introduced to Congress the same day and enacted by voice vote on March 31^st. On April 5^th, Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6101, establishing the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and appointing Robert Fechner as the new director.

This organization posed a unique challenge to governmental agencies and would see four major agencies working closely to accomplish the mission. The ECW was supported by the Department of Labor, which was responsible for recruiting and selecting enrollees. Since the military were considered experts in the field of organizing and running formations, The War Department was tasked with training and managing the camps. The Departments of Agriculture and Interior were responsible for developing and supervising the work projects. Each of these Departments would develop excellent working relationships, which would prove to be beneficial in the upcoming World War. A CCC Advisory Council was formed to oversee the operation. It was composed of a representative from each of the supervising departments as well as representatives from the Office of Education and the Veterans Administration.

Only twelve days after Roosevelt signed the Executive Order establishing the CCC, the first camp, NF–1 Camp Roosevelt, was established at George Washington National Forest near Luray, Virginia. The first enrollee to the CCC was Mr. Henry Rich of Alexandria, Virginia. Within 44 days, Roosevelt and his cabinet were able to establish a new government agency, energize four existing Departments, establish an operating organization with a hierarchy, and enroll the first CCC member. This achievement alone was unimaginable, but it became a reality with Congress and the president working together.

Mr. Rich and all the other enrollees were required to serve at least six months but could serve up to two years. They worked five 8-hour days, for a total of 40 hours a week. Sometimes their weekends were interrupted by work, but this depended on the weather conditions during the regular work week. They were paid $30.00 per month but had to send home $25.00 to their families.The first amendment to the CCC program happened on May 11^th, 1933, after the nation’s second bonus march in Washington, DC. The bonus marchers were World War One veterans that were promised money for serving in the great war. These bonuses were to be paid on the veterans’ birthday in 1945. But with the depression, these veterans didn’t want to wait; they needed money now. So, they formed the “Bonus Expeditionary Forces” and demanded payment.

The first march was dispersed by force when President Hoover deployed the United States Army under the command of Douglas MacArthur to assist the local police force. To prevent further problems, Roosevelt opened the CCC to married and single veterans needing a job. The veterans were typically assigned to companies with other veterans. They could move up into rated positions that required more responsibility but with more pay (up to $45.00 a month).

The training, initial clothes issue, and camp running fell to Army and Navy units. Each Corps area was assigned to a Regimental Command for oversight, one of which was the 6^th Cavalry Regiment out of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. On the 27^th of June 1933, the first World War One veterans arrived at Fort Oglethorpe to form Company 2425. These enrollees were different, not just because they were veterans but because they were African American veterans. They created the training camp, Camp Booker T. Washington, and began training. One source of contention between the soldiers and the veterans was that the soldiers doing the training were making considerably less than the CCC enrollees. The average private only made $21.00 a month, but the soldiers did their job, and by early July 1933, the enrollees were ready to depart Georgia and go to their assigned place of duty.

Due to segregation in the South, great care had to be taken when choosing assignments. This is why the preponderance of enrollees of color were assigned to National Parks. Company 2425 would find themselves disembarking from a train in Corinth, Mississippi. From the station, the enrollees were trucked to Shiloh National Military Park, where they established a temporary tent city on the park. The Park Staff designated a more permanent site for the Company on the Southwest corner, and in the first few months, would find them working on projects and establishing their Company Area as well as their motto, “I’se Ready”!

With this being the 90^th Anniversary of CCC Company 2425, this is the first part of their story. Please keep watching for more posts on Facebook as we celebrate this unique part of our park’s history.

 

Initial Camp Site for Company 2425

Shiloh National Military Park Collection