CCC Legacy Journal:  September-October 2009,  Vol. 33, Issue 5 

Evertt Coplan - Co. 3723 Shenandoah, Iowa

By Evertt Coplan

I enlisted in the CCC 15 July 1940, age 19 at Waldron Arkansas.  I was sent to Co. 3723 in Shenandoah, Iowa, Soil Conservation Service Camp. 

 I started working in the office typing up agreements for the supervisor.  The men followed these guidelines when they went out to help the farmers. 

 I was later moved to a little hospital.  A doctor by the name of Dr. Seasongood from Des Moines, IA came by once a week and checked to see if we needed any help.  I took care of all records and reports and everything else that pertained to the hospital.  The hospital had four beds and one bed in the Quarantine Room.  I had a room at the end of the hospital.  There was two bunk beds and a big stove in the middle of the hospital.  The night watchman for the camp, by the name of Minor, would come around and keep the fire going in the big stove all night.  Sometimes when he had time, he would wake me up and bring a bologna sandwich and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for us to eat.  These were some of the main foods.  We did not have much to eat. 

 Paul Taff, a boy from Waldron was moved into the hospital with me for nights only.  He would go out with the work crew during the day. 

 The people in the kitchen worked all night making sandwiches for the men that worked in the field.  One night we had a pillow fight in the Barracks.  We were called to the Commanders Office and was given a good talking.  We had no more pillow fights. 

 Dr. Seasongood wanted me to re-enlist at that camp and spend Christmas with him and his family at their home in Des Moines, IA.  Just before I was discharged a church group started coming out on Sunday evening to sing to us. 

 My time was up and I was discharged 23 December 1941.