"We Also Served: The Forest Service Smokejumper Program in World War II" is the subject of Annie Hanshew's program for the Last Chance Gulch Corral History Club dinner meeting on Monday December 18, 2017. The group will meet at Jorgenson's lower dining room at 5:30 p.m. for no-host cocktails followed by dinner at 6:00 p.m.
Reservations are required by Friday noon December 15th. Please call Shirley Thomas at 227-5953 or 431-8196.

The US Forest Service smokejumper program stated in 1940 and was an important part of Montana's wild land firefighting culture throughout the 20th century. The United States was preparing to enter World War II at this time. The fit young men who would normally work for the Forest Service were instead siphoned off by the draft. The Forest Service turned to two groups to fill their needs; conscious objectors and African American paratroopers. This talk will shed light on the often overlooked World War II smokejumpers and show how these unique workers helped keep the program alive.

The Last Chance Gulch Corral has been meeting monthly since 1978 with a wide variety of programs of interest to Montana and Helena history buffs. For further information, please call Dolly Post at 458-1175.