Conservation Company 303 Kept Moving
By George Crump, Company 303, CCC
Benezette, Pa. – We first began our travels by leaving Broad Street Station on our first adventure. Arriving at Fort Hoyle, Md., we were lined up in columns, the white on one side and colored on the other. Then came roll call and transportation to camp, where he had our first army meal. Then we went to bed for that day.
The next day we received a “needle” in the right arm which contained seven drops. Then we went down to the Quartermaster’s depot to receive our clothes. The white boys received new overalls while we got old ones, some of them full of paint that had been washed to make them look presentable. After this we were brought back and fed. The next few weeks were spent in settling down and drilling, something were not supposed to have. After about two weeks we received our second and third shots, then received orders to move to Tobyhanna. In Tobyhanna we cleaned up the camp for another white company. We are the utility company for the CCC.
After everything was in shape and we were congratulating ourselves upon our good camp, along came more orders to move again, this time back to Maryland. After more heart rending packing and more train riding, back to Fort Hoyle we went, wondering what was to come next. After reaching there we immediately built another encampment; this time in back of the horse and mule stables where our sensitive nostrils were assailed by the most peculiar odors (especially after being so high up in Tobyhanna, 2,400 feet). After a week of this we were again moved this time back into our old camping ground (Camp Perkins). We stayed there about one week. When, yes, we moved again this time in Benezette, Pennsylvania, way up in the Allegheny Mountains. There was more work, putting up tents. But first we had to clear a space large enough to hold enough tents for 240 men. This was done in two days. There are rumors of us moving again. But I don’t think they are true. If so, you will hear from us again. Don’t call this segregation because we were below the Mason and Dixon line, and besides we were treated all alike except in privileges the white boys received first choice in everything. You will hear from us again.
