PRESENTATION ON "UNSUNG HEROES" BY SUZANNE LOONEY RICHTER, PARIS-HENRY COUNTY HERITAGE CENTER, LUNCH AND LEARN ON OCTOBER 21, 2022
ROBERT JAMES BENNETT
Unsung heroes-the possibilities are infinite. Often our heroes are those whose names appear in the paper, who are elected officials, who are rich and successful in business, who are beautiful and talented. We feature many here at the Heritage Center. But just as important for our community, any community, are those whose contributions were different, often involved in giving their lives or their time unselfishly ; we will celebrate some "unsung" heroes today.
Robert James Bennett, age 22, died on August 5, 1949, in a raging Montana forest fire, described as the worst forest fire in 40 years.
Bobby, which is how I knew him, graduated from Grove High School in 1945 and served in the military until the end of the war. At his death, he was a student at Montana University in Missoula, in his third year in the Forestry Division. Like many healthy, strong young men in that geographic area, in the summers he was a smokejumper, part of an elite group of fire fighters stationed at Hale Field, Montana.
Bobby was the son of Guy Bennett and Anne Louise Moses Bennett; he had one brother Guy and two sisters Jeannie and Joyce.
Mr. Bennett was notified by telegram of the loss of his son and then he had to arrange the funeral and await the arrival of the body. I was 7 years old and I remember all of this because my grandparents lived on Head Street next door to the Bennetts in the home that has been lovingly restored by Sue and John David Neese.
The visitation for Bobby was held at the Bennetts' home, as was the custom, and I remember attending. It was in August and very hot with lots of people in the house and cars lining the street. I could not get it through my child's brain about how Bobby died and why he was jumping into a forest fire in Montana.
Smokejumpers were used first in the 1930s. They were specially trained to parachute into an already burning fire and create fire brakes from the inside. Smokejumpers became a reality in the 1940s. The jumpers were usually young men who needed a summer job with an older squad member in charge. In the 1940s the Forest Service had switched from aerial water drops to experiments with parachute jumping. Prior to Mann Gulch, however, no smokejumper had ever died; in Mann Gulch 12 plus one fire guard died.
Lightning struck and the fire started on August 5 in Helena National Forest. It was spotted by a young college student in a designated Wilderness Area covered by grass. Efforts to put the fire out were unsuccessful and it continued to spread slowly.
Sixteen smoke jumpers were flown in, to be dropped 4 at a time. Because of turbulent weather, one became air sick and did not jump. Wayne Dodge, 33, was in charge. Their radio and other equipment were smashed in the jump; the plane was flying too low because of the turbulence. That left the 14 smokejumpers very much alone and unsupported.
After landing on the ground a half-mile from the fire, the 15 smokejumpers were met by a fire guard and they headed down the gulch towards the Missouri River for a safer position. The dry conditions and high winds caused the fire to suddenly expand cutting off the squad's route. They were forced back up hill while trying to outrun the swiftly advancing fire. During this blow-up stage the fire covered 3000 acres in 10 minutes.
Realizing the danger "Wag" Dodge, the crew's commander, told the men to drop any equipment and run with the fire less than 100 yards behind them and closing fast. He set a small escape fire, creating a burned over area that the fire would bypass, and he directed the men to this area. But they continued to flee uphill. Two men hid in a crevice in a rock wall; they and Wag were the only survivors.
The events of Mann Gulch forever changed the world of firefighting. The Forest Service would institute new training techniques and improved safety measures. The agency also would place more emphasis on fire research and the science of fire behavior, resulting in improved techniques and equipment. However, the developments will never overshadow the immense tragedy for this group of firefighters.
I have a copy of Bobby Bennett's death certificate and the language is stark. It says he was "trapped by fire" and under "condition leading to death" it states "burned to death." And the remains were removed from Helena to his home in Paris, TN.
ROBERT JAMES BENNETT
Unsung heroes-the possibilities are infinite. Often our heroes are those whose names appear in the paper, who are elected officials, who are rich and successful in business, who are beautiful and talented. We feature many here at the Heritage Center. But just as important for our community, any community, are those whose contributions were different, often involved in giving their lives or their time unselfishly ; we will celebrate some "unsung" heroes today.
Robert James Bennett, age 22, died on August 5, 1949, in a raging Montana forest fire, described as the worst forest fire in 40 years.
Bobby, which is how I knew him, graduated from Grove High School in 1945 and served in the military until the end of the war. At his death, he was a student at Montana University in Missoula, in his third year in the Forestry Division. Like many healthy, strong young men in that geographic area, in the summers he was a smokejumper, part of an elite group of fire fighters stationed at Hale Field, Montana.
Bobby was the son of Guy Bennett and Anne Louise Moses Bennett; he had one brother Guy and two sisters Jeannie and Joyce.
Mr. Bennett was notified by telegram of the loss of his son and then he had to arrange the funeral and await the arrival of the body. I was 7 years old and I remember all of this because my grandparents lived on Head Street next door to the Bennetts in the home that has been lovingly restored by Sue and John David Neese.
The visitation for Bobby was held at the Bennetts' home, as was the custom, and I remember attending. It was in August and very hot with lots of people in the house and cars lining the street. I could not get it through my child's brain about how Bobby died and why he was jumping into a forest fire in Montana.
Smokejumpers were used first in the 1930s. They were specially trained to parachute into an already burning fire and create fire brakes from the inside. Smokejumpers became a reality in the 1940s. The jumpers were usually young men who needed a summer job with an older squad member in charge. In the 1940s the Forest Service had switched from aerial water drops to experiments with parachute jumping. Prior to Mann Gulch, however, no smokejumper had ever died; in Mann Gulch 12 plus one fire guard died.
Lightning struck and the fire started on August 5 in Helena National Forest. It was spotted by a young college student in a designated Wilderness Area covered by grass. Efforts to put the fire out were unsuccessful and it continued to spread slowly.
Sixteen smoke jumpers were flown in, to be dropped 4 at a time. Because of turbulent weather, one became air sick and did not jump. Wayne Dodge, 33, was in charge. Their radio and other equipment were smashed in the jump; the plane was flying too low because of the turbulence. That left the 14 smokejumpers very much alone and unsupported.
After landing on the ground a half-mile from the fire, the 15 smokejumpers were met by a fire guard and they headed down the gulch towards the Missouri River for a safer position. The dry conditions and high winds caused the fire to suddenly expand cutting off the squad's route. They were forced back up hill while trying to outrun the swiftly advancing fire. During this blow-up stage the fire covered 3000 acres in 10 minutes.
Realizing the danger "Wag" Dodge, the crew's commander, told the men to drop any equipment and run with the fire less than 100 yards behind them and closing fast. He set a small escape fire, creating a burned over area that the fire would bypass, and he directed the men to this area. But they continued to flee uphill. Two men hid in a crevice in a rock wall; they and Wag were the only survivors.
The events of Mann Gulch forever changed the world of firefighting. The Forest Service would institute new training techniques and improved safety measures. The agency also would place more emphasis on fire research and the science of fire behavior, resulting in improved techniques and equipment. However, the developments will never overshadow the immense tragedy for this group of firefighters.
I have a copy of Bobby Bennett's death certificate and the language is stark. It says he was "trapped by fire" and under "condition leading to death" it states "burned to death." And the remains were removed from Helena to his home in Paris, TN.
PRESENTATION ON "UNSUNG HEROES" BY SUZANNE LOONEY RICHTER, PARIS-HENRY COUNTY HERITAGE CENTER, LUNCH AND LEARN ON OCTOBER 21, 2022
ROBERT JAMES BENNETT
Unsung heroes-the possibilities are infinite. Often our heroes are those whose names appear in the paper, who are elected officials, who are rich and successful in business, who are beautiful and talented. We feature many here at the Heritage Center. But just as important for our community, any community, are those whose contributions were different, often involved in giving their lives or their time unselfishly ; we will celebrate some "unsung" heroes today.
Robert James Bennett, age 22, died on August 5, 1949, in a raging Montana forest fire, described as the worst forest fire in 40 years.
Bobby, which is how I knew him, graduated from Grove High School in 1945 and served in the military until the end of the war. At his death, he was a student at Montana University in Missoula, in his third year in the Forestry Division. Like many healthy, strong young men in that geographic area, in the summers he was a smokejumper, part of an elite group of fire fighters stationed at Hale Field, Montana.
Bobby was the son of Guy Bennett and Anne Louise Moses Bennett; he had one brother Guy and two sisters Jeannie and Joyce.
Mr. Bennett was notified by telegram of the loss of his son and then he had to arrange the funeral and await the arrival of the body. I was 7 years old and I remember all of this because my grandparents lived on Head Street next door to the Bennetts in the home that has been lovingly restored by Sue and John David Neese.
The visitation for Bobby was held at the Bennetts' home, as was the custom, and I remember attending. It was in August and very hot with lots of people in the house and cars lining the street. I could not get it through my child's brain about how Bobby died and why he was jumping into a forest fire in Montana.
Smokejumpers were used first in the 1930s. They were specially trained to parachute into an already burning fire and create fire brakes from the inside. Smokejumpers became a reality in the 1940s. The jumpers were usually young men who needed a summer job with an older squad member in charge. In the 1940s the Forest Service had switched from aerial water drops to experiments with parachute jumping. Prior to Mann Gulch, however, no smokejumper had ever died; in Mann Gulch 12 plus one fire guard died.
Lightning struck and the fire started on August 5 in Helena National Forest. It was spotted by a young college student in a designated Wilderness Area covered by grass. Efforts to put the fire out were unsuccessful and it continued to spread slowly.
Sixteen smoke jumpers were flown in, to be dropped 4 at a time. Because of turbulent weather, one became air sick and did not jump. Wayne Dodge, 33, was in charge. Their radio and other equipment were smashed in the jump; the plane was flying too low because of the turbulence. That left the 14 smokejumpers very much alone and unsupported.
After landing on the ground a half-mile from the fire, the 15 smokejumpers were met by a fire guard and they headed down the gulch towards the Missouri River for a safer position. The dry conditions and high winds caused the fire to suddenly expand cutting off the squad's route. They were forced back up hill while trying to outrun the swiftly advancing fire. During this blow-up stage the fire covered 3000 acres in 10 minutes.
Realizing the danger "Wag" Dodge, the crew's commander, told the men to drop any equipment and run with the fire less than 100 yards behind them and closing fast. He set a small escape fire, creating a burned over area that the fire would bypass, and he directed the men to this area. But they continued to flee uphill. Two men hid in a crevice in a rock wall; they and Wag were the only survivors.
The events of Mann Gulch forever changed the world of firefighting. The Forest Service would institute new training techniques and improved safety measures. The agency also would place more emphasis on fire research and the science of fire behavior, resulting in improved techniques and equipment. However, the developments will never overshadow the immense tragedy for this group of firefighters.
I have a copy of Bobby Bennett's death certificate and the language is stark. It says he was "trapped by fire" and under "condition leading to death" it states "burned to death." And the remains were removed from Helena to his home in Paris, TN.
ROBERT JAMES BENNETT
Unsung heroes-the possibilities are infinite. Often our heroes are those whose names appear in the paper, who are elected officials, who are rich and successful in business, who are beautiful and talented. We feature many here at the Heritage Center. But just as important for our community, any community, are those whose contributions were different, often involved in giving their lives or their time unselfishly ; we will celebrate some "unsung" heroes today.
Robert James Bennett, age 22, died on August 5, 1949, in a raging Montana forest fire, described as the worst forest fire in 40 years.
Bobby, which is how I knew him, graduated from Grove High School in 1945 and served in the military until the end of the war. At his death, he was a student at Montana University in Missoula, in his third year in the Forestry Division. Like many healthy, strong young men in that geographic area, in the summers he was a smokejumper, part of an elite group of fire fighters stationed at Hale Field, Montana.
Bobby was the son of Guy Bennett and Anne Louise Moses Bennett; he had one brother Guy and two sisters Jeannie and Joyce.
Mr. Bennett was notified by telegram of the loss of his son and then he had to arrange the funeral and await the arrival of the body. I was 7 years old and I remember all of this because my grandparents lived on Head Street next door to the Bennetts in the home that has been lovingly restored by Sue and John David Neese.
The visitation for Bobby was held at the Bennetts' home, as was the custom, and I remember attending. It was in August and very hot with lots of people in the house and cars lining the street. I could not get it through my child's brain about how Bobby died and why he was jumping into a forest fire in Montana.
Smokejumpers were used first in the 1930s. They were specially trained to parachute into an already burning fire and create fire brakes from the inside. Smokejumpers became a reality in the 1940s. The jumpers were usually young men who needed a summer job with an older squad member in charge. In the 1940s the Forest Service had switched from aerial water drops to experiments with parachute jumping. Prior to Mann Gulch, however, no smokejumper had ever died; in Mann Gulch 12 plus one fire guard died.
Lightning struck and the fire started on August 5 in Helena National Forest. It was spotted by a young college student in a designated Wilderness Area covered by grass. Efforts to put the fire out were unsuccessful and it continued to spread slowly.
Sixteen smoke jumpers were flown in, to be dropped 4 at a time. Because of turbulent weather, one became air sick and did not jump. Wayne Dodge, 33, was in charge. Their radio and other equipment were smashed in the jump; the plane was flying too low because of the turbulence. That left the 14 smokejumpers very much alone and unsupported.
After landing on the ground a half-mile from the fire, the 15 smokejumpers were met by a fire guard and they headed down the gulch towards the Missouri River for a safer position. The dry conditions and high winds caused the fire to suddenly expand cutting off the squad's route. They were forced back up hill while trying to outrun the swiftly advancing fire. During this blow-up stage the fire covered 3000 acres in 10 minutes.
Realizing the danger "Wag" Dodge, the crew's commander, told the men to drop any equipment and run with the fire less than 100 yards behind them and closing fast. He set a small escape fire, creating a burned over area that the fire would bypass, and he directed the men to this area. But they continued to flee uphill. Two men hid in a crevice in a rock wall; they and Wag were the only survivors.
The events of Mann Gulch forever changed the world of firefighting. The Forest Service would institute new training techniques and improved safety measures. The agency also would place more emphasis on fire research and the science of fire behavior, resulting in improved techniques and equipment. However, the developments will never overshadow the immense tragedy for this group of firefighters.
I have a copy of Bobby Bennett's death certificate and the language is stark. It says he was "trapped by fire" and under "condition leading to death" it states "burned to death." And the remains were removed from Helena to his home in Paris, TN.
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son of Robert Guy Bennett
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