"went to the CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps?] Camps near Anniston, Alabama and in Pensacola, Florida. Government paid all expenses -- 30 days of military training. He went four years in all. There are relatives in Anniston, Alabama area but Obeyn didn't know them."The following images (front and back) show two certificates he earned at "Citizens' Military Training Camps" in the summers of 1927 and 1928 at Fort Barrancas, Florida. According to the Wikipedia article on Citizens' Military Training Camps, viewed 27 December 2011,
"The Citizens' Military Training Camps (CMTC) were military training programs … held annually each summer during the years 1921 to 1940 … [Their purpose was to allow] male citizens to obtain basic military training without an obligation to to call-up for active duty … CMTC camps were a month in length and held at about fifty Army bases nationally. At their peak in 1928 and 1929, about 40,000 men received training … The program established that participants could receive a reserve commission as a second lieutenant by completing four successive summer courses (titled Basic, Red, White, and Blue)."I have his certificates for the completion of the "Red" and "White" courses. Presumably, he also completed the Basic course. I do not currently know if he completed the Blue course. But when he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943, he entered the service as a private so it appears unlikely that he attended/completed the fourth course. In fact, the Wikipedia article states that,
"Only 5,000 [2nd lieutenant] commissions were awarded over the 20-year history of the CMTC. Apparently, no records exist that document total participation, but it is estimated that 400,000 men had at least one summer of training."I have not located any information about his attendance at CCC or CMTC camps at Anniston yet.
"Red" Course of Instruction, Coast Artillery Branch, 1927
(Click images to enlarge.)
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| 1927 Certificate, Side 1 of 2 |
MILITARY TRAINING CERTIFICATE
Citizens' Military Training Camps
TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS, GREETING:
KNOW YE, THAT William O. Jackson, HAS ATTENDED THE Red COURSE OF INSTRUCTION, Coast Artillery BRANCH, AT THE CITIZENS' MILITARY TRAINING CAMP HELD UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AT Fort Barrancas, Florida, FROM June 15, TO July 14, ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN.
GIVEN AT Fort Barrancas, Florida, THIS 14th DAY OF July, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN.
REMARKS: [left blank]
(signed) R.W. COLLINS,
Lt. Colonel, 13th C.A. [Coast Artillery],
COMMANDING
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| 1927 Certificate, Side 2 of 2 |
Keep this Certificate and present it whenever you seek employment. It is valuable as a personal record and is evidence of your Military and Citizenship Training. In case you join any of the Military forces of the United States show it to each Commanding Officer who may be placed over you.
CERTIFICATE OF TRAINING
I hereby certify that the candidate whose name appears on this certificate has been given training and instruction in the Red Course, CAC Branch at this camp and has completed the course.
He is recommended further training in White Course (Show recommendations in accordance with par. 17, AR 350-2200)
Remarks [left blank] (Show Organization of the Army of the United States or Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Show marksmanship and other qualifications, if any. Show property loss, if any)
[signed] H.B. Kraft
1st Lieut. 13 CA. [Coast Artillery],
Commanding.
Only young men in good physical condition and of good moral character are accepted for attendance at Citizens' Military Training Camps.
Those who complete the course have received the typhoid-paratyphoid inoculation and smallpox vaccination.
A young man who attends a Citizens' Military Training Camp renders voluntary service to the United States Government and this certificate is evidence of his patriotism and loyalty.
Graduates of the Red, White, and Blue Courses are entitled to wear the insignia for service.
Citizens' Military Training Camps are conducted by the War Department under the National Defense Act. This is the basic law which governs all military training. The Government pays the expenses of those attending, consisting of transportation to and from camp, uniforms, food, and medical attendance.
The object of these camps is to bring together young men of high type from all sections of the country on a common basis of equality and under the most favorable conditions of outdoor life; to stimulate and promote citizenship, patriotism, and Americanism; and, through expert physical direction, athletic coaching, and military training, to benefit the young men individually, and bring them to realize their obligations to their country.
There are four (4) courses of instruction: BASIC, RED, WHITE and BLUE. Each course lasts 30 days and only one course can be taken in any calendar year.
Following are descriptions of the different courses:
1. The BASIC COURSE. -- For physically fit male citizens of the United States, 17 to 24 years of age. Previous military training not required. Applicants must possess average general intelligence, be able to read and write english, and be of good moral character.
This course provides preliminary military training, including physical development, athletics, school of the soldier, squad and company drill, rifle marksmanship, first aid, camp sanitation, personal hygienic, military courtesy, meaning of discipline, and studies in citizenship. Those taking this course will be given an opportunity to qualify for the next higher, or Red Course. Attendance at this course does not constitute any present or future contract of enlistment in the Army of the United States.
2. The RED COURSE. -- For physically fit male citizens of the United States, 17 to 25 years of age. Applicants must be graduate of the Basic Course or have had military training equivalent thereto, must possess average intelligence, be able to read and write English, and be of good moral character.
This course provides training in different branches of the Army: Infantry, Field Artillery, Cavalry, Coast Artillery, Corps of Engineers, and Signal Corps. Advanced instruction in the subjects covered in the Basic Course is included.
Those who take this course will be given the opportunity to qualify in the same branch for the next higher, or White Course. Attendance at this course does not constitute any present or future contract of enlistment in the Army of the United States.
3. The WHITE COURSE. -- For physically fit male citizens of the United States, 18 to 28 years of age and enlisted men of the Army of the United States. Applicants must have a grammar-school education or its equivalent, possess qualities of leadership, and be of good moral character.
This course provides training in different branches of the Army: Infantry, Field Artillery, Cavalry, Coast Artillery, Corps of Engineers, and Signal Corps for the purpose of qualifying candidates as specialists and noncommissioned leaders. This course is open to candidates who have completed the Red Course and who have been recommended to pursue the White Course, to selected citizens who have had military training equivalent to the Red Course, and to selected enlisted men of the Army of the United States.
Those who attend will be given the further opportunity to qualify in the same branch for the next higher, or Blue Course, but it will be required that they possess, or show that they later will possess, the mental and physical qualifications to become officers in the Officers' Reserve Corps. This requirement will be fully explained to all candidates before or during the White Course. Attendance at this course does not constitute any present or future contract of enlistment in the Army of the United States.
4. The BLUE COURSE. -- Age limits, 19 to 31. Qualifications for admission are as follows:
Applicants must be warrant officers or enlisted men or selected civilians who are physically fit.
Applicants must have not less than a completed high-school education or its equivalent, and must possess the personality, appearance, tact, bearing, and general adaptability which will fit them, after further training in the Blue Course, to take the necessary mental and physical examination to be officers of the Officers' Reserve Corps.
Applications from warrant officers and enlisted men must receive the approval of immediate commanding officers.
NOTE. -- Graduation from the Blue Course does not of itself confer legal eligibility for appointment in the Officers' Reserve Corps.
The applicants' preference for branch training in Infantry, Field Artillery, Cavalry, Coast Artillery, Corps of Engineers, and Signal Corps will be granted when such training is available and practicable from an economic and military point of view.
"White" Course of Instruction, Coast Artillery Branch, 1928
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| 1928 Certificate, Side 1 of 2 |
MILITARY TRAINING CERTIFICATE
Citizens' Military Training Camps
TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS, GREETING:
KNOW YE, THAT WILLIAM OBEYN JACKSON, HAS ATTENDED THE WHITE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION, COAST ARTILLERY BRANCH, AT THE CITIZENS' MILITARY TRAINING CAMP HELD UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AT Fort Barrancas, Florida, FROM June 17 TO July 16, ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-eight.
GIVEN AT Fort Barrancas, Florida, THIS 16th DAY OF July, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-eight.
REMARKS: [left blank]
(signed) H.L. BUTLER
Lt. Colonel, 13th Coast Artillery,
COMMANDING
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| 1928 Certificate, Side 2 of 2 |
Keep this Certificate and present it whenever you seek employment. It is valuable as a personal record and is evidence of your Military and Citizenship Training. In case you join any of the Military forces of the United States show it to each Commanding Officer who may be placed over you.
CERTIFICATE OF TRAINING
I hereby certify that the candidate whose name appears on this certificate has been given training and instruction in the [left blank] Course, [left blank] Branch at this camp and has completed the course.
He is recommended For training in the blue course (Show recommendations in accordance with par. 17, AR 350-2200)
Remarks Property loss [handwritten] none (Show Organization of the Army of the United States or Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Show marksmanship and other qualifications, if any. Show property loss, if any)
[signed] H.K. Diles
Commanding.
Photos of W.O. Jackson at CCC or CMTC Camp(s)
The following photos of W.O. Jackson were taken while he was participating at either the CMTC Camp or at a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp. The following photos were marked later as taken at a "CCC" camp in "1925" but that may not be correct, based on the dates on the Pensacola, Florida (Fort Barrancas) certificates above. W.O. Jackson graduated from high school in 1925 at the age of 16 years and he would have had to have been 17 years of age to take the CMTC "Basic Course" that year.
The photos that show artillery pieces in the background are more likely to have been taken at Fort Barrancas, as opposed to Anniston, Alabama but I can't be sure of that at this point.
(Click images to enlarge.)
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| W.O. Jackson (1909-1988) |
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| W.O. Jackson is on the left. |
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| I am not certain this is W.O. Jackson but the facial features in the blurry photograph seem at least similar to his. (There are other photos that he apparently took of the camp, his fellow trainees, and officers.) |
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| I am more certain that this is W.O. Jackson. He looks pretty "green" so it may be that this one was taken at his first camp, possibly the "Basic Course". |
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| Posing with an artillery piece, he looks considerably less "green" in this photo. |
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| This is probably W.O. Jackson. |
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| I suspect the man in the right foreground is W.O. Jackson. |
I have not (yet) located any documentation to support his attending a CCC or CMTC Camp in Anniston, Alabama.
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