Harold F. Hardin

Wakonda, SD

1934, 2757 Blue Bell, South Dakota,
1934, 1792, Mayo, F-13, Ass't Leader
1935-37, 1791, Custer (Vestal Springs), F-12, Company Clerk, 1937-Ass't Leader
1938, 2757, Narrows (Blue Bell), DSP-1,
1939-42, Dakota District HQ, Ft. Lincoln, ND, clerical, Civilian Personnel Office

"I can truly say that training received in the CCC had more influence on my career than anything else I have ever done. My length of service in connection with the CCC must be almost a record as I had just short of 8 years.

"I entered the CCC as an enrollee on April 8, 1934 in Company 1792 at Camp Mayo near Custer. About 3 weeks after I arrived, I was selected as company clerk, since I had 2 years of college and knew how to type. As company clerk, I learned all about government reports (daily, weekly and monthly) since I prepared them for the main office, the camp exchange, the mess hall and the auto repair shop. I started on a career of personnel work by process enrollees in and out of maintaining their personnel folders.

"Company 1792 was disbanded in November 1935 and we were transferred to Company 1791 at Camp Custer where I was immediately assigned as company clerk.

"Company 1791 was disbanded sometime in 1937 and we were all transferred to Company 2757 at Camp Narrows, which was also near Custer. Again, I was assigned as company clerk. During the summers of 1937 and 1938, I was sent on detached service to district headquarters which was then at Omaha, NE (22nd and Hickory Streets). Here I broadened my experience as I worked in procurement.

"In June 1939 I was selected for a civil service job at CCC Headquarters of Dakota District, located at Fort Lincoln, near Bismarck, ND. I first worked in the warehouse which was in Mandan for 3 or 4 months and then moved to the headquarters office at Fort Lincoln. After a few months I was again assigned to personnel work. I was the last employee to leave Fort Lincoln, as I stayed on after Pearl Harbor to pack up all the records and ship them to St. Paul, HN.

"On March 10, 1942, I was transferred to Rapid City Army Air Corps Base, which later became Ellsworth Air Force Base. There was only one building at the base and I worked for the Corps of Engineers while they were building the base. In August 1942 the base was ready for occupancy and I transferred to the 90th Sub-Depot as chief clerk in their personnel department. Later, I moved to the civilian personnel office of the base. I worked my way up over the next few years to the position of civilian personnel officer, which I held until my retirement on February 28, 1970. With my sick leave and annual leave credit, I had nearly 32 years of service.

"While at Camp Mayo, I met and courted a young girl from Custer. We went together for 5 years and were married in May 1940. We have been happily married now for more than 45 years.

"My brother, Wayne Hardin, enrolled in the CCC in April 1935 in Company 1790, in Camp Rochford. On July 1 of that year he was working with a crew in Rochford putting up a telephone line. A cable broke and a telephone pole fell, striking him across the back. He was taken to Fort Meade Hospital and the next morning taken to Deadwood and placed on a train for Fitzsimmons Hospital. Denver, CO where he died on the 5th of July. Needless to say. that was the saddest time of my life."

Harold F. Hardin of Rapid City, SD was born May 5, 1913, near Wakonda, to Earl and Juanita Hardin and died Sunday, May 15, 2005 at the age of 92.

Survivors include a son, Ray Hardin and wife Gloria of Rapid City; a daughter, Connie Bone and husband Jay of Tinley Park, Ill.; a sister, Stella Mae Bjornestad of Rapid City; five granddaughters and their husbands; six great-grandchildren; and one step-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Almeda, and his brother, Wayne.

Harold graduated from Wakonda High School in 1931. He attended Dakota Wesleyan University and received a two-year teaching certificate.

Harold worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Black Hills at Camp Custer, Narrows and Mayo. While in Custer, he met Almeda Freeland.

On May 17, 1940, Harold married Almeda and they shared 57 years together.

Harold began his career at the Rapid City Army Air Base, now Ellsworth Air Force Base, in 1942. He retired in 1970, as Civilian Personnel Officer. He and his wife enjoyed several winters in Apache Junction, Ariz.

Harold was a member of the Elks Lodge, NARFE, Cheerio Club, Barbershop Chorus, and the First United Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir.

Harold enjoyed gardening, walking, fishing, crossword puzzles, bridge, and cribbage.

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