Excerpts from the interview given by George Lecouris, 2 November 2002

Interviewer: In 1929, 1930, how did the Depression affect your family?

G.L.: Oh, back in the early days. When the CCs first started out in the 1930s, things were rough, I'm telling you.  There was nothing to do. Although we ate, but somehow or another, Tarpon Springs didn’t feel the brunt of the Depression as other places because the sponge business seemed to helped it along the way. We had things to eat. Clothing and stuff wasn't as plentiful. But it was tough. And then when the CCs was organized, why most of us around the country, young boys, went into the CCs.  I went in 1933. About three or four months after it was organized. When I went in the CCC, we were sent to Fort Benning, Georgia. That's the big Army base there, Fort Benning. And that's where we stayed two weeks. We got our inoculation, and we lived in tents. They had these tents up there, and everything. Well, after two weeks up there, when we were all sent out, we got our bedding, our canteens, and our mess plates. And things that you would need in camp. So when we left out of there, we left as a convoy. I don’t know how many trucks were loaded with Is--Uh, I say GIs (laughs)--CC boys. They was loaded with CC boys. And we pulled out of there. And as we came down into Florida, when they passed these CC camps--some of them were already into construction. Our camp didn’t have to live in tents like a lot of them did. Our barracks and stuff was already built. As we went in. So we didn’t have that problem. Well, they dump off, maybe, two trucks of men that would be in that camp. And the rest of the convoy--which was long--they tore on out through the panhandle. And maybe some of them went to California. I don’t know where they went. But that's the way they done us. Now there were other methods they had up North. But they were all transported out by trucks.  And when we got there, the Alabama boys were already there. That was an Alabama camp, but it was Alabama boys except five boys, And they was from Florida. And I was one of the Florida boys that happened to be dropped off there. So that was the only camp that I was in for the duration of my stay. And I think I was in there going on my second year. And the only way you could get out without serving your six months, you had to write home and tell your mama that you wanted to come home, and she'd would write to your commanding officer that you had a job. Otherwise, you stayed till your six months period was over. Well, mama wrote up there said I had a job. So I had a chance to go home. Which I did have a job. See? …Now that was up to the time I went to the camp. What do you want to me explain? My duties? Or what we did in camp?

Interviewer: Yes, but actually I want to ask how did you find out about the CCC to begin with? And why did you join?

G.L.:  Oh, well, shoot! You were glad to get into the CCC. I mean things were tough. Shoot. We were running around with patches on our pants and holes in our pants. (Laughs) Things was really tough. And I am sure it was tough in other towns and states than it was where I was at. We just…One thing…Well, I was always an outdoor person to start with. I love the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, and I never was an indoor type of person, Never have been.  And I just wanted to get into the CCC and be one of the CCC boys.