James Oliver Harrison, Missoula, Montana
LOCATION: The National Smokejumper Association hosted the Mann Gulch 75th Anniversary Memorial Tribute for James Harrison at the St. Mary-Turner Cemetery in Missoula, Montana, on August 9th, 2024. Harrison, 20, died August 5, 1949, along with twelve other Missoula smokejumpers in the Mann Gulch Fire. James Harrison was formerly a Missoula smokejumper but was a fireguard at Meriwether Campground when he died.
Site Coordinators: Kurt Rohrbach (MSO 03) and Tory Kendrick (MSO 00)
BIOGRAPHY: James was born on January 8, 1929, in Spokane, Washington, to Arthur and Susan Harrison. He had two brothers, John “Jack” Harrison and Arthur “Larry” Harrison. The Harrison family was very close growing up and were good friends of the Diettert family, who lived near them in Missoula, Montana. James was an excellent student by anyone’s standards. He was also very athletic. In 1945, James and his brother Jack were on the 1945 state championship football team. James received an Elks scholarship to go on to college. He was a chemistry major at Montana State University (the current University of Montana). His scholarship, personality, and strength of character were that of a superior individual.
Jim worked for the Forest Service in summer jobs for five seasons starting at age 16. His first season was working on a Blister Rust mitigation crew. He worked two seasons as a smokejumper. His mother, Susan, pleaded with him not to jump and convinced him to take a less dangerous job in 1948. James was hired as a Recreation Guard at Meriwether Campground at the mouth of Meriwether Canyon on the Missouri River. His job was to check for lightning fires and report them to Ranger Robert Jansson.
On the morning of August 5, as part of his duties, Jim noticed wildfire smoke and hiked up and over the crest of Meriwether Canyon to the head of Mann Gulch to attempt work on fire containment. He returned to Meriwether to call in the expanding fire situation, then returned to Mann Gulch to join the smokejumper crew that was dropped in. At the point of his meeting with Wag Dodge and the ensuing run to escape the advancing flames, James had been working on the fire for seven hours and was exhausted as he tried to outrun the fire that would inevitably catch him. He became one of the 13 victims.
RELATIVES: Several family members were present, including Larry Harrison, Leslie Harrison, and Donene Harrison. There were also friends of the family, Lorelle Moore, and many members of the Diettert family.
CEREMONY: It was a warm August day, and the ceremony lasted about a half hour. Kurt said they were moved by the sentiments expressed by the family members. There were 41 folks present who signed the tribute registry, and many others present who did not sign the register. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2070 from Monrovia conducted a military gun salute, followed by playing Taps. The NSA provided a special brass medallion that was affixed to his gravestone so anyone who read the inscription would know that James Harrison was indeed a hero recognized by the National Smokejumper Association.
RECOGNITION: Smokejumpers in attendance included site coordinators Kurt Rohrbach (MSO 03), and Tory Kendrick (MSO 00), Jace Washburn (MSO 16), Lori Messenger (MSO 00), Chad Scussel (MSO 03), Timo Rova (WYS 95), Mathew Mahe (MSO 05), Keith Wolferman (MSO 91), Jake Murie (FBX 22), Willis Curdy (MSO 71), Sarah Doehring MSO 91) Bob Smee (MSO 68), Richard Hulla (MSO 75), Ed Ward (MSO 80), Bob Beckley (RAC 83), Kim Maynard (82), Roy Korkalo (MSO 61), and Brent Campbell (MYC 78). Tory was the overall site coordinator.
