Carroll H. Dunn
school I did not engage in any such sport. But that and track were extracurricular
activities in high school.
As I said, Lake Village is primarily a farming community. I grew up working on a farm.
I mowed yards and delivered magazines to earn money. Dad, being both a farmer and
entrepreneur of one kind or another, was always looking for things that might bring in
some additional income. One of the things he did in the early1930s, as the plan on the
lower Mississippi to raise the levees along the river developed, was to work with a
contractor planting Bermuda grass sod on the levees as protection against erosion. One
of the jobs that I had during the summer as a sophomore and junior in high school was
taking a crew and planting sod on the levee in the area near Lake Village, and also in
Louisiana across from Vicksburg. So, again, there was a connection with Corps of
Engineers' activities at a relatively early age.
Q.
And you were aware of the Corps' presence at that time?
A
Oh, yes. The Corps was very much an activity in that alluvial valley of the river, and
was one of the employers of people that had a very well-regarded name.
Q ..
How did the locals view the Corps?
A
It was a very desirable organization for which to work.
I also became aware of the Waterways Experiment Station at Vicksburg, since I
worked in the Vicksburg area in 1933 after my junior year in high school. I had visited
the lab not too long
it had been formed in 1929 by General [Herbert D.] Vogel.
I was aware of some of the hydraulic model studies from this early time. And, again,
while at the time I don't think I was aware that the Corps was weaving a web around
me, there were these connections at an early age. They certainly gave me some
knowledge of Corps' activities when the time came to consider whether or not I might
join it.
Q.
Beyond the positive local attitude toward the Corps as an employer' what about
attitudes toward the flood control activity itself?
A
very supportive in general. There was one aspect of the Jadwin Plan that
involved a floodway to protect the Mississippi side that went down through
County, which was something that those on the Arkansas side were violently opposed
to, and it never did come about. I read over some of the congressional hearings in later
years. Though I was vaguely aware of them at the time, I really didn't know all of the
details about the hearings and other testimony. When I discovered later some of the
things that had gone on, and that the floodway was part of the
I knew why they
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