The Ground Observer Corps in Caribou County

We had a good meeting last Monday, Vicki Dahms told some history about the Ground Observer Corp (GOC), a program created from World War II when 1.5 million civilian volunteers were enrolled by the Army Air Forces to man 14,000 observation posts to identify enemy aircraft attempting to penetrate American airspace.

With the declining threat to American from German and Japanese air forces, the Air Force disestablished the GOC in 1944. In February 1950, Continental Air Command Commander General Ennis C Whitehead proposed the formation of a 160,000 GOC to operate 8,000 observation posts scattered in gaps between the proposed radar network sites because of the possible Soviet attacks, 

The State of Idaho was assigned to establish observer posts at every 10 or so miles. At each post the trained volunteers consisted of a supervisor, a chief supervisor and 20-30 observers. Two people were on duty at each post with a shift of two hours. East post to be equipped with a telephone within fifteen seconds walking distance of the observer on duty. Between November 1951 and January 1955 there were several recruitment meetings in Soda Springs, Bancroft, Grace and Lago and training sessions were conducted realizing the more observers were needed. At this time there was still no observer post in Soda Springs. By January 20, 1955, Monsanto was urging people to attend meetings and get involved. In February, the GOC had support from Monsanto and Kiwanis, and a post was assured. Monsanto guards would operate the post until more observers were trained and a post building was constructed. Lula Barnard was appointed post supervisor and L. A. Richards accepted the post of Chief Observer. October 1955 Caribou County appropriated funds of $300.00 and the City Council approved the Post and accepted a bid of $856.00 from Horsley Brothers to build the GOC Outlook Post on Soda Mound. In January1956, the Post building was completed. Mayor Allen Tigert spoke to the citizens and dedicated it in honor of the late Mayor Aaron L. Ozburn. The Goc officially started at the local post for a 12 hour / day operation on Wednesday, January 25. Monsanto would operate a 12 hour night shift. The operator had a book in the post that identified the many different types of planes. It was their job to watch the skies with binoculars for planes and report any possible enemy planes, In February, 32 planes were reported over the post. In June, the observers were awarded certificates and wings. Two years later, in September of 1958, one hundred and sixty members in the post retired as a new radar network retired the Ground Observer Corps. 

The history of the GOC post that was built on Soda Mound continues. It was later moved to Corrigan, (Soda Springs City Park). At one point its windows were broken. Ice skaters used the building for a warming hut. It later went to the Oregon Trail Country Club, Hole #6. Some residents claim it was placed on stilts and used as a radio announcing booth for football games for a few years.while it was in the City Park and then to the Sno-Drifters racing course in 1970. This was just off of the Blackfoot River Road .In 1991 Mike McEntire and Wes Rice rescued the post building from the site of the retired Sno-Drifters race track and put it in Mike's backyard. In 1991, Ron Nichols proposed that the GOC Skywatch Post building be restored and placed in its original location on the Geyser Springs Mound.Mike donated the building for restoration. He recalled, as a child, being with his mother when she was attending her duties in the GOC Post in the 1950's. On MArch 18, 2003, Mullen Crane Company moved the building from Mike's yard to the City of Soda Springs Maintenance Yard, then in April 2009, the building was moved to Bassett Building and restored. On July 5, 2010, 54 1/2 years after it was built, it was moved to the Geyser Mound location where it was originally built and a rededication held.. A.G. Stevens, who was a staff sergeant for the GOC in Soda Springs, daughter Cheryl, had attended grade school here between 1954-57 while her dad was serving,  was living in Texas and traveled to Soda to attend the rededication ceremony. 

 The Ground Observer Corp was another interesting part of our history and may not be well known. We appreciate Vicki and her report on the GOC. The GOC observation post building still sits at its original location for all to view. It remains locked to help prevent vandalism as we have lost the binoculars that were there but you can check it out and see the phone that was used, the book with the planes for identification and a list of those locals that participated as observers.Those that served as a GOC observer felt it was an honor to be able to help out. We invite you to stop by the geyser and check out the GOC Observer Post.

Uniform regalia from the USAF Ground Observer Corps

We also would like to thank Vicki for this information that she provided. It is great to learn more about the history of our county and we hope to continue this. We will have a little history of Morristown and the Morrisites, the first community and permanent settlers in the Soda Springs area. If there is something that you would like to learn about please contact Galen Wilson at 208-221-3181, Bill Horsley at 208-604-0524 or Jerry Stoor at 208-317-5148 and we will research it and present it at one of our monthly meetings that are help at the museum at 6pm on the 4th Monday of the month.