The old GOC Tower

I have been curious lately about the old G.O.C (Ground Observation Corps). I am looking to hear any stories, maybe a list of names of the people that worked there, and pictures of the old GOC Station.

The GOC was already gone before I came along but I do remember Dad talking about it and telling me little tidbits about it from time to time. Then again, I might be crazy as a loon. Anyway, if it did really exist, it is an interesting part of Haigler history that I would like to know more about.

Thanks,
Roger Douglass
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Thanks Roger for your question.

Here is a scan of the picture found in the 1976 Haigler book, but there is no story or other comments about the volunteers who "manned" the observation tower.This tower was located just to the east and south of the old water tower.

I do remember going there with my mother on a regular basis and that people would get recognition for the number of hours they spent watching for "unfriendly" airplanes. I seem to remember a chart or a booklet that had the silhouettes of alot of different aircraft with their names and the country that they represented. There were also pictures of the markings that could be on the planes. We all had a pair of binoculars that we would look at the airplanes through - to determine if they were "friendly". There was also a record book to write down every aircraft we spotted.

Anyone else remember this?

Didn't we refer to it as: GOC Hill?

What years did we do it?
(It seems that it was during and after the Korean War, but it could have been later than that? )

Were you a volunteer?

Did you get a pin?

Write and tell about your experience: Email to the Editor

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Here is some information on GOC as Mom (Veda Douglass) and I remember it. I was just a little kid, and Mom said she hadn't thought about it in years, so her memory may be a little fuzzy. The pictures were in a small pocket book approximately 3X5 inches. Each aircraft picture showed a silhouette from the front, side and bottom. The markings were on posters hanging on the walls. GOC was manned solely by volunteers, 2 per shift.

She remembers it only being 1 hour per day per week. Mom was partnered with Hazel? Daniels (Rex's Mom), and Dad (Lloyd) was partnered with Sam Clegg. Glen Childers was the over-seer.

I would guess it was phased out in approximately 1959 or 1960, so since I was only 5 or 6 years old, I wouldn't remember many of the actual details, but I do remember looking at the books, and the posters on the walls of the building.

I'm sure there are others who remember more of this, but thought I would fill in what I remember.
-Doug (Lorenzo) Douglass
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In response to Roger's question about GOC, at my parents' (Ray and Melba Harford's) we had what seemed to be a pretty large cylinder in our south yard.

Whenever a plane flew over there was a horn that sounded and we were to observe the plane, call a telephone number and report our sighting.

Until a few years ago my parents' place had a registered landing strip, so I expect that is why we were designated as a sighting spot. I doubt our reports were always accurate!
- Linda J
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I was a GOC observer and still have all my pins
-Barbara Dexter Platon
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