Reflection from Chris Ahrens

Reflection from Chris Ahrens

The following is taken from a questionnaire of CPS men by Paul A. Wilhelm. This excerpt is Chris Ahrens' response to the section asking the men to list major events from their CPS experience:

 

"I was director of the Orlando, Florida, Hookworm Control Project unit. We worked with a black high school, improving facilities. For giving a party for the graduating class and mixing races, the KKK went for our scalps and insisted that we all leave. Lou Schneider came down from [the AFSC in] Philadelphia to negotiate and reached an agreement with the Klan leaders to let those stay who would obey local mores."

 

--Taken from Wilhelm, Paul A. Civilian Public Servants: A Report on 210 World War II Conscientious Objectors. Washington D.C.: National Interreligious Service Board for Conscientious Objectors, 1990.