CPS Worker 003476 - Goering, Victor R.

CPS Worker 003476 - Goering, Victor R.

Birth year: 1920

Denomination: Mennonite General Conference

Original occupation: Farmer

Drafted from: Moundridge , Kansas, United States

Entered CPS: 10 23, 1942

Left CPS: 7 5, 1946

Notes:

Goering, writing more than sixty years after his service at Marlboro, recalled the work:

 

“We did not receive very much orientation but were put to work on the wards almost immediately.  The hospital was grossly understaffed since the wages were very low.  When the first CPS men arrived, some of the patients were carrying keys.  There were a total of 3,000 patients scattered throughout the many wards.  There were two buildings for patients who were considered dangerous and these patients were locked in prison-like cells.  Most of the patients were housed in cottages that had beds for approximately 150 persons.  African-Americans were segregated in two cottages – one for men and one for the women. . .”

 

“We worked seven days and then had the eighth day off.  When your day off was on Saturday, you also got Sunday off.  This gave us one day off each week.  The daily shift was from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a two-hour break and thirty minutes off for two meals.  This made a workday of nine hours and a work week of fifty-four hours.  Our work consisted of keeping order, reporting illnesses, taking patients to the dining hall, and similar duties.  . . . Those of us who were married and whose wives worked in the hospital were given living quarters above the patient’s wards.  Elizabeth joined me in May after the school term was over and she also worked on the wards.  A few wives were fortunate enough to get jobs as secretaries which, of course, was less strenuous than the ward work.”

 

Be sure to check out other reflections and stories from this CPS worker as listed under "Other Material."