Worked 45 years as a underground coal miner. You will never find a better group of men to work around. No matter what you had going on, they always had your back. Been retired for 3 years and still miss them ol boys.
Underground miner here. Sleeping in my car watching this right now and it's below zero degrees. Looking forward to be home, but then will be back here at the mine after one day off. As an underground miner in Colorado, thank you Joe. We need recognition. I do this for my family and to support my goals. For my country, for society to improve, and for my family. Hard life, I wish others could understand a fraction.
You have to choose what you value most in life. Yes, giving your family security is a priority. But is it worth it if you never see them? I’m sure they’d rather have you there with them making memories than working OT to make sure they have their toys.
I have worked in a coal mine for 22 years and love it. There are some great hard working people who work here with me too. The sad part is that politicians have vilified us and what we do.
My Grand Dad, Dad and older brother were all coal miners back in Rachel West Virginia. They worked hard to see that I never had to work in the coal mines. Love and miss them so much.
My whole family grew up in the Beckley area, i grew up in Chapmanville moved to NC in 98. My whole childhood at least once a year, someone I went to school with would either loose their dad or would nearly loose their dad to a mining accident.
My great grandfather died from black lung after working coal in Elkins, WV. My grandfather hitchhiked to Texas when he was 13 to seek out a better life for himself and his future family. Forever thankful for that decision he made over 60 years ago
Same with chemical refineries for me. No mines here but Generations of men before me paved the way. Similar grueling blue collar work. Spent some time out there... enough to finish college.
@timedwards8171 my grandpa died, they couldn't believe he wasn't a Smoker. Lungs were black, never smoked. Hear the same about OG coal miners. HAHA! Yeah. Super privileged 👌
@@timedwards8171 so the narrative goes, my grandpa worked long hours on a dock and then fought in WW2, seeing his friends die in the process. so much for privelege
@@ABagOfLag White privilege doesn't exist. Our ancestors didn't get anything handed to them, they worked for what we've now got. It would be wise for those proclaiming white privilege to understand this, maybe they can change the future for their descendants.
My grandpa was in Normandy in WW2, came back home to Morgantown, WV and worked in a coal mine for 30+ years. One of his sons just retired from being a coal miner. The amount of respect I have for people that risk their lives for this type of work is infinitely high. So awesome seeing him wearing a Morgantown, WV hat
My Dad worked in underground coal mines most of his life. He took me down into one as a twelve year old. Pretty intense environment to say the least. Saw the miner with the big teeth working, the hydro monitor and we eventually exited the mine on the conveyor belt, a massive no-no I assume but it was the a quick way out of the mine at shifts end. He is sadly trapped for eternity in the Pike River Mine in NZ with 28 other poor souls. It’s a hard knock life, that’s for sure.
I see dedication and heart in those guys. Folks may never know the struggles or the sacrifices made just to make a living in a coal mine. A special breed. Love and respect
My brother works in a coal mine and says they sleep a lot down there and it’s easy work. I was going to join him but didn’t want to live around hillbillies
My Daddy worked in 28” coal. He said you had to eat lunch on your side. My Papaw worked as an electrician in the mines, Uncles & Great uncles all made their living in there too. Some of the hardest working men ever. I’m thankful for all those men who made this country the great place it is. Proud Logan county, WV resident. 💙💛 Mine wars were a big part of labor movement.
I'm a fourth generation coal miner myself. I spent a few years on the mines before joining the Air Force. Everything I do today is informed by my experiences as a coal miner. I prefer data mining today as a cyber engineer, but certainly coal mining gave me an appreciation for all the generations in my family before me and what they went through to scrape out a living for us.
I'm in England. My Dad passed away recently. He worked on a farm from his mid teens into his 80's. He had so many stories and the scars and injuries to prove it. In his late 70s he had cancer for which he needed radiotherapy. He would book the earlest appointment the clinic had, have his treatment and then go do an 8-12 hour day depending on daylight. He worked so hard for so long. He loved the outdoors. His body did pay a price, I just hope mind is made of the same stuff. The guys and without being sexist because it is guys, these guys have something special within them.
I got a cousin who works in a mine, one days some trucks were back up and he got pinned between them. There was so much pressure being put on his knee it literally exploded and he was bleeding out in shock trying to keep calm so no one else would flip out and wrapped his leg with his shirt. Applied pressure and appearently thats what saved his life was keeping his calm, he says if he didn't keep his calm he wouldn't of been able to wrap his leg up & probably would of bleed out before the helicopter got there because he had to be air lifted out.
Luckily, I have the same disposition of not freaking out when bad shit goes down, every time it happened. As I look back it seems like I was and my memories are surreally calm as I did what was necessary. I don't know exactly why I am like that but I think it was because I grew up poor in the north with my great grandparents, as my parents worked our way out of poverty. How that is related is we were not far from starvation underlying life but my great grandparents (born in the 1800s) had a way of living on their farm that assured survival if you followed through. It's hard to explain.
I've mined coal for 23 yrs. I've worked in mines that were 27 inches high and mines that are 16 feet high. Born and raised in Eastern KY . I've worked in KY WV Illinois and Indiana. Most ppl don't know the life of a coal miner and what we would do for our families. Which is why we do what we do.
My granddad worked in a coalmine for 13 years, everyday for 12 hours, 3300 feet beneath the ground. Now he has still charcoal etched in his lungs. Still happy he is here though, those were real working men.🙏
My granddad did 20+years, died in his 60s of a coal lung disease. Have a old black and white photo of him down deep in the mine. Told me many story's of it, sounded absolutely horrendous.
My Dad did the same. He had hands of leather. I was the first man in our family not to go down the mines. My Dad never forgot his 17 years on the coal face. He had some crazy stories. This made him and his pals real hard men.
My respect for your father. Jobs/careers and sacrifices we forget that exist. Your father and those miners make America. Being born and raised in Los Angeles we don't think of miners, oil refineries yeah here and there.
My dad just retired after 45 years underground. That's what I do now for work. I was a longwall shieldman for a few years, and now I do outby work at a room and pillar. If Rogan ever wanted to know how things used to be "in the old days" and how it's changed to today, my dad is the dude to talk to.
There's a coal mine that's been on fire since 1983 in Centralia PA. I've been there. You smell it all day & smoke comes out of the ground in different spots. Its a never ending burn that they can't figure out how to extinguish. Its out by Bloomsburg college. Centralia turned from a booming coal mine town to a ghost town almost overnight.
Burning since at least 1962, not 1983. Today.. it’s hard to find to notice any smell, or steam/smoke coming out.and it’s not out by bloom college…it’s about 25 minutes south of Bloom..
I worked in the mines for 9 years. Started right after high school. Worked 2006-2015. It was hard work but it also taught me to appreciate the job I have now. Teaches you what hard work is.
Like many others in here, my grandpa was a coal miner in the beautiful state of WV. Absolutely loved it. Mom’s side of the family has deep routes in WV, out in the middle of absolute nowhere. Spent the best 5 years of my life in Morgantown. Go Mountaineers!
My father was buried in a coal mine accident and now lives in pain. He became part of the opoid epidemic that targeted miners from the 90s and was also conned into taking a settlement deal which made our lives very difficult.
In case you were wondering: October Sky is based on the lives of four young men who grew up in Coalwood, West Virginia. Principal photography took place in rural East Tennessee, including Oliver Springs, Harriman and Kingston in Morgan and Roane counties. The film was a moderate box office success and received very positive critical reception; it continues to be celebrated in the regions of its setting and filming.
Great movie. I grew up around farmers in rural TN. These ppl keep our civilization moving but they are vilified now. Shame. I'm a factory worker and the politicians In cities and college young ones look down at us. They caused trump as they scream at the sky about him. They just needed to not forget us
Coal mining is terrible. I had a friend Derek, that lost his modeling gig and went to work the mines with his Dad. He had 'the black lung' after only a day!
I never worked in coal. I have worked in hardrock and gilsonite. I had friends in coal who wanted to take me underground. I had an open invitation ti work in coal. The fire that wiped out part of Boulder Colorado was caused by a burning coal seam that ignited grass and surface structures in extremely high wind. A coal seam can burn for hundreds or even thousands if years. I was shown one and could see it glow. It is west of Grand Junction Colorado next to I70.
My father worked 40 years underground in a WV coal mine, Federal No. 2 the same mine he mentioned. No clue who this dude is but this story is pretty wild to see on JRE.
I worked at Fed 2 for 35 years, it isn’t the mine he was talking about. The mines were about 8 miles apart Fed 2 was an Eastern mine Blacksville 2 the mine he meant was a Consol mine. We were all UMWA brothers. Solidarity Forever.
Came across Charles Wesley Godwin early in 2023, and he is an incredibly talented guy. I remember listening for the first time and being like "how is this guy not massive".. guess it was just a matter of time
My cousin, my grandfather and my great-grandfather worked in coal mines in southeast Ohio. My grandfather and his brother happened to be off work the day the Millfield mine exploded. Dozens of men were killed, one of the worst mine disasters in history.
My Great Grandfather, Grandfather and Father all worked in UK coal mines. My Great Grandfather died down a mine, my Grandfather died through bad blood circulation due to working in the coal mine and my Father had so many injuries he retired at 50. Luckily my Father is still going strong at 80 years old God bless. I have the great respect for coal miners.
My grandfather worked in mines in fife Scotland for over 40 years..he ended up being a mine (pit) trainer... retired in the 80s just before the strikes.
My dad worked in the uranium mines here in New Mexico in the late 70’s. I’ll remember those stories forever. I 100% respect my fellow hard working SOB’s! In memory of the hardest working man I’ll ever know, my dad. Love you dad we will meet again!
My dads generation was the first to not go into the coal mine, they went into the military and/or became truckers. My dad was a mechanic for the airlines, not to many people want to go into the mines, and for even more people, the mine is no longer an option. The poverty in steel and coal country is staggering, it’s not seen by politicians or ceos. If you care about our country, take a drive through Appalachia, and the mid west for that matter. Our nation needs help.
I was born in Southwestern Virginia in a coal camp. My father worked in the mines in the 40's, 50's and early sixties. I fully thought i was going to be a coal miner too, but due to strikes etc... my family had to move to Northern Virginia in 1964 on my twelfth birthday. Daddy then started working in construction and finally my parents were able to buy some land in Central Virginia where they built a house and raised hogs, chickens and a few cows. It was there dream come true and i am glad they were able to live their remaining years happy. I am also proud to be the son of a coal miner and a coal miner's wife. They were the salt of the earth. Thanks for this video. BTW, I have lots of cousins who still live in West Virginia. Not much mining being sone now and people really having it rough down there.
My dad has been a drag line operator at an open pit mine for 40 years and is getting ready to retire this year. Working coal is hard work. It pays well but it's hard shift work and lots of hours.
An uncle and cousin worked the mines in Kentucky. My uncle started after getting out of the Army in WW2. I had the chance to go to the entrance of one. This was a taller mine at I would guess 3-4 feet tall. The machines they drove in were wild. This short but wide truck. Mad respect for these men. I wouldn't want to even go in to check it out.
WV. Born and raised. Same as many others, alot of our family and friends were and still are miners. Risking life to support family and keel the world's lights on. God bless em all. 🙏
My great grand dad was a miner near Scranton, Pennsylvania. He died in a mine explosion. I've spent years trying to find out which mine, but no one who knows is alive. I can't find any paperwork as he didn't die in the mine, he was taken home and died at home. I am guessing the mine didn't official report it properly as he didn't die in the mine, but at home. This was the early 1900's.
@@KoopyspappyI was going to say that. 😂 Americans put ironic/ironically & sarcastic/sarcastically in every other sentence & it *never* makes sense lol
My grandfather worked in places exactly like what he describes in southeastern Kentucky/northeastern Tennessee for the same company. Terrible stuff. Luckily, he was able to buy his own business after about 5 or 6 years. RIP Papaw.
My cousin works in a Zinc mine in Jefferson, Tn and he used to drive a Sandvik which is a low profile dump truck and he said it's max speed is 13 MPH and it would take him 45 minutes to an hour to get to some spots in the mine going wide open throttle! It's unbelievable how huge it is and how far/deep they actually go!
I'm originally from Morgantown. My granddad was a miner in the '30s and '40s and he told me the horror stories about the mines. He became company carpenter after experiencing his third cave in. He lived in a company house and shopped at the company store. The mine companies controlled everything. Mine safety has come a long ways since his days. My dad did not work the mines, nor my uncle.
My Grandfather was a miner at Henderson Colorado he was the last miner in my family but he came from a long line of miners, Its such hard work and so underappreciated.
My grandfather & great grandfather worked in the coal mine in Kentucky in the 50's-60's. My great grandpa was completely crushed from a collapse killed instantly and his son had to clean up his remains and get him out to have a proper burial. A few years later my grampa got crushed by a trolly to the point they thought he would die on site. He broke every rib in his body and said his eyes were hanging out of his head, fortunately he survived he's was in the hospital for a little over a month and was almost good as new after recovery. He past away 2 years ago at age 78 which ain't too bad for a miner! I respect coal miners from the stories I was told as a kid, those men are built different than ordinary people. -thanks for reading a little piece of my family's story
Western Coal Mines are generally surface mines and the seam size is huge compared to the WV, VA, Kentucky area. My buddy worked at an Underground Mine with a crew that pulled the pillars. When they were actively mined a seamed, section of the seam were left to hold up the mine roof. When the seam was worked out, his crew would go back into the mine and recover the coal that remained in the pillars. There were roof falls on the mining machines and would often take hours to dig them out. After if took about 12 hours to dig him out of his second personal roof fall, he found a job above ground.
@@raymonddhedrick9587 I understand that too, but 40% of US production is Wyoming and EIA list no active Underground Mines in the State. North Dakota, Nevada, New Mexico are all predominately surface mines. www.eia.gov/coal/annual/pdf/acr.pdf
@@TheBamster00 3 million short tons underground in Wyoming, 235 million short tons surface mining. You are not correct. main.wsgs.wyo.gov/energy/coal/coal-production-mining
Grandpa worked the Pennsylvania coal mines since he was a small boy. Died of Black Lung. He was a tapper as his last position. A mountain of a man. I miss him so much.
Checking in from Morgantown WV Brother!! My dad actually designed the tipple and conveyor @ Blacksville №2 The huge one that you can see from the road !!They flew him all over the nation to design the same type of tipple!! I'm originally from Fairmont!! Graduated East Fairmont High 1985 !!
Stories like these illuminate the contributions of the men who laid the foundations of modern society. Ironically, while they are often underappreciated, their efforts were essential to the creation and sustenance of the society that tends to look down on them.
Joe Rogan should start picking out a different job and interview regular people from a different place each time! A good way to give a voice to the people of this great country of ours!
Charles "Coal miners are strong men" Joe "Do you think a coal miner could beat a chimp in a fight?" Charles "What? No. I just meant...." Joe "Jamie, pull up hairless jacked chimps so Charles can compare, please."
I’ve been on the surface of numerous mines across West Virginia and Kentucky for work and I still can’t figure out how these underground miners get around in low coal dragging their huge balls around with them all day. Much respect to you guys. Just from being on the surface and seeing some entry’s I know I never wanna go in one!
My Dad…his 8 Brothers…his Dad and all his Brothers…etc. all worked the underground coal mines of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada from mid 1800s to the 1990s.
1st and also a fellow West Virginia and a former coal miner from wheeling wv I worked for Murray Energy as a roof bolter! Hell yeah! Way to put WV on the map!’
That's because a lot of you don't chase big money lol. Coal mines and the oil and gas industry was some of the most lucrative business before Democrats fucked it up. Out of highschool I was making 160k a year in the oilfield.
My grandpa started in the coal mines in WV at 12yrs old for 25cents a day! He worked in a mine till he got black lung and the dr told him move away from the mines and he packed up and moved to Florida. He started in the mines in the early 30’s
My dad, both grandpas, 4 or 5 uncles, many cousins and friends worked in the coal mines. There are just a few who still ave a job. After Obama and Biden, they’re almost all gone here. Just a few scattered over East KY, WVA and VA are barely going. Miles under mountains, walking and crawling around with a wheat lamp on their heads. My grandpa actually used carbide lamps when he first started in the 40s. Dangerous and bad for your health.
Having worked UG at both a uranium mine and potash mine, and looking into the process of coal mining, man do I have respect for those miners. Safety now is insane in comparison to the time frame spoken off. Can’t even fart without writing a pre-op checklist.
Something not talked about is occasionally miners would go to the toilet on the conveyors, if you were unlucky you might find a turd from the previous guy working at a seam.
In some old school buildings that are about 100-150 years old you can sometimes find soot or coal extract in the duct system. This is because they used to have coal burning furnace systems between at least 1875-1925 (sometimes later) until other heat or energy systems were installed. A woman at our local book store said her father was an engineer at a local school and he used to shovel coal into the school system furnace system until the day he retired. She said he worked from about the 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's until the early 1970's when they made the modern heating or energy system conversions in the school.
Great interview! I pass through Centralia twice a year. There are two areas of steam that still exist today. One just a few feet north of the St Ignatius Cemetery and an area of steaming cliffs just east of Centralia off of Big Mine Run Rd. I did carbon monoxide tests in both areas and no CO was recorded which means it is either residual heat or the fire is far away. There is another fire burning 2 miles east of Centralia too, just a mile west of Raven Run. It may or may not connected
I've been to Centralia 3 times. It's pretty wild. They even had to reroute the highway around the town cause the section through town was collapsing. I've walked the old highway and walked through the neighborhoods. There's steam vents all over. You can feel the warmth and feel the moisture on your hand by the vent. People have been dumping trash there for decades, and it all just slowly cooks itself. The ground surface isn't warm to the touch, only near the vents. But there have been local collapses. I think a few people have fallen in over the years. Bodies in the cemeteries burned up, some were relocated. The entire area is really unsafe just to walk around. The last few residents were forced out only a few years back. The only thing left in the town, ironically, is an active fire station (at least it was active last time I was there).
My grandfather was a cool miner on Cabin Creek in West Virginia. He got out and moved to Florida, so that his kids didn't have to work in the mines. This past fall I had the chance to hunt up at the head waters of Cabin Creek and near KFord where he worked.
Many of my family worked in WV mines. My mom's dad was paralyzed neck down from a coal mine cave in. Think 7 kids in two bedroom home. Salt mines another one under the great lakes. Crazy stuff.
Thing I appreciate about Joe you can hear his concern when he’s listening to someone’s story good or bad you hear the concern or excitement probably helps the speaker too in terms of feeling comfortable enough to speak on certain issues.
Worked 45 years as a underground coal miner. You will never find a better group of men to work around. No matter what you had going on, they always had your back. Been retired for 3 years and still miss them ol boys.
I think you’ll find that any job in which your life is in danger generally creates tight knit groups of people
It’s finally completed: th-cam.com/video/HbM0cxyODpI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=80IUJtERN_aSa86F
Nobody cares
@@JoshRichardson-es6vxWrong. I do. These men did a job that most couldn’t or wouldn’t do. Show some respect.
@@JoshRichardson-es6vx bro mad at life get help
Underground miner here. Sleeping in my car watching this right now and it's below zero degrees. Looking forward to be home, but then will be back here at the mine after one day off.
As an underground miner in Colorado, thank you Joe. We need recognition. I do this for my family and to support my goals. For my country, for society to improve, and for my family.
Hard life, I wish others could understand a fraction.
What kind of employer makes their people sleep in their cars 😂😂
Be glad you even have a job, wow you're a hero who should be worshipped
Thank you for doing what you do 👏
You have to choose what you value most in life. Yes, giving your family security is a priority. But is it worth it if you never see them? I’m sure they’d rather have you there with them making memories than working OT to make sure they have their toys.
@@georgeherbertmoonwalkerbush Because of miners you have electricity
I have worked in a coal mine for 22 years and love it. There are some great hard working people who work here with me too. The sad part is that politicians have vilified us and what we do.
May God send you peace, joy and love!
Thanks for what you do! My grandfather was a cool miner immigrant from Italy until he became a rancher. Haa as td working men made this country!
god is not real stop it@@kellymc6812
Which politician has vilified coal miner? can you provide an example?
How do you feel about all the promises Trump made to coal miners and your families?
As a born and raised West Virginian, I have the highest respect to all coal miners. Such incredibly hard labor. We should all appreciate them more.
Nothing is in west Virginia
@@trteeerryfse-wy2ww Meth is still there
@@trteeerryfse-wy2ww your absolutely right! So stay away. I love absolutely nothing.
@@justing6594 stay away? Yeah no problem. I ran from that piece of shit.
@@justing6594 nothing except drugs and child molestation. Have fun in West Virginia
My Grand Dad, Dad and older brother were all coal miners back in Rachel West Virginia. They worked hard to see that I never had to work in the coal mines. Love and miss them so much.
My whole family grew up in the Beckley area, i grew up in Chapmanville moved to NC in 98. My whole childhood at least once a year, someone I went to school with would either loose their dad or would nearly loose their dad to a mining accident.
@@bretparker8533I live in beckley and it’s sad the area is full of drugs and violence.
It's finally completed th-cam.com/video/_Tfatf_rrS4/w-d-xo.html
assuming your brother isn't around anymore sorry for your loss.
@@HunterFraley304this country is being pushed towards annihilation from evil you’ll never understand or know exists.
My great grandfather died from black lung after working coal in Elkins, WV. My grandfather hitchhiked to Texas when he was 13 to seek out a better life for himself and his future family. Forever thankful for that decision he made over 60 years ago
My grandfather did the same thing from Wales. He lied and joined the UK navy at 16 fought in world war 1 then migrated to Australia
Route 92 tough!
@@LovelyLass-nb8opthat’s so cool. Our elders past story’s are underrated lol
I was the first male in my family that didn’t have to go underground in the coal mine , and I have the men that came before me to thank for that
Same with chemical refineries for me. No mines here but Generations of men before me paved the way. Similar grueling blue collar work. Spent some time out there... enough to finish college.
@@JAGO_Tech that’s our white privileged ancestors lol
@timedwards8171 my grandpa died, they couldn't believe he wasn't a Smoker. Lungs were black, never smoked. Hear the same about OG coal miners. HAHA! Yeah. Super privileged 👌
@@timedwards8171 so the narrative goes, my grandpa worked long hours on a dock and then fought in WW2, seeing his friends die in the process. so much for privelege
@@ABagOfLag White privilege doesn't exist. Our ancestors didn't get anything handed to them, they worked for what we've now got. It would be wise for those proclaiming white privilege to understand this, maybe they can change the future for their descendants.
My grandpa was in Normandy in WW2, came back home to Morgantown, WV and worked in a coal mine for 30+ years. One of his sons just retired from being a coal miner. The amount of respect I have for people that risk their lives for this type of work is infinitely high. So awesome seeing him wearing a Morgantown, WV hat
Amen....TOUCHDOWN CITY.
Being a waitress is harder
That’s awesome man, you must be proud of your grandpa! That’s a great legacy.
@ngf5077 you should write jokes for snl cause you're about as funny.. What an ignorant post.
@@batmansdad4978 try working as a waitress. It’s high pace and high stress. You would quit because it’s to hard for most people
My Dad worked in underground coal mines most of his life. He took me down into one as a twelve year old. Pretty intense environment to say the least. Saw the miner with the big teeth working, the hydro monitor and we eventually exited the mine on the conveyor belt, a massive no-no I assume but it was the a quick way out of the mine at shifts end. He is sadly trapped for eternity in the Pike River Mine in NZ with 28 other poor souls. It’s a hard knock life, that’s for sure.
Sorry to hear of your loss
I see dedication and heart in those guys. Folks may never know the struggles or the sacrifices made just to make a living in a coal mine. A special breed. Love and respect
No one is capable of understanding what these dudes go through. Mad respect
Unfortunately, most people don’t care.
@@BetaBuxDeluxliterally who tf cares
A lot of people are super capable of it. Go live
My brother works in a coal mine and says they sleep a lot down there and it’s easy work. I was going to join him but didn’t want to live around hillbillies
hey atleast you would know they werent soft liberals@@TheHarryDunne
My Daddy worked in 28” coal. He said you had to eat lunch on your side. My Papaw worked as an electrician in the mines, Uncles & Great uncles all made their living in there too. Some of the hardest working men ever. I’m thankful for all those men who made this country the great place it is. Proud Logan county, WV resident. 💙💛
Mine wars were a big part of labor movement.
I'm a fourth generation coal miner myself. I spent a few years on the mines before joining the Air Force. Everything I do today is informed by my experiences as a coal miner. I prefer data mining today as a cyber engineer, but certainly coal mining gave me an appreciation for all the generations in my family before me and what they went through to scrape out a living for us.
I'm in England. My Dad passed away recently. He worked on a farm from his mid teens into his 80's. He had so many stories and the scars and injuries to prove it. In his late 70s he had cancer for which he needed radiotherapy. He would book the earlest appointment the clinic had, have his treatment and then go do an 8-12 hour day depending on daylight. He worked so hard for so long. He loved the outdoors. His body did pay a price, I just hope mind is made of the same stuff. The guys and without being sexist because it is guys, these guys have something special within them.
Why u talking about farming?
Sorry for your loss my man
- Your father was a good father for sure! I'm sorry !
It's finally completed: th-cam.com/video/_Tfatf_rrS4/w-d-xo.html
Farmings a tough one too, and sexism isn’t relevant.. these men are incredible, and we need more of them.
I got a cousin who works in a mine, one days some trucks were back up and he got pinned between them. There was so much pressure being put on his knee it literally exploded and he was bleeding out in shock trying to keep calm so no one else would flip out and wrapped his leg with his shirt. Applied pressure and appearently thats what saved his life was keeping his calm, he says if he didn't keep his calm he wouldn't of been able to wrap his leg up & probably would of bleed out before the helicopter got there because he had to be air lifted out.
Luckily, I have the same disposition of not freaking out when bad shit goes down, every time it happened. As I look back it seems like I was and my memories are surreally calm as I did what was necessary. I don't know exactly why I am like that but I think it was because I grew up poor in the north with my great grandparents, as my parents worked our way out of poverty. How that is related is we were not far from starvation underlying life but my great grandparents (born in the 1800s) had a way of living on their farm that assured survival if you followed through. It's hard to explain.
I've mined coal for 23 yrs. I've worked in mines that were 27 inches high and mines that are 16 feet high. Born and raised in Eastern KY . I've worked in KY WV Illinois and Indiana. Most ppl don't know the life of a coal miner and what we would do for our families. Which is why we do what we do.
My granddad worked in a coalmine for 13 years, everyday for 12 hours, 3300 feet beneath the ground. Now he has still charcoal etched in his lungs.
Still happy he is here though, those were real working men.🙏
My granddad did 20+years, died in his 60s of a coal lung disease. Have a old black and white photo of him down deep in the mine. Told me many story's of it, sounded absolutely horrendous.
Glad I'm not a "real working man"
@@babybluesky9238why would you be glad about that lmfao
Yeah we don't need men like you doing real men jobs. That's how America got to where it is right now falling apart @@babybluesky9238
Mine died of black lung
My Dad did the same. He had hands of leather. I was the first man in our family not to go down the mines. My Dad never forgot his 17 years on the coal face. He had some crazy stories. This made him and his pals real hard men.
My respect for your father. Jobs/careers and sacrifices we forget that exist. Your father and those miners make America. Being born and raised in Los Angeles we don't think of miners, oil refineries yeah here and there.
My grandfather started working in the mines at 12, he was always a superhero to me.
My dad just retired after 45 years underground. That's what I do now for work. I was a longwall shieldman for a few years, and now I do outby work at a room and pillar. If Rogan ever wanted to know how things used to be "in the old days" and how it's changed to today, my dad is the dude to talk to.
Record your dad… so people know the real deal
Orrrr... You could record him as well so that his knowledge isn't lost to history. Doesn't have to just be joe rogan
there needs to be a similar veterans assosciation for miners, much more recognition needed for these brave souls.
Damn! Excited for more people to learn about Charles Wesley Godwin! One of my favorites! 🙌🏼
There's a coal mine that's been on fire since 1983 in Centralia PA. I've been there. You smell it all day & smoke comes out of the ground in different spots. Its a never ending burn that they can't figure out how to extinguish. Its out by Bloomsburg college. Centralia turned from a booming coal mine town to a ghost town almost overnight.
Burning since at least 1962, not 1983. Today.. it’s hard to find to notice any smell, or steam/smoke coming out.and it’s not out by bloom college…it’s about 25 minutes south of Bloom..
I worked in the mines for 9 years. Started right after high school. Worked 2006-2015. It was hard work but it also taught me to appreciate the job I have now. Teaches you what hard work is.
Like many others in here, my grandpa was a coal miner in the beautiful state of WV. Absolutely loved it. Mom’s side of the family has deep routes in WV, out in the middle of absolute nowhere. Spent the best 5 years of my life in Morgantown. Go Mountaineers!
My father was buried in a coal mine accident and now lives in pain. He became part of the opoid epidemic that targeted miners from the 90s and was also conned into taking a settlement deal which made our lives very difficult.
Can you explain how he was conned?
@mochimilan can you?
In case you were wondering:
October Sky is based on the lives of four young men who grew up in Coalwood, West Virginia. Principal photography took place in rural East Tennessee, including Oliver Springs, Harriman and Kingston in Morgan and Roane counties. The film was a moderate box office success and received very positive critical reception; it continues to be celebrated in the regions of its setting and filming.
Great movie. I grew up around farmers in rural TN. These ppl keep our civilization moving but they are vilified now. Shame. I'm a factory worker and the politicians In cities and college young ones look down at us. They caused trump as they scream at the sky about him. They just needed to not forget us
I remember this movie as a kid. One of the good ones. Would be worth another watch as a 38 year old.
Coal mining is terrible. I had a friend Derek, that lost his modeling gig and went to work the mines with his Dad. He had 'the black lung' after only a day!
Dude, I spit out my lunch reading that. Took me a second. LOL.
Mer MAN!
Freaking hilarious
I never worked in coal. I have worked in hardrock and gilsonite. I had friends in coal who wanted to take me underground. I had an open invitation ti work in coal. The fire that wiped out part of Boulder Colorado was caused by a burning coal seam that ignited grass and surface structures in extremely high wind. A coal seam can burn for hundreds or even thousands if years. I was shown one and could see it glow. It is west of Grand Junction Colorado next to I70.
That’s awesome. Definitely gonna look that up
My father worked 40 years underground in a WV coal mine, Federal No. 2 the same mine he mentioned. No clue who this dude is but this story is pretty wild to see on JRE.
I commissioned and worked on a coal analyzer at Fed 2 back in the day.
I worked at Fed 2 for 35 years, it isn’t the mine he was talking about. The mines were about 8 miles apart Fed 2 was an Eastern mine Blacksville 2 the mine he meant was a Consol mine. We were all UMWA brothers. Solidarity Forever.
Asked if he knew Rhubarb?
CWG is finally gonna blow up. Saw him in a venue of just 200 people and feel very lucky to have experienced that. Dude puts on a hell of a show
It's finally completed th-cam.com/video/Tl_Tfatf_rr4/w-d-xo.htmlS
It's finally completed: th-cam.com/video/_Tfatf_rrS4/w-d-xo.html
Came across Charles Wesley Godwin early in 2023, and he is an incredibly talented guy. I remember listening for the first time and being like "how is this guy not massive".. guess it was just a matter of time
I just saw him open for Trampled by Turtles. I knew he was going to get big very soon.
Morgantownian here….hes the hometown kid! It’s great to watch him finally make it. He deserves everything happening!
Crazy to hear about federal 2, my grandpa was mine rescue ar loveridge and federal 2 from 60s to 90s. My other grandpa worked security at federal 2.
My cousin, my grandfather and my great-grandfather worked in coal mines in southeast Ohio. My grandfather and his brother happened to be off work the day the Millfield mine exploded. Dozens of men were killed, one of the worst mine disasters in history.
Just listening to the description of this is getting my anxiety going. God bless these MEN!
I'm a coal miner in Utah and I have seen coal seams from 5 feet thick to 40 feet think and mines that are 20 miles of entry
Are public tours of Utah coal mines possible?
@DeathValleyDazed ya some mines do tours but it's mostly just for family members of employees or state politicians
@@Clawson_customs Thanks for reply.
My Great Grandfather, Grandfather and Father all worked in UK coal mines. My Great Grandfather died down a mine, my Grandfather died through bad blood circulation due to working in the coal mine and my Father had so many injuries he retired at 50. Luckily my Father is still going strong at 80 years old God bless. I have the great respect for coal miners.
My grandfather worked in mines in fife Scotland for over 40 years..he ended up being a mine (pit) trainer... retired in the 80s just before the strikes.
My dad worked in the uranium mines here in New Mexico in the late 70’s. I’ll remember those stories forever. I 100% respect my fellow hard working SOB’s! In memory of the hardest working man I’ll ever know, my dad. Love you dad we will meet again!
Nothing compared to being a stand up comedian, hardest job there is. Only a thousand of em'!
My dads generation was the first to not go into the coal mine, they went into the military and/or became truckers. My dad was a mechanic for the airlines, not to many people want to go into the mines, and for even more people, the mine is no longer an option. The poverty in steel and coal country is staggering, it’s not seen by politicians or ceos. If you care about our country, take a drive through Appalachia, and the mid west for that matter. Our nation needs help.
The coal and steel industry is almost the exact same story. I fear we have a lot more of that in our future with automation becoming so advanced.
I was born in Southwestern Virginia in a coal camp. My father worked in the mines in the 40's, 50's and early sixties. I fully thought i was going to be a coal miner too, but due to strikes etc... my family had to move to Northern Virginia in 1964 on my twelfth birthday. Daddy then started working in construction and finally my parents were able to buy some land in Central Virginia where they built a house and raised hogs, chickens and a few cows. It was there dream come true and i am glad they were able to live their remaining years happy. I am also proud to be the son of a coal miner and a coal miner's wife. They were the salt of the earth. Thanks for this video. BTW, I have lots of cousins who still live in West Virginia. Not much mining being sone now and people really having it rough down there.
I have quite few family who have passed from black lung in those mines! Their hard work kept me from being in those mines, god bless them!
Former Coal miner here Checkin in!!! Shout-out to all my Brothers and Sisters!!!
God bless the coal miners, I couldn't fathom doing that work. Peter Santanello posts when he visited Coal Country were excellent!!
Gawd
My dad has been a drag line operator at an open pit mine for 40 years and is getting ready to retire this year. Working coal is hard work. It pays well but it's hard shift work and lots of hours.
They did it in drag? Wow progressive even back then
An uncle and cousin worked the mines in Kentucky. My uncle started after getting out of the Army in WW2. I had the chance to go to the entrance of one. This was a taller mine at I would guess 3-4 feet tall. The machines they drove in were wild. This short but wide truck. Mad respect for these men. I wouldn't want to even go in to check it out.
WV. Born and raised. Same as many others, alot of our family and friends were and still are miners. Risking life to support family and keel the world's lights on. God bless em all. 🙏
My great grand dad was a miner near Scranton, Pennsylvania. He died in a mine explosion. I've spent years trying to find out which mine, but no one who knows is alive. I can't find any paperwork as he didn't die in the mine, he was taken home and died at home. I am guessing the mine didn't official report it properly as he didn't die in the mine, but at home. This was the early 1900's.
Working in a Coal Mine is unironically one of the most tiring & difficult jobs you can work.
I work on an oil rig. Same thing too.
Mans work!!!!💯💪🏾
@@KoopyspappyI was going to say that. 😂 Americans put ironic/ironically & sarcastic/sarcastically in every other sentence & it *never* makes sense lol
My grandfather worked 32 years inside coal mines and drove a coal truck 12 more. Born in 1916 passed in 2007 miss him every day
My cousin is on the Mine Rescue team, and was the guy who found the miners in the Sago mine, where they all passed except the 17 year old.
My grandfather worked in places exactly like what he describes in southeastern Kentucky/northeastern Tennessee for the same company. Terrible stuff. Luckily, he was able to buy his own business after about 5 or 6 years. RIP Papaw.
My cousin works in a Zinc mine in Jefferson, Tn and he used to drive a Sandvik which is a low profile dump truck and he said it's max speed is 13 MPH and it would take him 45 minutes to an hour to get to some spots in the mine going wide open throttle! It's unbelievable how huge it is and how far/deep they actually go!
I knew two guys that prob worked at the same mine.....was it called Near Star
@@andyh2783 Yeah Nyrstar Coy mine! He said it's massive down there!
@PureTruth1970 yeah okay nyrstar....I'm from Ky bout two hours away from there
@@andyh2783 I'm from Kentucky also, grew up in Middlesboro!
@PureTruth1970 oh cool I'm from pike County KY
I'm originally from Morgantown. My granddad was a miner in the '30s and '40s and he told me the horror stories about the mines. He became company carpenter after experiencing his third cave in. He lived in a company house and shopped at the company store. The mine companies controlled everything. Mine safety has come a long ways since his days. My dad did not work the mines, nor my uncle.
My Grandfather was a miner at Henderson Colorado he was the last miner in my family but he came from a long line of miners, Its such hard work and so underappreciated.
Californiarado
I've been following Joe's updates on AWT77K, and it's fascinating how it might redefine our technological landscape.
As a gold miner myself. I know for a fact big companies still put profit before safety all the time!!
My grandfather & great grandfather worked in the coal mine in Kentucky in the 50's-60's. My great grandpa was completely crushed from a collapse killed instantly and his son had to clean up his remains and get him out to have a proper burial. A few years later my grampa got crushed by a trolly to the point they thought he would die on site. He broke every rib in his body and said his eyes were hanging out of his head, fortunately he survived he's was in the hospital for a little over a month and was almost good as new after recovery. He past away 2 years ago at age 78 which ain't too bad for a miner!
I respect coal miners from the stories I was told as a kid, those men are built different than ordinary people.
-thanks for reading a little piece of my family's story
Anytime I hear or see anything about a coal mine, I immediately think of October Sky. Such a great film!
We need the Colter Wall podcast ASAP !
Western Coal Mines are generally surface mines and the seam size is huge compared to the WV, VA, Kentucky area. My buddy worked at an Underground Mine with a crew that pulled the pillars. When they were actively mined a seamed, section of the seam were left to hold up the mine roof. When the seam was worked out, his crew would go back into the mine and recover the coal that remained in the pillars. There were roof falls on the mining machines and would often take hours to dig them out. After if took about 12 hours to dig him out of his second personal roof fall, he found a job above ground.
Retreat mining
Colorado, Utah and parts of Wyoming all had UG mines
@@raymonddhedrick9587 I understand that too, but 40% of US production is Wyoming and EIA list no active Underground Mines in the State. North Dakota, Nevada, New Mexico are all predominately surface mines. www.eia.gov/coal/annual/pdf/acr.pdf
Western coal mines are generally underground mine, yes there are surface coal mines, but the vast majority are underground.
@@TheBamster00 3 million short tons underground in Wyoming, 235 million short tons surface mining. You are not correct. main.wsgs.wyo.gov/energy/coal/coal-production-mining
Grandpa worked the Pennsylvania coal mines since he was a small boy. Died of Black Lung. He was a tapper as his last position. A mountain of a man. I miss him so much.
Checking in from Morgantown WV Brother!! My dad actually designed the tipple and conveyor @ Blacksville №2 The huge one that you can see from the road !!They flew him all over the nation to design the same type of tipple!! I'm originally from Fairmont!! Graduated East Fairmont High 1985 !!
Stories like these illuminate the contributions of the men who laid the foundations of modern society. Ironically, while they are often underappreciated, their efforts were essential to the creation and sustenance of the society that tends to look down on them.
Gawd bless Murica 🤓 🖕
Joe Rogan should start picking out a different job and interview regular people from a different place each time! A good way to give a voice to the people of this great country of ours!
Theo Von does this
As a UPS driver I’ll start😂
Basically like what Mike Rowe did with "Dirty Jobs". But more in-depth..
Gawd bless Murica 🤓 🖕
Im talking about people from all walks of life. From the common homeless man to the janitor at the courthouse. Lottery style!
JOE, YOU NEED TO HAVE "MANDATORY FUN DAY" ON! TOTALLY HILARIOUS AND SUPPORTING THE TROOPS!
My dad born in 1902 started working in a coal mine in PA at the age of 9 yrs to help feed the kids. Same mine his dad was killed in.
We are in such a different world because they did what was needed💪🏽✅
Wha ... 😅 Now we got kids and old ladies mine for your kolbolt😂😂
Speak for yourself
@@firstlast8258 no, I think I’ll actually speak only speak for you, from now on🤌🏾😂
Charles "Coal miners are strong men"
Joe "Do you think a coal miner could beat a chimp in a fight?"
Charles "What? No. I just meant...."
Joe "Jamie, pull up hairless jacked chimps so Charles can compare, please."
I’ve been on the surface of numerous mines across West Virginia and Kentucky for work and I still can’t figure out how these underground miners get around in low coal dragging their huge balls around with them all day. Much respect to you guys. Just from being on the surface and seeing some entry’s I know I never wanna go in one!
My Dad…his 8 Brothers…his Dad and all his Brothers…etc. all worked the underground coal mines of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada from mid 1800s to the 1990s.
1st and also a fellow West Virginia and a former coal miner from wheeling wv I worked for Murray Energy as a roof bolter! Hell yeah! Way to put WV on the map!’
Aye I pumped some seals for y’all a few years ago. Shout out from Pike Co.
@@unclemandragon5670 hell yeah!! I was at the McElroy mine Cameron portal! Good stuff man!!
If not for this video, I never would've known that working in a mine was tough.
That's because a lot of you don't chase big money lol. Coal mines and the oil and gas industry was some of the most lucrative business before Democrats fucked it up. Out of highschool I was making 160k a year in the oilfield.
@@sebastianwhiteside5995oil and gas is still lucrative😂
At least in Norway..
2 weeks on job 12 hours.
4 weeks vacation.
Easily 90k $ salary yearly
Tough is a dramatic understatement, this is the kind of work that will absolutely break most men
@@sebastianwhiteside5995dumb AF. Our nuclear plant provides many more jobs than our coal plant ever did. Thanks democrats
My dad has worked in a coal mine for 20 years.. he did it to raise me and I'll forever be grateful to him for that, he's the hardest worker i know.
Need to watch this every morning before my 9-5 job. Makes me more grateful for what I do
Coal mining is so hard my grandfather told stories of mining coal and his buddies getting trapped in coal mines
The company stooooooooore!
My mom's family worked the coal mines in Harlan, Ky. in the 60s. They all moved to Detroit to work in the auto factories. Both are hellish jobs.
My grandpa started in the coal mines in WV at 12yrs old for 25cents a day! He worked in a mine till he got black lung and the dr told him move away from the mines and he packed up and moved to Florida. He started in the mines in the early 30’s
The company stoooooore!
My dad, both grandpas, 4 or 5 uncles, many cousins and friends worked in the coal mines. There are just a few who still ave a job. After Obama and Biden, they’re almost all gone here. Just a few scattered over East KY, WVA and VA are barely going. Miles under mountains, walking and crawling around with a wheat lamp on their heads. My grandpa actually used carbide lamps when he first started in the 40s. Dangerous and bad for your health.
Dude Reagan shut the mines down in the 80s I know I was working in the in mines in wv at the time
Love the hat.....Gene's Beer Garden....a true Morgantown, WV staple.
Having worked UG at both a uranium mine and potash mine, and looking into the process of coal mining, man do I have respect for those miners. Safety now is insane in comparison to the time frame spoken off. Can’t even fart without writing a pre-op checklist.
Joe has literally never had a real job and has been rich since 20 years old. Just remember that
If you get paid, it's a real job. Otherwise, you're just volunteering.
Something not talked about is occasionally miners would go to the toilet on the conveyors, if you were unlucky you might find a turd from the previous guy working at a seam.
In some old school buildings that are about 100-150 years old you can sometimes find soot or coal extract in the duct system. This is because they used to have coal burning furnace systems between at least 1875-1925 (sometimes later) until other heat or energy systems were installed. A woman at our local book store said her father was an engineer at a local school and he used to shovel coal into the school system furnace system until the day he retired. She said he worked from about the 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's until the early 1970's when they made the modern heating or energy system conversions in the school.
Illinois basin UG miner here, well used to be. 10yrs, nothing I'd ever want to do again, but weirdly will always remember fondly.
Great interview! I pass through Centralia twice a year. There are two areas of steam that still exist today. One just a few feet north of the St Ignatius Cemetery and an area of steaming cliffs just east of Centralia off of Big Mine Run Rd. I did carbon monoxide tests in both areas and no CO was recorded which means it is either residual heat or the fire is far away. There is another fire burning 2 miles east of Centralia too, just a mile west of Raven Run. It may or may not connected
My dad has gone back to a mine, freaking loves it always been a hard worker.
I worked in a 48” coal mine in western NC back in the early 90’s as an electrician. I lasted two weeks and knew I needed to do something different.
I've been to Centralia 3 times. It's pretty wild. They even had to reroute the highway around the town cause the section through town was collapsing. I've walked the old highway and walked through the neighborhoods. There's steam vents all over. You can feel the warmth and feel the moisture on your hand by the vent. People have been dumping trash there for decades, and it all just slowly cooks itself. The ground surface isn't warm to the touch, only near the vents. But there have been local collapses. I think a few people have fallen in over the years. Bodies in the cemeteries burned up, some were relocated. The entire area is really unsafe just to walk around. The last few residents were forced out only a few years back. The only thing left in the town, ironically, is an active fire station (at least it was active last time I was there).
My grandfather was a cool miner on Cabin Creek in West Virginia. He got out and moved to Florida, so that his kids didn't have to work in the mines. This past fall I had the chance to hunt up at the head waters of Cabin Creek and near KFord where he worked.
Many of my family worked in WV mines. My mom's dad was paralyzed neck down from a coal mine cave in. Think 7 kids in two bedroom home.
Salt mines another one under the great lakes. Crazy stuff.
My oldest brother mines for Consol. Pretty cool to listen to this interview.
Thing I appreciate about Joe you can hear his concern when he’s listening to someone’s story good or bad you hear the concern or excitement probably helps the speaker too in terms of feeling comfortable enough to speak on certain issues.
I did it for 14 years moved on to a new job for better family life but I miss my friends and the work every day.
I can honestly say that there is no way I would do that. All respect to all those men that do work in those mines.
Much respect to these men and women who do this day in day out!
I’m from east ky where the real deep mines are. I wish people like this talked about mines more and gave us the credit we truly deserve.
Shoutout from Morgantown!! Let’s gooooo, Mountaineers!!!!!!