Message #1984505

[mitlen]

Worked on the Manhattan Project, first at Columbia and then at Oak Ridge. 

Dad was a chemistry major (class of '42) who went to work setting up TNT plants (and playing semi-pro basketball as a 6' 2" center), first in Illinois and then at Niagara Falls.  I guess he gained some expertise in weapons production lines, so he was given an opportunity to volunteer for an undisclosed project. He of course said I like it here, what if I don't volunteer, to which the response was "we'll draft you and pay you less."  Convinced, he first ended up working at the test pile at Columbia then went down to Oak Ridge to set up the gaseous diffusion line.  He more or less was a production supervisor and trouble shooter, but he got to work with a couple of guys with Nobels.  Grandma got to know a few of them; they liked her strudel (a recipe that's lost ).

Thanks for the follow-up JCA.