Page 22 - MY STORY
P. 22
My confidence was sort of shattered when I was assigned
the job to create a new wet chemistry analytical lab.
There were some high alloying element concentrations
that spectroscopy could not accurately determine, and wet
chemistry analysis was the only way to perform that
function. My problem was that chemistry was one of the
most hated, reviled and poorly graded set of courses in
my college curriculum, in spite of having to take three
years of that subject. I sort of knew what I had to do, but
did not relish the thought of doing it – for fear of failing
miserably. My managers would discover my
incompetence!
There were a few incidents along the way to the lab
creation that destroyed some clothing and shoes, but
ultimately the lab was created and I was able to work up
the detailed processes for performing the needed wet
chemistry analyses to enter into our certification
documents. I ended up feeling pretty good about the
whole thing.
The dark cloud of the Korean conflict entered my life
when I received a military draft selection notice in the
mail in October 1950. I figured that I might be able to get
a deferment based on doing defense work at Harper. We
