Page 23 - MY STORY

did make nickel/cobalt alloy fasteners for jet engines used

by the military, as well as copper-based fasteners used in
other critical defense industries. The draft board made it
clear that there were plenty of engineers that could handle

the slack while I served in the Army, and my request for
deferment was denied.

I was 1-A in the draft, and shortly received a
report-for-duty date for early November. Goodbye H.M.
Harper. At least I know that when I got out of the service,

I could get my job back. It was the law!

SERVICE: 1950-1954

Damned if was going to get drafted into the Army, march
with a heavy pack, and shoot at North Koreans! Even if

only for two years. Instead, I decided to join the Air
Force, become a fighter jock and officer, even if it took
four years of my life away from being an engineer. The

recruiting sergeant was confident that I would be in
Officer Candidate School (OCS) shortly after my
enlistment, and I would have no problems getting what I

wanted. Lord, was I naive.