0
DRAFTED CHEMISTS AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERS A T THE ARMY CHEMICAL CENTER DUNCAN MACRAE Army Chemical Center, Maryland
LIFEas a private,
lectures. However, in September, 1952, there were about 1000 enlisted specialists at the Army Chemical Center and at the last meeting an audience of 600 of them Elled all seats and standing room in the largest auditorium available at the Army Chemical Center. In addition to providing a series of lectures of general interest to scientists and engineers, the Club has organized a placement service to aid in returning its members to civilian occupations promptly on the expiration of their term of active duty. A committee was formed on April 24, 1952, with Pfc. James H. Fisher as Chairman, to operate the placement service. By the end of September, representatives of 60 governmental and industrial organizations had interviewed prospective employees at the Army Chemical Center. An equal number of smaller companies had sent literature and application forms for distribution to the group. The service was open to all enlisted scientists and engineers and was used by nearly all of the 200 or more returning to civilian life between August. 31 and December 31, 1952. In establishing this placement service, the members of the club not only promoted their own interests, but also anticipated a much more general need. Since the service was begun at the Army Chemical Center, similar organizations have been established at ten other Army Posts. General Creasy has received many letters complimenting the Chemical Center and the enlisted specialists on the operation of the service and calling attention to its great value to industry during the present shortage of qualified technical employees. It has been of similar value to the government. Approximately 35 soldiers now on active duty in the Laboratories of the Chemical Corps a t the Army Chemical Center have decided to stay on in the same location after their discharge. All of the enlisted specialists at the Army Chemical Center, who are doing satisfactory work, have been encouraged to apply for similar positions as civilians. It has been gratifying to the Chemical Corps to see that many of its soldier-scientists have decided that the Corps offers them an excellent future. The present officers of the Club are: Pfc. Eric W. Kjellmark, Jr. (Cornell), Chairman; Pfc. Floyd K. Swope, Jr. (Case), Vice-chairman; and Paul A. F. Mourier-Peterson (M. I. T ) Secretary-Treasurer. New members of the Executive Committee include: Pfc. John J. Schrock (Pittsburgh), Chairman Placement See "Potomac Postscripts" Chem. Eng. News, 30, 1710 (April 28,1952), and Department of thc Army Special Regulation Committee; Pfc. Delbert Cunningham (Colorado); Pfc. William A. Spartin (Illinois); Pfc. Donn R. Hoer615-25-11.
private first class, or even a corporal in the United States Army will probably never be popular with drafted college graduates, but a group of chemical engineers assigned to duty at the Army Chemical Center have done much to make their off-duty hours pleasant and profitable both for themselves and others. By December, 1951, there were about 700 draftees assigned to technical duties a t the Army Chemical Center under the Army's Scientific and Professional Personnel Program.' Two of t h e m 4 p l . John M. Ward, a graduate of the University of Delaware and Pfc. Kenneth L. Vander Voort, a graduate of Purdue University-conceived the idea of forming a Chemical Engineering Club with the hope that it would eventually become a local section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. I n reply to a request for advice, Thomas H. Chilton, President of the A. I. Ch. E., wrote them a letter encouraging their idea and sent copies of it to Professor H. F. Johnstone of the University of Illinois and Dr. A. P. Colburn, Provost of the University of Delaware, both members of the A. I. Ch. E. They brought the matter to the attention of the Commanding General of the Army Chemical Center, Brigadier General William M. Creasy (also a member). He approved the plan and has since taken a personal interest in the group. At the first meeting of the Club on March 12, 1952, Cpl. Ward and Pfc. Vander Voort were elected Chairman and Co-Chairman, respectively, and Pfc. William A. Meyer, Jr. (Johns Hopkins University), was elected secretary. The following Executive Committee was appointed: Pfc. Paul F. Oreffice (Purdue), Pfc. Lawrence C. Bartlett (Iowa), Cpl. James P. Kelleher (Newark College of Engineering), Pfc. Walter J. Ludlow (Cincinnati), Pfc. Vance B. Brown (Purdue), Pfc. Peter J. Comerford (Rensselaer), and Pfc. James H . Fisher (Georgia I. T.). Chairmen of other committees were: Program, Pfc. Joseph B. Duma (Rose P. I.); Publicity, Pfc. William F. Heneghan (Columbia); Membership, Pfc. Philip J. Ripepi (Pittsburgh). At subsequent meetings there have been talks by the following: Thomas H. Chilton, "Why is an engineering society?"; Sidney D. Kirkpatrick, "Professional progress and problems"; Glenn T. Seahorg, "The transuranium elements." All interested persons a t the Army Chemical Center were invited to attend these
JANUARY, 1953
auf (Michigan) ; Sgt. William Prewitt (Michigan State); Pfc. Robert J. Frey, Jr. (Detroit), Chairman Membership Committee; Pfc. Gabriel Alexander (Tufts); Pfc. Norman L. Perry (Cooper Union), Cbairman Publicity Committee. The Club plans to continue its series of lectures. On October 21st its'placement service began a new three-months series of appointments for employers to interview those to be discharged between January 1and May 1, 1953.
39
The members of the Club are naturally much interested in the scientific manpower situation as it effects them now and as it will affect them during the next few years. They have good reason to keep up with the latest changes in the laws and regulations which affect young scientists and engineers. We believe that when they return to civil life throughout the country they will have some valuable ideas to contribute to discussions of the proper utilization of our national resources in scientific manpower.
