Jacob H. Douma
experience as Chief of Engineering Divisions. Slichter came from the Missouri River
Division. Wendell Johnson, I forget where he came from.
Missouri River Division.
Omaha, didn't he?
A:
He was Chief of the Engineering Division there, and had good training, too. Everyone
thought that Wendell was a very nice person. He was easy to talk to, liked to joke, and
always gave you a fair shake. He liked to discuss and solve engineering problems
Slichter was a little harsher. Lower grade engineers didn't go out of their way to talk
about the weather, or things like that, with him. Discussions of engineering problems with
him frequently were brief because he would find solutions quickly.
Wendell always had a very nice personality. Most people would say that Slichter is all
right, but his personality's a little rough. That's my assessment.
What were the major issues in the organization of the Engineering Division when you
were there? You talked about your own branch and its evolution, and the creation of an
Hydraulics Hydrology [H&H] Branch. Were there any other significant major
reorganizations in the Engineering Division during your time?
A:
The Hydraulic, Hydrology, and Structural Branches were restructured, but that wasn't a
major thing. The major restructuring came after I left the Corps, about ten years ago.
The Civil Works' Engineering Division did all of the engineering design, but shortly after
I left the Corps, a military directorate [Directorate of Engineering and Construction] was
established. I think the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works initiated the
change, because he wanted the Civil Works' Engineering Division to be limited to Civil
Works projects.
Lloyd Duscha was Director of the Engineering Division for Civil Works. When all of the
military engineering and construction was placed in the new military directorate, Duscha
went with them, because they made him deputy director of this Military Engineering
Division [Directorate of Engineering and Construction]. This was a promotion for him.
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