Engineer Memoirs
starting salary of 5 a month under a two-year program. The 5 a month was for
the first six months, then 5 for the second six months, and about 5, as I
remember, for the second year. This was one of the most attractive programs offered
to seniors at the University of Illinois at that time.
Q ..
They were based in Illinois, weren't they?
They were based in Peoria. As a comparative thing, the offer which I got from GE in
A
the same type of training program was a month to work in Schenectady, New
York. While I had applied for an appointment in the Army Corps of Engineers through
this program, I was also actively pursuing civilian employment. I felt that what I really
wanted to do was industrial production. I was very attracted to the Caterpillar program
and, as I say, had accepted their offer without knowing what would result from the
application to the Corps.
I also had been scheduled to receive a Reserve commission as a second lieutenant
through the ROTC program. I had planned to go to summer camp as soon as
graduation was over in late June, and to do my two-week tour and therefore be exempt
additional camp requirements for five years. This was the program at that time for
those in the Reserves. I planned to get this out of the way and then go to work for
Caterpillar early in July. That was my plan.
I graduated in early June and went to Camp Custer, Michigan, shortly thereafter (about
mid-June). While I was at Custer, in late June, I got a telegram from the War
Department that said I was offered a commission in the Corps of Engineers Regular
Army effective 1 July. So my problem then was to decide whether to go into the Army
or go to work for the Caterpillar Tractor Company. It was a major decision. I had met
my wife-to-be at the university. The fact is we had started going together in the spring
of my freshman year.
Q.
You are referring to
Jontz?
A
Jontz from
Illinois. She had graduated ahead of me and was then
working for International Harvester Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. As a part of my
attempt to make up my mind, I got on the train and went to Indianapolis to meet with
her. Airplanes not being available in those days, it took some time. But we had a
meeting of several hours to discuss the alternatives. I remembered my experience as I
had seen the Corps operate in the lower Mississippi Valley area. I also talked very
seriously with the Professor of Military Science and Tactics from the University of
Illinois, who was also at camp.
Q ..
Do you remember who he was?
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