Dad was on first-name basis with Arthur Baron, creator of Artie's Potato Chips. This brand was big in Indianapolis until the conglomerates bought up or wiped out the little companies. John was working there as deliveryman, when Bill thought he would like to work there also. His job was to lift 100 pound bags of potatoes and dump them into a wash vat. From there the potatoes went into a peeler and then into a slicer. His salary was $11.00 per week, but he worked there for a year in hopes of better opportunities, but none came along.

At about this point his chemistry and homeroom teacher, Lois Martin, contacted Bill. She wanted him to chauffeur her to the East coast, which he did: to New York, Boston and Niagara Falls.

Following this he worked at the Richardson Rubber Company, handling slabs of hot, slippery rubber, which he characterized as a "tough dirty job". His wages were $ 18.00 per week. This lasted a year until he was laid off.

His next job was at Lucas Harold, now the Naval Avionics facility, where he worked as a machinist. The company sent him to work in New York to machine parts for the new Norden bomb sight. At this time he was making $63.00 per week.

He attempted to enlist in the Navy after Pearl Harbor, but was rejected for a hydrocele, of which he was unaware. He then applied for aviation cadet, but heard nothing until drafted. At that time his application was accepted, in June 1943. Testing of the candidates determined how they should be placed, whether as pilot, navigator or bombardier. He went into navigation. Schooling followed schooling all over, which included bombardiering, communications, dead reckoning, etc. He even learned to fly a Piper Cub.

When World War II ended, he still had not been overseas or in combat. Traditionally any officer remaining in service had a tough time advancing in grade. He was captain at this time. After World War I, many officers who stayed in were demoted 2 grades to sergeant. My instructor in the ROTC at Shortridge High School had been a captain and was then a staff sergeant. After Pearl Harbor he went back in as major.

During a delay in route between assignments, Bill was with some other officers. A soldier back from a combat area was enraged to see Air Corps officers with no theater ribbons or decorations. Having too much to drink in him, he struck Bill in the face breaking his nose. The others put him down and turned him over to the MP's. Bill was present at his court-martial at which the offender was sentenced to six months in the brig for striking an officer.

- end part three -