The Manhattan Project Heritage Preservation Association, Inc.
"Preserving, Exhibiting, Interpreting and Teaching the History of the Manhattan Project"
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The Manhattan Project Heritage Preservation Association, Inc. "Preserving, Exhibiting, Interpreting and Teaching the History of the Manhattan Project" |
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| In conjunction with our commitment to the Veteran History Project of the Library of Congress, we proudly present the Veterans of the Manhattan Project. Below are the personal histories of 12 of these veterans. Please "click" on a name below to go directly to that veteran's section or simply page down to view them all. Please "click" here to go to the Veteran Archives Directory. |
Manhattan Project Veteran Archives
Archive Section
11 of 50
11-1
| Name:
White, Lawrence G. |
Table | Location: Los Alamos, NM Assigned Unit: Military Police, Sgt. Job/Position: Provost Marshall's Office Dates of Service (if Known): 6/46 to 9/47 Information Submitted By: Lawrence G. White Archival Record #: LA-MP-WHIL-1002 | Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
I was recruited for this project out of basic training at Camp Lee,
Virginia. I was first assigned to regular guard duty as an MP. After a few
months I was assigned to the Provost Marshal's Office as a clerk. Captain
Harry D. Wise was the Provost Marshall. I worked in the office with the
Special Investigators and the Motor Patrol Officers. I was able to play
baseball with the Los Alamos Bombers and also with the MP basketball team.
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11-2
| Name:
Schoke, James A. |
Table | Location: Univ. of Chicago - Met Lab Assigned Unit: Military - SED Job/Position: Physicist Dates of Service (if Known): 9/43 to 2/46 Information Submitted By:
Archival Record #: ML-SD-SCHJ-1002 | Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
My responsibilities: Initially, design, development and construction
of electronic radiation detection and measurement instruments, also
special instruments for experimental physicists. Later, I provided
liaison, instruction on the use and maintenance of instruments, developed
at the Metallurgical Laboratory to many of the other sites; e.g. Oak
Ridge, Los Alamos, Monsanto-Dayton, Mallinckrodt Chem.-St. Louis, etc. My specialty: Design and development of electronic measurement instruments. Main contribution: Providing training on the use and maintenance
of equipment developed by me and others in the Instrument Dept of the
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11-3
| Name:
Sharp, Warren A. |
Table | Location: Oak Ridge, TN Assigned Unit: Civilian - Scientific Job/Position: Chemical Engineer - K25 Dates of Service (if Known): Unknown Information Submitted By: Craig Sharp, Son Archival Record #: OR-CS-SHAW-1002 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
 My
father didn't talk much about his work on the Manhattan Project. I guess
that's to be expected considering the security. He told me
that his work involved gaseous isotope separation. He said that a friend
had died from flourine burns when my father was called to NY and his
friend took his place.
He never regretted his work there, although at the time he was torn between it and a desire for military service. He tried to leave the project and join the service at one point, unsuccessfully. He believed that his contribution had saved the lives of many US soldiers which was his consolation.
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11-4
| Name:
Baldasaro, Pasquale L. |
Table | Location: 509th CG - Tinian Island Assigned Unit: 393rd BS - B29 "Straight Flush" Job/Position: Radio Operator Dates of Service (if Known): 1944 to 1945 Information Submitted By: Richard J. Crisafulli Archival Record #: CG-MO-BALP-1102 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
Much has been written about Pat Bowen (nee: Pasquale L.
Baldasaro), radio operator on the Straight Flush, than can be compressed
here. A fitting biography and precise detail can be submitted later.
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11-5
| Name:
Mendl, John J. |
Table | Location: 509th CG - Tinian Island Assigned Unit: 1st Ordnance Squadron Job/Position: Unknown Dates of Service (if Known): Unknown Information Submitted By: Michael F. Mendl, Son Archival Record #: CG-MO-MENJ-1102 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
John Mendl, born in New York in 1920, was drafted into the army early in 1942 and spent most of WWII as an air force machinist in Georgia and South Carolina. He volunteered for the special service that turned out to be the 509th Composite Group and went to Wendover, then on to Tinian. After the war, he worked as a carpenter and building contractor, married and had three children. The family moved from Long Island to Tampa in 1952. He and his wife Cecilia moved to Charlotte, N.C., in 1973. After his retirement John did church and Red Cross volunteer work for many years. Cecilia died in 1987. In 2002, John moved to Fredericksburg, VA to be near one of his sons. He now lives in senior housing but is in his own apartment. |
11-6
| Name:
Porterie, James H.
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Table | Location: Los Alamos, NM Assigned Unit: Security Guards Job/Position: Sergeant of the Guard Dates of Service (if Known): 12/46 to 3/48 Information Submitted By:
Archival Record #: LA-MP-PORJ-1102 | Picture 1 | Picture 2 | Picture 3 | Document 1 | Story 1 |
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 Raised
in Phoenix, AZ I went into the army and to Aberdeen Proving Ground for
Ordnance School. While there several of us were interviewed and then
sometime later called back in and asked if we wanted to volunteer for the
Los Alamos assignment. Arrived in LA about the first of December 1946. Was
in the CIC Security Guards till about June then placed in the MPs till
about the end of August. Promoted to Corporal. Then was asked to return as
Sergeant of the Guard For the SG. Stayed in that position till about the
end of January 1948 turning the duty over to civilian. Stayed till about
the first of March closing out the Army at Los Alamos. Turned out the
lights and went to Kirkland Field NM then was discharged at Sandia Base.
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11-7
| Name:
Miller, Robert A. |
Table | Location: Oak Ridge, TN; Dayton Mound Lab Assigned Unit: Military - SED; S50 Plant (Fercleve) Job/Position: Electrical Engineer Dates of Service (if Known): 9/44 to 4/55 Information Submitted By: Richard A. Miller, Son Archival Record #: OR-SD-MILR-1102 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Document 2 | Story 1 | |
1.DOB 9-30-19. 2.EMPLOYED OAK RIDGE 9/44 -CHEMICAL OPEN AS PART OF SEC. 3.MOVED TO DAYTON OHIO EARLY 1945 MOUND LAB. 4.LEFT ARMY 2/46. 5.EMPLOYED AS CIVILIAN MOUND LAB, DAYTON OH 2/46. 6.LEFT ATOMIC ENERGY WORK 4/55. Robert Miller's specialty was nuclear physics and his main contribution to the Manhattan Project involved the development of measuring instruments. |
11-8
| Name:
Hood, Horace R. |
Table | Location: Oak Ridge, TN Assigned Unit: J. A. Jones Construction Co. Job/Position: Unknown Dates of Service (if Known): Unknown Information Submitted By: Daniel Courtney - Grandson Archival Record #: OR-CO-HOOH-1202 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
Photo at left is Horace Hood (R), his wife, Ruby Hood (L) and daughter,
Virginia Karen in center. My Grandfather worked setting up equipment
- he had done heavy iron work - and his stories to me when I was younger
advised that he went through heavy security into an area where they were
setting up equipment that was covered - yet they would go through several
check points and be watched at Oak Ridge while working. I hope to find
further details if your project could assist. My Grandfather and his family lived in Kingsport Tenn. During the war,
he would work at Oak Ridge - and on time he was allowed off return to his
family in Kingsport. His wife was Ruby Hood and daughter - Virginia Karen.
Horace Hood worked as a construction type worker however his job was in
setting equipment he believed was used to develop the bomb. He stated that
he helped to set equipment up that required him to go through several
checkpoints at Oak Ridge - and his crew was watched while working. He
stated security was very tight and no one knew what they were working
toward until the bomb was dropped. He received the "A" Bomb Certificate
(See Document #1 at Left) which I now have that is signed by the Secretary
of War (Now Defense). This he received shortly after the conclusion of
WWII. |
11-9
| Name:
Davis, Marvin Sr. |
Table | Location: Los Alamos, NM & Trinity Site Assigned Unit: Military Police - Mounted Job/Position: Dates of Service (if Known): Information Submitted By:
Archival Record #: LA-MP-DAVM-1202 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
 Under
Construction |
11-10
| Name:
Fiasco, Donald "Skinny" |
Table | Location: Los Alamos, NM Assigned Unit: Military Police Job/Position: Security Dates of Service (if Known): Information Submitted By:
Archival Record #: LA-MP-FIAD-1202 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
Under
Construction |
11-11
| Name:
Fortenberry, Robert |
Table | Location: Los Alamos, NM Assigned Unit: Security Guards Job/Position: Bomb Material Security Dates of Service (if Known): Information Submitted By:
Archival Record #: LA-MP-FORR-1202 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
Under
Construction |
11-12
| Name: Schwerin,
Robert |
Table | Location: Los Alamos, NM Assigned Unit: Security Guards Job/Position: Bomb Material Security Dates of Service (if Known): Information Submitted By:
Archival Record #: LA-MP-SCHR-1202 Picture 1 | Document 1 | Story 1 | |
Under
Construction |
James A.
Schoke
