1904

On October 2, for their part in the Atomic Bomb Project, the Hooker Electrochemical Company and employees received a special award from Manhattan District Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army. Accepting the award for his company, President Ned Bartlett made this modest summary of Hooker participation and accomplishment in The Greatest Secretof the Greatest War: The Atomic Bomb.

Our part in the Atomic Bomb Project began almost exactly three years ago and was held entirely secret until Hiroshima was levelled by the release of atomic power on August 5, 1945. We are still for safety reasons restricted in the discussion of details but we can tell to some extent about our activities on this Project.

Back in the beginning in October 1942 when the Project was under the supervision of the Office of Scientific Research and Development it involved for the most part laboratory work with some pilot plant operations and in this our Re. search and Development Department was mainly concerned. However, as was the case with many other companies, time was so valuable and speed was so urgent that it was necessary to plunge im. mediately into production without the help usually received from pilot plant and semi-commercial stages normal to a new undertaking.

The various special materials which we produced for the Project were manufactured in plant areas specially designed and specially constructed for the purpose and this work was under the supervision of the War Department assigned specifically to the U. S. Engineer Office designated the "Manhattan Project" which included the Madison Square Area and in our case the Tonawanda Area. Our Engineering Department, in, cooperation with our Research and Development Department, designed and constructed the plants with the highest of speed under top priorities. Even before construction started the requirements were increased and additional construction was required and it is gratifying to be able to state that production schedules were met in all cases and frequently actual performance was much better than the estimates which had been made in advance. The production responsibility for a short period was fully assumed by the Research and Development Department but was later turned over to the regular operating staff who carried forward the urgent and ever increasing program from that time on.

The following is a quotation from a letter written by the Area Engineer a few days before the first Atomic Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and indicates the success of our production efforts:

Your outstanding performance has permitted us to accelerate other schedules which we feel confident will have a major effect on the course of the war.

Assistance was given to companies who were concerned with other phases of the Project. Certain specialized equipment was developed by us and proved essential in the success of the production schedules of some of these other companies. We not only designed this special apparatus but in some cases took responsibility for its construction and trained the employees of other companies in its operation and our advisory supervision continued until production quantities were up to requirements.

Very little can be said about our activities at Oak Ridge, Tenn., but it can be mentioned that under the highest of pressure a plant was designed, constructed under our supervision, and placed in operation there. This plant was ready to start on schedule and ahead of the time its product could be used. Our staff of men sent from Niagara Falls operated for several months, then trained the employees of another company and finally turned the whole unit over to the other company. Although the materials handled were corrosive and dangerous no lost time accidents occurred during our supervision and there was never any substantial interruption in the supply of the vital material which was being manufactured.

We accept with modesty the Award which we are receiving today realizing that the real tribute should be given to—

The scientists whose knowledge, skill and imagination were responsible for the origin of the Project and for the development of the methods by which it was carried through;

The government officials who had the vision and the courage to authorize the huge expenditures required for this successful venture in the field of nuclear fission;

The officers and enlisted men who gave so freely and enthusiastically of their time and strength without hope of public recognition;

The hundreds of companies and thousands of civilians who cooperated in reaching the end result without even knowing what that result was to be.

In the short space of two years theory was converted into practice and the impossible was accomplished. This resulted not only in the sudden conclusion of the greatest war of all but it also placed a new and terrible power in our hands. The controlled use of atomic energy can and will have a tremendous influence upon future developments. It must not be used for the destruction of mankind but rather for its greater good.

The immediate demands of our small business were such that it was not possible to pre. are an October column and some class items cannot be included here for lack of space.

Mrs. Katherine Wright Bullock died at her home in Roxbury, Mass., August 10. The class was represented at the largely attended service in Saint Mark's Congregational Church, Roxbury, on August 14 by Charron, Lampee, and Maguire. Matt's appreciation for the moral strength received from his college friends is simple and sincere. He is now on a special assignment from the Secretary of the >javy inspecting bases held by colored service men in the Pacific. More about this later.

Secretary, Canaan Street Lodge, Canaan, N. H. Treasurer, Morristown, N. J.