Trickymissfit
Well-Known Member
I've actually been in three apprenticeships. First one was actually in sheet metal work, and the two of us were like fire and ice. Was asked to take their entrence test, so I did it on a whim, and was the top scorer. Did a little over two thirds of it, when Uncle Sam came knocking on the door. Went to some then unknown garden spots on the otherside of the planet. During mail call one day I get a large envelope from my mother with a registered letter inside it. They terminated that apprenticeship because I had not shown up for eight months (I swear you can't make this up!). The Union hall ran the apprenticeship program along with a select group from management. I laughed about it, and my squad leader said they can't do that! I said hey look here, they already did a month ago. But if you guys will let me go home I think I can fix it (this was right in the middle of TET 1968). Next day I get a visit from a very nervous JAG officer out of Chu Lai. He said he'd fix the problem. About three to four weeks later he shows up down by Quang Nghai, and he real nervous. Said he had a letter of response in flight, and he'd get word to me when it arrived. About a week later they send me north to Chu Lai to see this guy. He said that when they paid a visit to the joint apprenticeship office in Indy, they threw them out physically. The next day they showed up again in force with U.S. Marshells and the MP's. Took three guys to jail, and shut the entire apprenticeship program down cold! After they finally let them out of jail (held them for three days), and paid a serious fine for assualting a uniformed JAG officer and his civillian aid. They write up a certified letter that had at least a dozen signatures on it telling me that anytime in my entire life that I decide to return to the program I will become the number one person of interests. I never bothered to go back! First job ap I applied for, I was asked to take their apprenticeship test (when I came home). Test was the typical US Government crap, and was easy. They thought I was cheating. Asked me to do another while they watched me thru a two way mirror. Then had me take a third battery of test the next day. I took the Machinest Repair deal. Later I did a Machine Builders apprenticeship. Seemed like I never stopped going to classes for about thirty years (there's lots of things yet to be learned)
On the otherhand, My Dad was a tool maker from Curtiss Wright in Indy. They did the variable pitch props there. He said the place was a sweat shop. He applied for a job at the Allison Engine Company, and they hired him right away. He was to start Jan. 2nd, 1942! So much for that idea! They froze his job, and wouldn't allow him in the military (he was later found to be 4F anyway). He finally got that job after the war ended.
In my first apprenticeship (I really don't claim anything to do with the sheet metal one) I worked with the guy that discovered how to knock out Tiger tanks in Europe. Worked with an old man that was the master machinest for the Dusenberg Brothers at Indy building race cars (this all ties in together later), and the Stutze Bearcat racing team. I told Joe that my Dad and Harry Miller were close friends, and my Dad was the guy who machined the first Miller 91 engines for them. Joe knew Harry and probably met my Dad somewhere along the way. The other guys were out of the ship building yards, and they snatched them up in January 1942 for an all expense trip to Pearl Harbor. One tough generation!
gary
I have to wait to Oct. to hunt elk. Good to hear from you......rich
