Summer 2000

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There is a great interest in America in the dedication and sacrifices of the World War II veterans. Bestsellers such as Tom Brokaw’s Greatest Generation and Greatest Generation Speaks, the work of historian Stephen Ambrose on the soldiers at Normandy, and films such as Saving Private Ryan, have made us all more appreciative of what our parents and grandparents did for the our country.

We are fortunate to live in a time of relative peace, but not so for the coming of age in the late 1930s and early ’40s. Being a student at Rose Poly should have been a time of optimism because of the darkest days of the Great Depression somewhat lifting. Job placement was picking up as American industry started to make plans for expansion. Engineers would be needed, but what of America’s involvement in the European War?

In the closing months of 1939 the clouds of war were gathering over the thoughts of the men of Rose Poly. The fall of Poland and the declarations of war left France and Britain to face the collective might of Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Soviet Union. How long could America stay out of the fight?

The cover of the Rose Technic for October ’39 gave an indication that things were changing. Heretofore, the editors had usually selected a photo of a campus building, new fallen snow, or perhaps a freshman beanie. This issue’s cover is a photograph of R.O.T.C. field exercises taken by Howard White (’32), an instructor in Civil Engineering. Thoughts were shifting, if ever so slightly.

Most of the issue, however, is devoted to the usual topics of interest to the young college man — fraternity rush, start of the football season, note of apology from Indiana State for stealing Rosie, and alumni weddings and births. The feature article by junior Charles Howlett, titled "The Effects of Inventions on Employment," discussed how inventions were displacing workers in older industries but also creating new industries with even more employment prospects. Junior William S. Schwab ’41, covered recent trends in automobile design. "Since the automobile is apparently so nearly perfect a machine, it is often wondered just how, and what, further improvement will be made."

But three items gave the readers pause. First, junior Edward Klecka’s article titled "Chemicals in War," in which he reviews harmful gases as a tool used in World War I. He discusses specific compounds such as phosgene, a lung irritant, or dichlorethyl sulfide (mustard gas) guaranteed to blister the skin. Second, President Prentice announced a "course of flight and ground school instruction as part of the national program of the Civil Aeronautics Authority." The President made it clear that "the course will not include combat tactics or formation flying," the purpose being to increase the number of civilian pilots nationally by 20,000. Still, the implications were obvious to all, increasing U.S. preparedness. Lastly, in the humor column of sophomore Harold Bowsher can be found amongst the usual bits of inane college male humor, this item: A HINT why couldn’t our Navy be like the old maid, always ready, but never called upon.

Issue by issue in the next two years leading up to December 7, 1941, when the Japanes attack on Pearl Harbor would catapult American into World War II, the students contributed more articles about the war value of engineering and scientific topics. The November ’39 issue has an article by William Turner (Feb ’43), on the merits of different methods of recycling rubber, since the United States War Resources Board had placed it on the strategic list of war materials.

Cpt. Henney of the R.O.T.C. program introduced a streamlined drill that would better reflect machine warfare with its "automatic weapons and rapidity of movement." Harry Halberstadt (’37) was highlighted in the March ’40 issue. Halberstadt was a U.S. Army Air Corps flying cadet and, having completed three months of instruction was advancing to basic flight instruction.

The October ’41 issue had as a frontispiece the following:

"As a part of the national preparedness program and to help meet the expected shortage of engineers the number of freshmen admitted to Rose this year was increased from the usual hundred to a hundred and twenty-five. High school seniors who plan to study engineering should write the Registrar promptly in order to reserve a place in next year’s class."

Throughout the year Michael Percopo (Feb. ’43), Technic staffer, contributed a series of articles titled "Chemistry In The Forefront of Defense." Topics included revolutionary and lifesaving synthetic rubber and a review of explosives. John Appel ’41 summarized the status of chemical warfare for the November issue. At some length he explained protective measures, decontamination, medical aspects, and the future of chemicals in warfare. His remarks on warfare no doubt had the desired effect on the young men reading the Technic in that last month before the U.S. entered the greatest global struggle of the century. Soon, he and hundreds of alumni would apply their Rose education, both on the battlefront and the laboratory, in ways they and their instructors little imagined. Life at Rose continued with such things as homecoming, freshman indoctrination, endless lectures and homework, and fraternity rush. But the immediacy of all quickened in the minds of the students. Their time to put careers on hold and answer the call to defend their country was quickly coming.

— by John Robson

Librarian and Archivist