During this time some of my friends were entering the service. This
was between Pearl Harbor and April of 1942. Pete Lenzi decided to
hitch-hike to California and, if he couldn't find work, to join the
Marines. He took one suitcase and I gave him a ride as far as Avon,
letting him out at the statue in the center of the village. I'll write
more about Pete later. Ken Montanye entered the army and we had a big
party for him at the camp in Berby Hollow. Len Pierce also joined up
about a month before I did.
In December of 1941 I got a reply from my application at Kodak and
went in for an interview. I got a job at Kodak Park and was one of the
first three hired for a new product. Ray Smith was hired soon after I
was. The whole building where we worked was empty except for the three
of us and a boss. Kodacolor film was being put on the market and the
building was being set up for developing and printing. The first few
weeks I spent polishing the reclaiming tanks on the ground floor.
After the first month I had fourteen men working under me so it was a
good opportunity for me. If I hadn't been drafted then, there is no
telling how far I might have gone. When the film started coming in Ray
Smith was working on the floor above me and I was in charge of the
basement. By March things were really busy, and then, even though I
was 4-F, they called me for the draft. I was glad to go, but now
realize what a great opportunity I missed.
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