October 50, 1942
To the Committee on Physical Conditioning:

This fall I returned to the University for two reasons,
1.) to complete the degree in chemistry toward which I have
spent the last seven years in study, and 2.) to fulfill my
obligation with the department of chemistry by serving in the
capacity of assistant instructor (3/5 time, Last spring
when I accepted my assistantship, there was no suggestion of
the physical education course being offered as a require-
ment, and so if I am discharged by the University for not
attanding the course, I shall consider that I have done my
part in attempting to take care of the obligation.

Naturally I have a certain desire to remain in school
and try to achieve the Ph. D. degree. My draft board has
seen fit to give me six more months in class 2-A, which =
indicates that at least the Selective Service authorities
consider graduate assistants to be serving in an essential
capacity.

There are however, other roads open which lead to worth-
while service. My education lacks only two courses and the
completion of a thesis before the requirements for the
Ph. D. degree are fulfilled; therefore, I have the ability now
to do most any job which I will be able to do after completing
the above requirements.

At this time the author has several offers from large
chemical companies engaged in essential war production. Any
one of these offers may be accepted, or if drafted, the tech-
nical training and industrial experience already gained can
be put to good advantage in the armed forces.

I am more than willing to carry out any work for the
department or the University as long as it is essential.
Previously we have gone on the assumption that graduate
assistants were indispensable to the operation of the
chemistry department. If my work here is so unessential
that I would be discharged for refusing to give up three
hours a week from research just to play around, then I want
to get into something more essential,-- either in some branch
of the armed forces or in some essential industry.

I#I am to leave the University, it should be understood
that I am making such a move in order to be of greater service

elsewhere.