(FROM OUT HOUSE TO OUTER SPACE)

I have written a book about my life (FROM OUT HOUSE TO OUTER SPACE) It describes my journey through life. I was born in 1924, my Father was tragically killed in 1928 when I was 4 years old. Mother went back to High School to get her diploma and put my sister in school. I was about 2 years younger than the other students and struggled all through school to try to keep up. My Mother remarried when I was 7 years old. He turned out to be an alcoholic. He tried to molest my older sister and I confronted him, he immediately kicked me out of the house. I was not quite 10 years old. I spent the next 4 years looking for my Mother. I graduated from High School when I was only 16 and felt compelled to help protect America. I was too young for the Army so I joined the Merchant Marines. The third ship that was sunk under me I was taken prisoner by the Japs. Eventually rescued and when I got well I joined the Army. Finished WW2 in Europe. I came home and met my wife. After working at several jobs I was offered a job at the Jet propulsion Lab. I knew it was part of Cal Tech and decided to take it and perhaps get a little education. The job worked out well. When NASA contracted with Cal Tech we were in the early stages of space exploration. I worked on many space projects. My 1st major design was the Moon Landing Module motor. Fred Gebraught and I designed and built the test unit. I was holding Explorer 1 in my arms when President Kennedy was shot. I helped design and build many space projects, I retired just before my 69th birthday.