Max B. Gordon, Spanish Fork, Utah: an interview by Benjamin Bahlmann, March 15, 2002: Saving the Legacy tape nos. 508 and 509

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MAX B. GORDON Mar h 15 2 2 BB: It never crossed your mind, even though you were married to volunt r rt enlist any sooner? MBG: I guess I talked to different ones about it, but we was waiting to be informed if they called us, draft us into it. When they did, there was no backing down. I was ready to go. BB: When did your draft actually come? MBG: August 4, I think it was, August 4, 1944. BB: Forty-four. And the whole time, Geneva? Is that correct? Up until the time you were drafted? MBG: Yes. BB: How far along were they on Geneva by the time ... was part of it operational? MBG: We started in operation December 22. I was the thirty-sixth man hired. BB: Of the previous year? So '43? MBG: No. Let's see ... yes, it was December '43. I was the thirty-sixth man hired, hourly man hired. BB: So you were there, so you watched the whole main structures go up, etc? MBG: Yes. BB: The main stacks and that kind of thing? MBG: I helped on everything. I unloaded brick for months over the open hearth and the rolling mill. I ended up at the coke plant. I was counted as a hod carrier, but when ... BB: Hod? MBG: Yes, that was helping the bricklayers. But instead of helping the bricklayers, they started one battery of ovens, they heated one battery of ovens, they brought the gas from 16