Born August 19, 1920 in Eket, Sweden, Clarence immigrated to the United States as a young boy, entering through Ellis Island. Having graduated from high school at the age of 15, Clarence attended music college until he joined the Navy on June 10, 1942. Upon graduating from basic training, he was assigned to duty aboard the U.S.S. Strong, DD467. On July 4, 1943, the Strong was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine. He subsequently served on the staff of the Commander of Destroyer Escort Division 36. Upon leaving the service, Mr. Gustavson attended Syracuse University, New York, earning Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Chemistry. As an expert in solid rocket fuels and adhesives, he worked on the Minuteman, Polaris, Hawk, and Tartar missile projects for Aerojet General Corporation at both the Azusa and Sacramento, California facilities. Further work included the development of high energy propellants for the Lockheed Corporation in addition to service lives for large rockets and the Minuteman system while at the TRW Corporation of Torrance, California. "Yes, as a matter of fact I am a rocket scientist" he would proudly say. Clarence is also an accomplished pianist and violinist. In addition to authoring numerous technical articles in the field of rocketry, he has three books to his credit: For The Life of Me. an autobiography; Belief in Man, a scientist's view of today's attitude of mankind; and The Oreganoners, an adventure novel about people who will shape our future. "Life is mysterious in meaning and exciting in experience" - a quote from his book.