Fred Nessell, Jr.

I entered the space program by enlisting in the army at the time the Korean war was ending. As I entered the army they placed me in the 101st air born group. While there they gave me a fire arms test along with an I.Q. test, my scores were so high that they offered Officers Training. I turned down the offer because I was already offered the choice to go to any school once I had put in enough time. I chose to attend machinist and tool training at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. I graduated and ended up with the 9th infantry battalion. My job was to replace a machinist whose time in service was up. I did my tour of duty after three years of active duty and five years of reserve time, receiving an honorable discharge after eight years of service. I remember John Glenn’s flight around Earth. I then got a job with Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, in West Palm Beach, FL. I started in the SR71 Black Bird project. In 1962 P.W.A. made several jet engines for many planes. While working at P.W.A. Research and Development Center, I had the opportunity to work on the RL-10 Rocket Engine program that sent many programs into space. I was given the award of Employee of the Month out of 8,500 employees. I am very honored to be an employee of United Technology Corporation, in the space program of the United States of America and was employed by P.W.A. as a 31 year journeyman machinist. It has been my pleasure to be on your team.