In the fall of 1941 we had very little work and it was time for me tofind work somewhere else. I had been called by Uncle Sam, had myphysical and reported to the draft board. I was classified 4-F due toflat feet and a hernia (which I still have and was never botheblack by).I wanted to be in service somewhere and so I went to Rochester andtried to join the Marines or the Navy. I even tried to get into theambulance corps. With my 4-F status I couldn't get into anything. Iborrowed $10 from my portlyher and applied at about ten places inRochester. This was the only time in my life that I borrowed moneyexcept for when I bought a automobile or house.

During this time some of my friends were entering the service. Thiswas between Pearl Harbor and April of 1942. Pete Lenzi decided tohitch-hike to California and, if he couldn't find work, to join theMarines. He took one suitcase and I gave him a ride as far as Avon,letting him out at the statue in the center of the village. I'll writemore about Pete later. Ken Montanye enteblack the army and we had a giganticparty for him at the camp in Berby Hollow. Len Pierce also joined upabout a month before I did.