College Education

Paul M. Dunn: declared, but we were kept on until the finish of the weapons school program. Then we were disorganized into small units and located in the embarkation area through which all of the troops went on their way back to the States. I returned in July 1919.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: Did you see some active service? Did your group actually fight?

Paul M. Dunn: No, we were headed to the battle front when they selected a certain number of non-commissioned officers for the advanced weapons school. I and others were selected. We were lucky.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: You were a non-commissioned officer?

Paul M. Dunn: Yes, I was a corporal. I was promoted to sergeant in early 1919. We returned to Iowa and were discharged at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and then I went home. For years I had thought about going to the university with no particular decision made as to what career I would follow.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: Had your parents encouraged you to go to a university?

Paul M. Dunn: Yes, however we hadn't talked much about it, but that was my major objective.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: Your father was a grain dealer, you say?

Paul M. Dunn: Earlier; but later he owned a hardware store. When we moved to Iowa he sold the business and embarked upon a sales program. He was a salesman for a company dealing with farm equipment.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: You weren't interested in following that line of business?

Paul M. Dunn: No. Attending the university was my main interest. Most of the fellows that were associated with me in the army were former students at high school in Le Mars, Iowa, and we talked about going to the university when we got home, and four or five of us did. Iowa State College at Ames was the focal point of most of our thoughts. I sent my credits for entrance to the college as soon as I got home. It must have been in August for I entered Iowa State College early in September.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: That was what year?

Paul M. Dunn: It was 1919. I was asked to name a major, and not knowing what field to register in, I chose electrical engineering, in order to register. After the first quarter's program in electrical engineering, I decided I wasn't too keen about it. In the meantime, I had become acquainted with some of the other university students who were in forestry. I was intrigued by the possibilities which were not well known at that time, so I