Back in the WW II I was working in an industrial plant that manufactured tractors. I had been with them for nine years. The company was very supportive of the government and wanted all of their employees to purchase war bonds every pay day. They even had their foremen approach each worker and encourage them to be a part of the War Bond effort.I was a conscientious objector to the war and refused to support the war effort so they were displeased with me. They told me that I was the only employee who had refused.
I finally told them that if they wanted to deduct from my pay what ever the average amount was that the other employees were investing in war bonds and contribute that money to the American Friends Service Committee for relief purposes I would consent to that, but no War Bonds. The foreman said he would have to talk to the management about that, which he did. He came back later and said they couldn't do that but if I was that determined they would not approach me again. And they didn't.
A few months later the tractor plant was converted to producing tank parts. Again I couldn't in good conscience work on War materials so I quit. They told me that I would lose my seniority rights, but I quit anyway.
A few months later they called me in to talk with them. The first question put to me was, "Are you still opposed to working on tank parts?"
I told them that I was. So they said they were doing some tractor work now and that if I would return they would see to it that I would not have to work on tank parts. They also gave me back my seniority rights.
It wasn't long after that when I felt called to enter the ministry. When I told the management that I was resigning again, they said they would never give me my seniority rights again. I told them that I didn't think I would ever ask them to. And I haven't and I'm now 86 years old so I don't believe I ever will.
Visit the websites of Earl J. Prignitz: "My Friendly Thoughts" and "My Home Page."
