Camps of building all the Cancer Hospital and airfields in the United States and the pentagon. I became one of the five to the bossofficers of the pentagon job. He supervised 40 or 50 architects, and a great big team of general contractors. Our job was trying to stay on top of all that. When the contract was finished, the general picked me up and i went to the manhattan district, it was a very quiet, very secretive project. Secretive, it so was five or 10 years after the war that i began telling people what i really should have told them at the outset. After the war, i went into the Construction Business on my own. I worked at that for 50 years. Built about 800 buildings. If one of them was leaning, we would go profit up. Trying and keep it from collapsing. We quit that just recently, i do for the general contracting work. At the time we had 250 people on the payroll. Most of the time it was more like 70 or 80. We built churches and hospitals, whatever came along. Schools, lots of schools. I still have a lot of friends that i hear from occasionally. Now i am retired, and moved into a Retirement Center where they provide me with everything i need. I work about a 12 or 15 hour week. Time, i am the playing tennis if i can. Here i am today, working with you people here, you are running the world why am there doing nothing. Thats a brief history. Thats great. I love the way you have begun this. A. Us inyou kind of tell those words [indiscernible] your piece, you describe it of love and war. War doesntlove and mix, i can tell you that from experience. At the very beginning of the war, i got engaged. Girl, suffered greatly, because i went into the manhattan district, i couldnt tell her what i was doing or where i was, i traveled everywhere. Finally that broke up. Was anotheri six or eight years before i got married. Was for many people, a very stressful point. Many of the men overseas state oversees five years without seeing their wife for their children. Forgotten. Theyer intended didnt anticipate, i should say, there would be such a division in their lives. But we got through it. Managed. The general brought me in to try and calm down the scientists who he had working on this project to develop the bomb. The scientists couldnt concentrate on their work. They were scared the germans , andyears ahead of us would bomb us almost immediately. Them, was to work with and try and bring them information that would calm them down, get them back in their laboratories. Meant i had to work with the scientists, and take them with me occasionally overseas. This meant that i do struggle the immense power that the army had, and the money they had, to get this project done. My scientists who were not related to them at all and didnt see the need to have the army doing anything. They thought they could do it all by themselves. There was tremendous friction. Between the two elements. But despite of that, the job got done, mainly because general at the top, worked so well with oppenheimer. It was a tough job for him to do. I went overseas the first time to meet with the british, who had all the intelligence. On what was going on in the german side, if there was anything, they knew about it. , had noome in america good intelligence services. British as ae major source. Eventually, i went around to armyto all the british headquarters, Navy Headquarters to let them know what i wanted to know without telling them what we are doing. Eventually, some reports would drift back to me that they had received, but for the most part, they were interested in these great major buildup of armaments in the military troops and supplies. They didnt have much time for intelligence. We did pick up some very interesting information from them. And we victim information from dupont, and a lot of larger corporatens who had intelligence services, they kept in touch with around the world. That eventually drew you project, the whole Manhattan Project was built on fear. Fear that the enemy had the bomb, would have it before we could develop it. And this, they knew could be the case. Because they were refugees from germany, or large number of them. Studied under the germans before the war broke out. Knew 40 as a result, i different german scientists that could be involved in the project. That could develop obama. During the rest of the whole time i was there, we were constantly looking for those names to appear in publication, whatever reports we could find. Doing,new what they were we could better sss to whether they were on track for developing a bomb. There is serious business. Eventually, as the war progressed, the general decided the mission, following the armies in europe. It would be a scientific mission, commission composed of scientists, we kept saying all of the various scientific tracks. And buried into it would be two or three atomic scientists. This mission would be there to by the generals as they went forward, who were constantly receiving threatening reports of devastating weapons, which might be thrown against them. The mission was put together in g2, the Army Intelligence department. The name was a mystery name it. For the whole war. And for 10 years after the war. Nobody can figure out where the name came from. Eventually, i had to tell them that the kernel and i worked student, and the name was a greek word for groves, a grove of trees. Had known that, i would have been put up to the firing squad. He didnt want any secret like that to get known. It was an interesting little got the how this kernel project properly named after all. Missionthe scientific was very effective. As the army moved forward, it interviewed german scientists, all kinds of scientists, french, belgian, whatever. As tok up information what the germans were doing. One of the most important reports was called the strasburg report. Groveseally told general and president roosevelt that the that they didnt have a project. They were focusing on rockets. Of course, i must say, we focused our attention on chiefberg, who was the scientific atomic scientist in germany. We knew that wherever he would be, thats what the project would be. Later on, when the bomb was ready, general groves sent me out to pick it up in arizona. New mexico, rather. Los alamos. And i traveled with the bomb, byket all the way took it air to california in and indianapolis. We flew to indianapolis. I waited there until the bomb was dropped. That, i went into japan on a special mission that general groves set out to look at all the universities come all the colleges, factories to see if we can determine what the capacity of the japanese were, whether they had something going or not. , got out, started my Construction Business. And thats basically my war story. I think the bomb was its a miracle the bomb was developed. Its wonderful that we were able to use it to end the war. If the bomb and not been dropped, and the war had of people thousands wouldve died on both sides, particularly if wed invaded japan. Like, we may be talking about one Million People in such a terrible invasion process. The biggest miracle is, after the war, after 60 years of having not had another atomic bomb incident, its been lucky. We should direct our attention anyvery effort to prevents possible occurrence, such as a war which might use nuclear weapons. Japan was divided and the three parts. , and was a medical mission a military mission that went directly to hiroshima. Tother Similar Group went nagasaki. Whats the other city . Nagasaki, yeah. The third was the one i had which went to the university, and all the factories in japan and korea. Trace of nuclear action. The people in these missions was really composed of those already at tinian. Team of technical people, medical people there. And interpreters. People,m had medical had interpreters and scientists. Me, philipison with morrison recently died, he was a professor of physics at cornell, think. Many died. This is where they covered all the fronts, those reports are available. They completely tell the story these as found when when the Americans First arrived. At hiroshima and nagasaki, and when i found in the British University towns. , weof the things we forget are apt to forget is the tremendous an Important Role that the emperor of japan paid played in ending the war. He was perhaps the biggest hero in the war, when you think about it. Army, heposed by his got out in front of them, got on the radio and called the war off. Wasnt that easy. The people where i went and did not complain about the war being over. I can remember that. Complaintst express about the use of the atomic moment. The atomic bomb. The general impression i got was that they needed to get reorganized and back on their feet. I think that sums it up, really. Experience, i didnt any great hatred for americans. As we proceeded with the into the peacetime. Well, thats about all i can say on that. Have you been in contact with the japanese on and off over the last 60 years . Impression that those feelings of changed, im presuming you have had some contact with the japanese, or have some impressions, no . I have not had any. And it would travel that direction. Thatnever traveled in direction. I got as far as alaska. How many weeks after the bombing did you have that mission . Wasfurman the first bomb august 6, second mom about six or eight days later. Formed early in september. We got back to the states late in november. Then i got out about the first of january. You were in japan about two months. Mission,ore about your you are looking to see whether the japanese have been developing atomic bombs. Mr. Furman in order to determine whether there was a project or not, we went to the universities, because we knew was a project,e the scientists had to come from the universities. It would be a scientific project. Physicist would be involved. Eight the names of japanese scientists who had studied in japan, studied in germany, and were capable of running possibly capable of running a project if japan had one. Then we went to the big inquireions, just to about their facilities. And we their research ,epartments, quizzed people went out into the field, look at properties. Korea. Had a project,y we knew it would have to be a tremendous project like oak ridge. If somebody showed us a 40,000 foot warehouse and that was their project, we feel pretty safe. Because oak ridge was one million feet. Our project, half the size of the state of rhode island. Knew, nobody could do it any quick already faster, that was one of our fears, maybe somebody would figure out a way to produce an atomic bomb in a different way than we were doing it. So thats about what we did. We also, particularly in korea, where they had mineral resources, we checked out all mines to see if there was an interest in mining uranium or thorium. Radium. Thats where it all has to start. Report, fromour this we can make our report back , that there was no serious project. I think that report has stood up under questioning over the years. Every once in a while, some he wants to write an article saying secret plan was producing atomic bombs. This we could easily check out. Force them to remove the report. To oneto go back of the things that stand nor says is that you were the first atomic Intelligence Unit. The isat they call that what they called it . What would you call it . Groves facedeneral this problem with his scientists. They have this tremendous fear of the germans having the bomb. Well ahead of us. Since most of his team of scientists have studied under the germans, and the germans were still there. Reportsidnt have any denying they werent busy and active. So, until i came on board, there wasnt any effort there hadnt been any effort to try than they knewre at that time. Find out more about whats going on in germany. Wasral grovess intention to find out as quickly as downble, in order to calm his scientific teams, to keep them on the job, not be scared all the time. So there was a group of scientists that i met with, major people that were involved in europe inect, new york lawrence out in california, oppenheimer, they that i couldames work with. In this team of scientists suggested that we, for one thing, that we would go try to get scientific publications out of germany. And let them look at them. Because of the scientists we knew, going back to the 40s, we knew the 40 german scientists that were Nuclear Scientists that would be involved in a publishing they were , this would give us some idea of what they were thinking about. Mainly,gh switzerland, we obtained it scientific reports, and i pass along to this committee, they read them and made their comments, pass them out among the other scientists. All in an effort to try and calm down the scientists that were there. Also, if we found some thing important, they would be gratifying, but we never did. We never found out anything. Stuff. Negative that these 40ans scientists that we knew were not in any big nuclear bomb project. Then, the other wing of the groves effort to obtain information, as they move forward, he got reports back of interviews with the german scientists as the armies went through eastern france over into scientists were picked up and talked to, and ,hese reports went to groves and we got it out all the scientists on the project. Project scientists some relief to know that there probably wasnt a project going on. Know, we didnt know that the british had broken the code, and that the british of course werent willing to tell us they had broken the code. For fear that this would leak out back to the germans. So the british themselves were kind of quiet, they passed on information carefully to us to nothing could be d back to the fact that we that they had picked it up off of the code breach. And so right to the end of the war, there was a gap there that we never knew about. Had, of course, their own opinions, well declared to us in the very beginning, that their information was that the germans had no project. No back to it at all. And they were, of course, completely the british were completely absorbed in their efforts just to stay alive. , but their bombings troops in the field and when the war. So that is about the atmosphere we had to work with. With their british they went into france with you . Was an American Force with the british scientists . Did you work with the british as he were going into france and germany . Mr. Furman yes. The answer is yes, the british went with us. On our scientific efforts, the scientific project. There were some people in the we wouldccasionally consult with them when we found that information. They always were very helpful. Remember, theo country was being devastated by this war, they were doing all they could just to stay alive. Recall it was december 1944 that someone left a project because he had learned it but b re was obama no omb. British said the they had efforts evidence there was no german effort . Mr. Furman it doesnt ring a bell. It continued far beyond that. April 45, may, just as dday was approaching. One of the sort of exciting parts of dan morriss book is his descriptions, of some of the situations you were involved in, personally come on your mission. Some ducking bullets. Never in greatas peril. We stayed back of the lines 50 miles. One of the interesting things sent me general groves a cable saying sir charles hambrick, head of the bank of england was coming over to the mission for a visit. He also was a big wheel and the british government, ran two or three railroads, big cheese. Take care of him. Appeared, and i found out immediately that he liked to get around the battlefields, i the armies were up north, and crossed over into germany at. Think the armies were up north and hadnt crossed over into germany yet. He was a world war i hero, soldier. So we took him out to visit some of the old world war i battlefields, which were still visible. Strasburg on ao friday morning, he went down to the rhine river and put his feet in. Us that he would even try because the germans were on the other side of the river, maybe they can see through that followed, i dont know. We didnt want this guy hurt. Touring, five days of he said to me, i want to throw a big dinner for my appreciation of all the done. I said fine, so we went to a nn, the french didnt have much food, so we gave the french inn our rations, they. Ooked up something i remove or they went down into one of their sellers and came up through the floor with the choice bottle of wine, and said this is going to be a big celebration. We had a great time, great meal. Over, the bills came in and they gave it to him said furman, i dont have any money. We pay this will you pay this . Heres the head of the bank of england, and i had to pay for it. The next day, or the day after, we took him back to the airport. It was spring time, i still remember him getting on the plane with five or six daffodils in his hand. A great guy. Incident that we all remembered. No doubt. Thats great. Lets see. Actually, you personally were discovering the scientists. I know john am still writes in his memoirs coming upon auto within . Re you with him . Mr. Furman yes, i was there. Can you start again . Mr. Furman were not talking about the armies having moved to go towe were able german f a printable german scientist. Kernel was head of the military side of the mission. Smith interviewed him, i was there too. That at leastlear he was not involved in any atomic project. This occurred several times with other scientists as we came upon them. People, or other people in the mission would interview them, then we will write up the reports and send them back to the states. Time, general groves sent a message that i was to go to the rhine river as soon as the troops got past over the bridge. And scoop up some water and send it back so they could test it. You thebeing that was ansts knew if there atomic plant anywhere on the river, that it could be detected in the water. Unless they took extreme dont theo not radioactive substances back into the river. So we did that. Project, went north, went out on the bridge and got the water and brought it back to paris. Up, for a five bottles of it and send it to chicago. Sealed theput case, would put in two or three bottles of french wine. With a note. I wrote on it, ok, test this too. Meaning, have a good french wine. Well, it wasnt long before we got back a message that the water tested negative, but the wind was positive, send more wine. We didnt know how to take that, whether it was a joke. Saying isessage back not a joke, the wine is radioactive, send us more wine. We went back and trace this wine back to a winery, we find out that the wine, the soil there had the wine was grown nuclear deposits of uranium or something in there. It was soaked up into the moisture the got into the wine. We went got several cases of wine, sent several cases back to the states, kept to a three case