VT Stories Oral History with John Frasier, May 19, 2016 (Ms2016-015)
Title
VT Stories Oral History with John Frasier, May 19, 2016 (Ms2016-015)
Subject
Description
The son of a head bookkeeper and a civil servant, John Frasier was born in 1933 and grew up in Arlington, Virginia. Although he grew up on the heels of the Depression and in the midst of WWII, John recalls a pleasant childhood. Always having been encouraged to attend college, he graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1954.
Coming to Virginia Tech only four and a half years after WWII, there were still some veterans on campus when John arrived, and the Korean War had just begun. Due to these circumstances, John expected to be drafted. This never came to fruition and John was able to go on from Virginia Tech to get both a master’s and his PhD. All this time, he had been asking for extensions on the date of his call to active duty. However, his PhD was awarded while he was standing for inspection at Aberdeen Proving Ground where he worked in a ballistic research laboratory. A brief stint in teaching at Brown University followed, but John returned to the army after realizing a life in academia wasn’t for him.
John enjoyed his days at Virginia Tech and seems especially grateful for his experience in the Corps of Cadets. He appreciated studying, working, and living with many friends who proved to be a positive influence on his life. He feels that his involvement in the Corps taught him important life lessons and leadership skills.
Coming to Virginia Tech only four and a half years after WWII, there were still some veterans on campus when John arrived, and the Korean War had just begun. Due to these circumstances, John expected to be drafted. This never came to fruition and John was able to go on from Virginia Tech to get both a master’s and his PhD. All this time, he had been asking for extensions on the date of his call to active duty. However, his PhD was awarded while he was standing for inspection at Aberdeen Proving Ground where he worked in a ballistic research laboratory. A brief stint in teaching at Brown University followed, but John returned to the army after realizing a life in academia wasn’t for him.
John enjoyed his days at Virginia Tech and seems especially grateful for his experience in the Corps of Cadets. He appreciated studying, working, and living with many friends who proved to be a positive influence on his life. He feels that his involvement in the Corps taught him important life lessons and leadership skills.
Date
Is Referenced By
Type
Identifier
Ms2016-015_JohnFrasier
Rights Holder
Interviewer
David Cline
Narrator
John Frasier
Duration
01:02:20
Citation
“VT Stories Oral History with John Frasier, May 19, 2016 (Ms2016-015),” VT Special Collections and University Archives Online, accessed April 23, 2024, https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/Ms2016-015/Ms2016-015_JohnFrasier.