ɪnðə spɹˈɪŋ ʌv nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi tˈuː, ʃˈɔːɹtli bᵻfˌoːɹ hɪz ɡɹˌædʒuːˈeɪʃən, hiː wɛnt tə wˈɜːk fɚðɪ ˌɪndᵻpˈɛndənt ɹᵻfˈaɪnɪŋ kˈʌmpəni ʌv lˈɔːɹəl, mɑːntˈænə, æz ɐ lˈæbɹətˌɔːɹi ɐsˈɪstənt fɔːɹ dˈɑːlɚ θˈɜːɾi tˈuː ɐ wˈiːk.
In the spring of 1942, shortly before his graduation, he went to work for the Independent Refining Company of Laurel, Montana, as a laboratory assistant for $32 a week.