I ran out of money trying to sell my NASA letter manuscript and ended up homeless on the streets of Minneapolis. I enlisted in the army. My recruiter said I had the highest scores of anybody on the ASVAB, and he gave me my choice of occupation and installation. I chose 93E Weather Observer at White Sands Missile Range. After tech school at Chanute AFB, I was assigned to the Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory, working at C Station.
I bought an Apple IIE computer and got right to work refining my solar system model, which at that point was just a simple graph. I analyzed and refined the model versus the positions of the planets. The original graphic remained unchanged, but the new data confirmed it strongly. I presented my results to the Post Commander MG Niles Fulwlyhler (major general, two stars) and two scientists from HELSTAF, the High Energy Laser Project. (I had hatched up a laser application, but mostly I just wanted feedback on my solar system model).
[Seal: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA]
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
US ARMY WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NEW MEXICO 88002
REPLY TO
ATTENTION OF
STEWS-CG
23 JAN 1984
Specialist Fourth Class William H. Clark, II
HHC – ASL Box 77
White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002
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I have had the papers which you left with me at the end of our meeting on 9 December 1983 reviewed independently by three WSMR scientists. The reviewers were Dr. Ralph W. Dressel, Physicist at the Nuclear Effects Laboratory; Dr. John Davies, High Energy Laser Program Manager; and Dr. Richard H. Duncan, Technical Director and Chief Scientist.
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The conclusion of these reviewers is that your work contains some conceptual errors and that it would not be feasible to devise experimental verification of your ideas.
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As commander of a test and evaluation agency I have no authority to expend funds for research and development, that being the mission of other elements of the U.S. Army. Research within the Test and Evaluation Command is strictly limited by policy and regulation to efforts intended to improve test instrumentation and methodology.
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For the above reasons I have decided to take no further action on this matter. Knowing that you will be disappointed in my decision, I hope that you will continue to serve the Army well during the remainder of your enlistment. Perhaps, as you suggest in your last letter, you will be able to resume your scientific interests at a later time. In any case, I appreciate your sincere and good intentions in bringing your work to my attention.
[Signature: Niles J. Fulwyler]
NILES J. FULWYLER
Major General, USA
Commanding