There was another part of the story of the FBI and me that I forgot to mention: I volunteered and joined the Army in 1955. I was sworn in at Fort Lawton, Washington, but first I had to sign the dreaded "loyalty oath." This was a three page, double column, listing a various organizations in Washington state. I was told to check any of them that I had had contact with. I did, going merrily down the pages checking: "Seattle Labor Council", "Committee To Overturn The Smith Act", "Committee For The Protection Of The Foreign Born", on and on. The Lt. who was supervising my exam turned white and orderd me to stay right where I was. He came back with a Captain, who came back with a Major.

The Major grilled me about relationship with each organization I had checked. I explained; "I sing for the Seattle Labor Council one night a month, because they give me all the hot dogs I can eat and five bucks!" "I sing for the "Committee To Protect The Foreign Born" every other Saturday night, because they give me five bucks and all the beer I can drink."

Three days after that, two FBI suits and ties combed my neighborhood and asked all my neighbors what kind of a guy I was. I musta' passed inspection, as two weeks later I was in the Army.

Someday I oughta' write a song ................ Bob(deckman)Nelson