Agent yellow

Description

After coming to the U.S. from China in 1935 to study at M.I.T. and Cal Tech, Dr. Tsien worked on American government- sponsored research grants for the Navy and Air Force specifically in the development of nuclear weaponry. He worked closely with other scientists at Cal Tech known as the Suicide Squad," whose ideas formed the basis of today's military capability. He was named Director of the Rocket Section of the U.S. National Defense Scientific Advisory Board. During the McCarthy hearings, several scientists of the Suicide Squad were accused of being Communists. Dr. Tsien s close relations with them led to the loss of his security clearance. He was then detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service where he suffered terribly, losing thirty-three pounds and the ability to speak. In 1955 he was traded to China for several American POWs held since the Korean War.

Runtime

28 min

Creator

Choy, Christine

Series

Subjects

Contributor

Geography

Genre

Date of Publication

2006

Database

Alexander Street

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