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World War II Honoree

Civilian on the Home Front

James H. Zant, Ph.D

Hometown

Stillwater, Oklahoma

Honored By

John M. Jobe

Relationship

Friend

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

PARTICIPATED AS THE LEAD PROFESSOR IN MATHEMATICS FOR THE ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM (ASTP) AT OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE (OAMC) IN STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA DURING THE WAR. DR. ZANT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, ACADEMIC PROGRAM, AND INSTRUCTION WORK OF MATHEMATICS INSTRUCTORS IN THE SCHOOL. ASTP COURSES, CONDUCTED AT 227 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES ACROSS THE NATION, WERE CONCENTRATED VERSIONS OF REGULAR COLLEGE COURSES ADAPTED TO U.S. ARMY NEEDS. DISCIPLINES SUCH AS MEDICINE, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, LANGUAGES AND PSYCHOLOGY WERE INCLUDED. THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS AND ACCELERATED FLOW OF HIGH GRADE TECHNICIANS AND SPECIALISTS NEEDED BY THE ARMY TO MEET WARTIME DEMANDS; AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS WERE HIGH. OAMC HAD 1,500 ASTP STUDENTS ATTENDING VARIOUS COURSES IN LATE 1943.