Chariton's link to the atomic bomb

This tiny silver lapel pin --- greatly enlarged --- represents a link of sorts between Chariton and the Atomic bomb --- developed in a vast undertaking known as the Manhattan Project between 1939 and 1945, when two were dropped on Aug. 5 and 9, respectively, on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

Those bombs, of course, ended World War II --- but a still undetermined number of Japanese, ranging between 125,000 and 225,000, mostly civilian, died.

The pin, a related certificate and a photo of A. Brisbine Gookin (left), to whom the pin and certificate were awarded after the war, arrived last week at the Lucas County Historical Society courtesy of his son, Albert B. Gookin.

Here's how Al tells the story:

"Did you know that Chariton was the birthplace of someone who contributed to the Manhattan Project? My father, Albert Brisbine Gookin, worked in Milwaukee during World War II for Allis-Chalmers. He was foreman of a specialty machine shop making items for the war effort. 

"Out of the blue after Japan’s surrender a group of War Department types showed up for a presentation. That is when my father was told his department helped construct a part for the atomic bombs dropped on Japan. Father was given a lapel pin and later a certificate through the mail."

Allis-Chalmers reportedly produced more equipment by weight for the Manhattan Project than any other U.S. company, although none of those involved in the actual production were aware of the purpose of what they were working on.

After the war, silver pins were awarded to workers across the United States who had participated in the project for a year or more; bronze pins, to those who had participated for less than a year.

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Bris (Albert Brisbine) Gookin was born in Chariton during 1909 to Albert Burton and Maude Mary (McFarland) Gookin and married Pauline Stewart. They returned to Chariton after World War II and were in the real estate and insurance business here for a number of years.

Eventually, the couple moved to Las Vegas, where Pauline died in 1971. Her husband then moved to Loveland, Colorado, where he died in 1979. Both are buried in the Chariton Cemetery.