Nuclear Museum Logo
Nuclear Museum Logo

National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Willie Daniels came to Hanford from Texas by way of Oklahoma, where he worked at a naval air station. He was one of thousands of African Americans who left low paying jobs at home for high pay at wartime Hanford. Like many others, he came for the good pay. He and his brother made $19.20 on their first day of work, more than his brother made in one month on the railroad. Daniels worked mostly pouring concrete and performing manual labor; he poured concrete for all the reactors in the 100 area.

Willie Daniels’s Timeline
1943 Sep 6th Started working at Hanford

Related Profiles

Jack Miller

B Reactor/100 Area

Jack Miller worked as a plant operator at Hanford. He began by working at the 300 Area under Leona Marshall, then switched to the 100 Area where he continued working for 33 years.

Rex E. Gunderson

Tinian Island

Rex E. Gunderson served in the 603rd Air Engineering Squadron. 

Robert P. Matthews

Tinian Island

Robert P. Matthews worked as a member of Project Alberta, the team that transported and assembled the Fat Man and Little Boy atomic bombs.

Joe Stalder

Oak Ridge, TN

Stalder worked for Stone and Webster Engineering Corporation.