Part 3: Fizzled Fuses Summary and Analysis

With World War II is on the horizon, Feynman begins to wonder if there is a way he can use his technical expertise to serve his country. He asks an officer how to go about doing this, and the officer tells him he can enter boot camp with the other recruits. When Feynman asks if there is a more direct way to put his technical skill to work, he is quickly shot down. He considers going to boot camp but decides against it.

After taking several tours of the Bell Labs in New York, he is finally offered a summer job. However, shortly afterward he is offered a job with the army and accepts that instead. He later regrets this decision, since he could have helped the war effort in the Bell Labs while doing more interesting...