Only four people were in attendance Wednesday afternoon to hear Norman Herz, professor emeritus of geology, speak about his involvement in a secret mission during World War II.
The audience was reduced to three people after the man who introduced Herz left shortly after Herz began speaking.
But Herz began his speech undaunted, and the three audience members who remained, all senior citizens, added their own comments on their views of the politics of the war throughout the speech.
Herz, Geology department head at the University during the spring of 1970, was "chosen to volunteer" for a top secret mission by Army officials because of his background in civil engineering and geology.
Herz was selected to participate in Operation Alacrity, a top secret Allied mission that involved the construction of an air base on Santa Maria Island, located on the Mid Atlantic Ridge about 800 miles from Europe.
"When I was sent over (to the island), I was sent to make topographic maps of the area for the government to use in their construction of the air bases," he said.
Herz also authored a book titled "Operation Alacrity," in which he details problems the United States and other countries faced during the years leading up to the war, as well as events that unfolded during combat.
"In 1944, the control of the Azores Islands were key to control of the Atlantic Ocean," Herz said.
Portugal, the country that occupied the Azores Islands during the war, was threatened with a German attack if Americans were found occupying the islands.
More than 200 American ships per month passed through the Azores Islands in the 1940's.
Passage through the islands was essential for ships and airplanes on their way to Europe, the reason the airbase was so essential, Herz said.
Herz said because Portugal tried to be as neutral in the war as possible, if he was found on Santa Maria making topographical maps for an American air base, he could have been killed.
Herz's book, which he said took seven years to write, includes several recently de-classified documents and reports of the undercover missions.
"Operation Alacrity" can be purchased at the University Bookstore.
