Page "Tom Lehrer" Paragraph 6

He remained in Harvard's doctoral program for several years, taking time out for his musical career and to work as a researcher at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

He served in the U. S. Army from 1955 to 1957, working at the National Security Agency.

( Lehrer has stated that he invented the Jell-O Shot during this time, as a means of circumventing liquor restrictions.

) All of these experiences eventually became fodder for songs, viz.

" Fight Fiercely, Harvard ", " The Wild West Is Where I Want To Be " and " It Makes a Fellow Proud to Be a Soldier ".

Despite holding a master's degree in an era when American conscripts often lacked a high school diploma, Lehrer served as an enlisted soldier, achieving the rank of Specialist Third Class ( later retitled " Specialist-4 " and currently " Specialist "), which he described as being a " corporal without portfolio ".

In 1960, Lehrer returned to full-time studies at Harvard, but he never completed his doctoral studies in mathematics.