View source for Charles Vanden Bulck

{{Infobox military person
|name                 =Charles Vanden Bulck
|birth_date           ={{birth date|1904|05|09|df=yes}}
|death_date           = {{death date and age|1962|9|29|1904|05|09|df=yes}}
|birth_place          =[[Antwerp, Belgium]]
|death_place          =[[Stamford, Connecticut]]
|placeofburial        =
|placeofburial_label  = Place of burial
|image                =
|image_size           =300
|caption              =Charles Vanden Bulck
|nickname             =Van
|allegiance           ={{flagicon|United States}} [[United States of America]]
|branch               =[[File:United States Department of the Army Seal.svg|25px]] [[United States Army]]
|unit                 =[[File:United States Army Corps of Engineers logo.svg|25px]] [[United_States_Army_Corps_of_Engineers|United States Army Corps of Engineers]]<br>[[File:Manhattan District.svg|25px]] Manhattan Engineer District
|native_name          = Carolus Joannes Cornelius Van den Bulck
|known_for            =Integrity, creativity, efficiency<ref name="ManOfIntegrity">[http://smithdray1.net/historicallyspeaking/2011/7-12-11%20Charles%20Vanden%20Bulck%20name.pdf Charles Vanden Bulck – The story of the name and a man of integrity]</ref><ref name="BlackVault1"></ref>
|serviceyears         =1942–1946
|servicenumber        =O-490878
|spouse               =Gertrude (Gerty) Korman
|children             =1
|memorials            =[[Charles Vanden Bulck Bridge]], [[Loudon County]], [[Tennessee]] 
|rank                 =[[File:Lieutenant Colonel insignia.png|25px]] [[Lieutenant Colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]]
|commands             =[[File:Manhattan Project emblem.png|25px]]Chief Administrative Officer of the [[Manhattan Engineer District]]  at [[:en:Oak_Ridge,_Tennessee|Oak Ridge, Tennessee]]
|awards               =[[File:Us legion of merit legionnaire.png|25x40px]] [[Legion of Merit]] [[United States Atomic Energy Commission]] Distinguished Service Award<br>
|laterwork            =[[File:Seal of the United States Atomic Energy Commission.svg|25px]]Special asistent to the General Manager of the [[United States Atomic Energy Commission|Atomic Energy Commission]]
}}

'''Charles Vanden Bulck''' (born Carolus Joannes Cornelius Van den Bulck, [[Antwerp, Belgium]], May 9, 1904, died Stamford, Connecticut, September 29, 1962) was an American of Flemish origin. 
By means of a correspondence course accounting and general business management he worked himself up the administrative hierarchy of Manhattan and the army. 
During [[World War II]] he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] leading the [[Oak Ridge, Tennessee]] administrative department of the [[Manhattan Engineer District|Manhattan-project]], a secret research project in the development race to the first [[atomic bomb]]. He received several honors for his contribution to the success of the Oak Ridge activities and the associated furtherance of the war effort.

== Short biography ==
Charles Vanden Bulck was an in [[Antwerp, Belgium|Antwerp]] born Belgian who migrated in 1913 at the age of 9 with his parents and sister to the [[United States]] and grew up in the 578 Hudsonstreet, [[Hoboken, New Jersey]].

May 1922 at the age of 18 he joined the military service with the New York Guard Navy. He was a sportive young man interested in diving and repairing ships.

He had a high school eduation and followed a correspondence course accounting and general business management and worked shortly for a bank and a sugar refinery..<ref name="SupremeCourt1">[https://books.google.be/books?id=OICLVlgV1x4C&pg=PA168&lpg=PA168&dq=Charles+Vanden+Bulck#v=onepage&q=Charles%20Vanden%20Bulck&f=false Statement United States Supreme Court page 169]</ref>

Around 1925 he started as a civilian on the financial department of the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]], where he worked on the payroll administration, job finances and the budgets. The following years he moved from post to post and lived after the birth of his son Charles Franz in 1934 in Rome, Bingham and Syracuse to return later on back to New York. When the family is enjoying a game of bowling on December 7, 1941 in Rome, New York, they receive the news of the Japanese surprise [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].

In 1942 in Syracuse [[James_C._Marshall|Brigadier General James C. Marshall]] asked him to participate in a secret project at a secret location. A request he blindly accepted.<ref>{{Cite web| url= https://history.army.mil/html/books/010/10-5/CMH_Pub_10-5.pdf |author-first= Lenore | author-last= Fine |title=The Corps of Engineers: Construction in the United States|quote=On a weekend trip to Syracuse, Marshall also signed up Virginia J. Olsson, his attractive and efficient secretary, Charles Vanden Bulck, his resourceful administrative assistant, and Capt. Robert C. Blair, a capable civil engineer and one of the ninety-odd Syracuse Reservists on active duty with the Corps.}}</ref> 
Charles is there after known for his position as chief administrative and procurement officer for the [[Manhattan Project]] at [[Oak Ridge, Tennessee]]

First as a major and soon after as lieutenant colonel he managed over 60% of the US$2 billion<ref name="ManhattanProjectCosts">[https://lps.library.cmu.edu/ETHOS/article/id/22/ Manhattan project costs - see "63%" and "image 5"]</ref> spend on the [[Manhattan Project]] making this is a success.<ref name="BlackVault1">[https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/manhattan/Book%20I%20-General%20-%20Vol.%204-Chapter%208-Press%20Releases-Part%201.pdf  theblackvault.com document bottom of page 164]</ref>

He is mentioned as auditor of the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] with workplace Lincoln Park, New Jersey.<ref>[https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/manhattan/Book%20I%20-General%20-%20Vol.%204-Chapter%208-Press%20Releases-Part%201.pdf  theblackvault.com document page 89]</ref>

Next to his agreable personality he was also know for his extreem integrity in not accepting any form of gifts to the extent of even sending back cakes and pies.<ref name="ManOfIntegrity"></ref>

After the war until his retirement on August 4, 1960, he worked as a contracting officer for the [[United States Atomic Energy Commission|Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)]], where he transformed the temporarily war project in [[Oak Ridge, Tennessee|Oak Ridge]] into a permanent group of useful facilities for the development of peaceful nuclear applications. In this roll he also controlled other organizations such as the Oak Ridge Hospital, which in January 1960 would transform into the Hospital of the Methodist Church.

He received the [[Legion of Merit]], his name was contributed to a bridge near [[Oak Ridge, Tennessee]] and he is mentioned in several books on the [[Manhattan Project]] like ''The Girls of Atomic City - The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II'' by [[Denise Kiernan]].

== Family == 
Born May 9, 1904, in [[Antwerp]], [[Belgium]], as son of Frans - Francois - Van den Bulck (1880 – 1948) and his wife Maria Josephina Pauwels (1885 - 1969).
Once in the US their first names morph into more English sounding variants like Francis, Marie Jo, Charles en Marth.
His parents found their last resting place on the Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum of North Arlington, Bergen, County, New Jersey.<ref>[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96368637/frans-vanden_bulck|Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum of North Arlington, Bergen County, New Jersey]</ref>

According to his birth certificate (see gallery) his official given name was Carolus Joannes Cornelius Van den Bulck.

In 1933 he married Gertrude (Gerty) Korman (May 13, 1910), who was of German descend. Together they have a son Charles Franz Vandenbulck who was born September 1, 1934, in Hoboken, New Jersey, two grandchildren and several great grandchilderen.

His sister Martha Marie (may 27, 1911-august 7, 2001) and her husband Joseph Paul Vidosic had 2 children Dorothy Marie Vidosic and Richard Paul Vidosic and several grandchildren.

<Gallery caption="Belgian civil registry - family certificates">
File:Huwelijk Van den Bulck 1904.jpg|(1) Marriage certificate of his parents
File:Geboorte akte Carolus. Joannes. Cornelius. Van den Bulck.jpg|(2) Birth certificate as Carolus Joannes Cornelius Van den Bulck
</Gallery>

== Migration == 
=== Antwerp ===
Between 1873 and 1934 the [[Red_Star_Line|Red Star Line]] organized regular passages from Antwerp to New York. Their oceaan steamers with impressive high chimneys docked alongside the Rijnkaai at the current level of the [[:nl:Red_Star_Line_Museum|Red Star Line Museum]] on the Montevideostraat. On departure, the ships were pulled downstream up the river [[Scheldt]] by [[tugboat|tugboats]]. This way about 2 million European emigrants would reach the United States of America including the young Van den Bulck family.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://redstarline.be/en/page/millions-people-one-dream | publisher=The Red Star Line Museum - Antwerp| title=Millions of People, one Dream | quote=For many people, the trip to the New World began in a warehouse in Antwerp. Red Star Line ocean steamers paved the way to a new life for about two million men, women and children between 1873 and 1934.}}</ref> Both in Antwerpen and New York emigrants were medically examined, disinfected and sometimes quarantined. When they did not pass the New York controls they were send back on the expense of the shipping company.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.depts.ttu.edu/international/intlopr/k-12geo/documents/prepost_resources/Ellis_Island/Ellis_Island_Pre_Visit_Activity_The_Immigration_Process_5-6_final_edits.pdf |title=Ellis Island - The Immigration Process|quote=After traveling aboard the steamship for several weeks to America, the immigrant would reach Ellis Island. They would have to pass medical and legal inspections once again. The journey was long and difficult and people would often become ill during the voyage. America wanted to ensure that anyone entering the country was legal, law-abiding, healthy, and able to work so that the government would not have to support them. For most immigrants, the final inspection process at Ellis Island would only take a few hours. Only a small percentage were sent back to their home countries – at the expense of the steamship lines – after failing inspections.}}</ref>
<br>

=== Ellis Island, New York ===
On the manifest of the {{SS|Finland|1902|3}} with departure from Antwerp May 10, 1913 and arrival in New York on May 21 we see his father Frans Van den Bulck being mentioned with 'age 32 years' and 'occupation baker' (see picture 6).
Unless he had made prior arrangements he probably went in search of employment finding work as a longshoreman<ref>{{cite journal|date=2011|journal= The Oak Ridger’s Historically Speaking|title=Charles Vanden bulck – The story of the name and a man of integrity|quote=They settled first in Hoboken , NJ, where Charles’ father worked as a longshoreman.}}</ref> and an affordable place to live. When mother and children arrive on October 11th 1913 on the same {{SS|Finland|1902|3}} on [[Ellis Island]], the manifest shows that the father paid for the fair while already having an American address at 578 Hudsonstreet, Hoboken, New Jersey. The Van den Bulck family is listed on the manifest lines 23-25 as "Marie 28 years", "Charle 9 years" and "Martha 2 years". Further more the column "near family or friends" mentions "14 Nassau St, Antwerp. Grandmother" (see picture 7.1 and 7.2).

<Gallery caption="From Antwerp to Ellis Island, New-York>
File:Oude Rijnkaai Antwerpen.jpg|(1) Old view on Rijnkaai, Antwerp
File:Red Star line buildings old.jpg|(2) Red Star Line buildings, Antwerp
File:Finland-and-kroonland-plan.jpg|(3) SS Finland floor plan
File:SS Finland at Antwerp.jpg|(4) The SS Finland docked in Antwerp
File:SsfinlandExitNewYork.jpg|(5)The SS Finland leaving New York
File:Ellis Island - 21 May 1913.jpg|(6) SS Finland passenger arrival list - father, May 21, 1913
File:Ellis Island - 11 oktober 1913.jpg|(7.1) SS Finland passenger arrival list - family, Octobre 11, 1913 page 1
File:Ellis Island - 11 oktober 1913 2.JPG|(7.2) SS Finland passenger arrival list, family, Octobre 11, 1913 page 2
</Gallery>

=== Hoboken, New Jersey === 
As terminal of the German [[Norddeutscher Lloyd]] and the [[Hamburg-America_Line| Hamburg America]] lines German migrants were the largest population group in [[Hoboken,_New_Jersey|Hoboken]]. 
The city with her typical German churches, beer halls and social clubs was also called "Little Bremen".<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.maggieblanck.com/Hoboken/Hoboken.html| publisher= Magie Blanck | title= Maggie Blanck's Hoboken, N.J.| quote=Hoboken had Irish, Italian and German enclaves. But it was perhaps the German culture that dominated until World War I. Hoboken was a center of German culture, with German Churches, beer halls, news papers, social clubs etc. The large numbers of German immigrants living in Hoboken earned it the nickname of "Little Bremen".}}</ref>
In the first World War the Hoboken harbor, where his father worked as a longshoreman, performed a very important roll in the transportation of soldiers and materials to Europe.
During and after the war the Duitse presence decreased because of anti-German feelings and actions. This continued after the war with the arrival of many Irish, Italians, Joegoslaves, [[latino's]] and Azian people.<ref>{{Cite web| 
 url=https://www.hobokenmuseum.org/explore-hoboken/ |title=A City in Wartime: Hoboken, 1914-1919|publisher=Hoboken Historical Museum|quote= Hoboken’s rapid growth from 1860 to 1910 and its role as a gateway to America brought many immigrants from Europe to the city. The Germans were the first, and German became a dominant language throughout Hoboken. After World War I, the city’s ethnic character changed. Germans were followed by Irish, Italians, Yugoslavs, Latinos and Asian Indians. Hoboken’s ethnic vitality enriches the city’s contemporary life.}}</ref>
* {{cite book
  | first     = Christina A.
  | last      = Ziegler-McPherson
  | author-link =
  | title     = Immigrants in Hoboken:: One-Way Ticket, 1845-1985 (American Heritage)
  | url       = https://books.google.be/books/about/Immigrants_in_Hoboken.html?id=fb92CQAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y
  | date      = June 14, 2011
  | publisher = The History Press
  | isbn      = 978-1609491635
}}

== Biography ==
[[File:Frans_Van_den_Bulck_alias_Francis_Vanden_Bulck_-_Military_Draft_19180912.jpg|thumb|1918 Military draft Frans Van den Bulck]]
[[File:Charles Vanden Bulck Military Service 1922.png|thumb|1922 Military draft Charles Vanden Bulck]]
 
[[File:The Castle on The Hill -The Administration Building, Oak Ridge 1945 (28753738616).jpg|thumb|MED HQ - The Castle on The Hill]]
[[File:Valentine Dance Oak Ridge (8206261886).jpg|thumb|Front left: Sherry during Valentine dance preparations in Oak ridge]]
[[File:Manhttan Project Organization Chart 1946 Administrative Division.gif|thumb|1946 Organization chart - administrative division]]
=== Schools ===
The school system in Hoboken was of good quality.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://oakridgetn.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15388coll1/id/798/ |interviewer-first=Don|interviewer-last=Hunnicutt|author-first=Charles Franz|author-last=VandenBulck|title=ORAL HISTORY OF CHARLES VANDENBULCK |publisher=Center for Oak Ridge Oral History|quote= Yeah, I'd been in the city systems and, in those days, the city systems in New York, Hoboken, were pretty good schools.}}</ref> Charles attended the last part of primary school, secondary school and high school. Real details are unknown. The start date of his military service could have indicated something about not completing his last year, but at that time the number of school days was significantly lower.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stacker.com/stories/3315/what-american-education-was-100-years-ago#:~:text=The%20students%20in%20the%201919,certain%20number%20of%20instructional%20hours). | title=What American education was like 100 years ago|quote=The students in the 1919-1920 school year only had to attend school 143 days a year; a decade later, though, the school year went up to 175 days}}</ref> He might not have had the means to or decided not to start higher education.

=== World War I ===
On April 6, 1917, the US joined the Allies in [[World War I]] and started the mobilization that also included his father in 1918. Although his father signed with Frans Van den Bulck he got registered as Francis Vanden Bulck, with address 122 River Street, Hoboken, Hudson (NJ) (see document).

A little later, the headquarters of the [[Commission for Relief in Belgium]] (C.R.B.) was established in [[New_York_City|New York]]. 
It collected money, food and relief supplies for the Belgian victims of the German war machine.
Through national committees, the organization called on all Americans to set aside food and collect clothing for the Belgians.<ref>[https://www.cairn.info/revue-cahiers-bruxellois-2014-1N-page-127.html (nl) De humanitaire mobilisatie]</ref>

Following sabotage actions part of [[Hoboken,_New_Jersey#World_War_I|Hoboken]] was put under martial law and many Germans fled to other states or were moved on Ellis Island.<ref>[http://www.thirteen.org/hoboken/history_post.html History of Hoboken: Post-Industrial] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605015551/http://www.thirteen.org/hoboken/history_post.html |date=June 5, 2011 }}, [[WNET]]. Accessed September 10, 2022. "Yet when the United States entered World War I on the side of Britain and France, this all changed. The U.S. government seized control of Hoboken's piers and the German ships docked there. Martial law was declared in sections of the city, and many Germans were sent to Ellis Island. Thousands of Germans left Hoboken, and soon the city became known for its large Italian population."</ref>

===  Draft ===
On May 15, 1922, at the age of 18, Charles joined the Navy department of the New York Guard (3rd Div 2nd Bn). His enlistment paper showed as address 117 Wall Street, New York City.<ref>See military draft document Charles Vanden Bulck.</ref>

=== First jobs ===
Charles took a correspondence course accounting and general management and worked shortly for a bank and a sugar refinery.<ref name="SupremeCourt1"></ref>

=== World War II ===
During [[World War II]] Charles worked for the [[United_States_Army_Corps_of_Engineers|US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)]]. He started as a civilian on the Broadway office in New York and in 1941 he joined the [[Griffiss_Air_Force_Base|Rome Air Force]] project team of [[Kenneth Nichols]]. A personal collaboration that would last for 37 years.

After accepting [[James_C._Marshall|Brigadier General James C. Marshall's]] secret mission request in 1942 he moved to Oak Ridge where he was promoted to major and soon after to lieutenant colonel. During the first phase of the Oak Ridge development in 1942 the local ground owners were told they had to make room for the "Kingston Demolition Range". Later on the location name would change to [[Clinton_Engineer_Works|Clinton Engineer Works (CEW)]]. Before Oak Ridge got her final name it was also known as "Site X" and "the Secret City". The name Oak Ridge was chosen after a competition for proposals by Brigadier General [[James_C._Marshall|James C. Marshall]] in conjunction with Charles.<Ref>1963 letter from General James C. Marshal to widow Gertrude Vanden Bulck-Korman.</ref>

Starting from May 1943 'Van' - as Charles was often called in those days - worked in the newly build 'Castle on the Hill' headquarters of the [[Manhattan Engineer District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=112099 |publisher=The Historical Marker Database | title= Castle on the Hill | quote=The Administration Building for the Clinton Engineering Works opened March 15, 1943. Dubbed "The Castle", it became headquarters for the Manhattan Engineering District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, from which all Manhattan Project construction was directed, 1943-1945. The Atomic Energy Commission assumed control of the property on January 1, 1947. "The Castle" was demolished and replaced by the Federal Building in 1970.}}</ref> It was a low building with a long central wing connecting to seven cross coupled administrative wings. The headquarters also had a heliport landing platform at the back. He worked closely together with [[Leslie_Groves|General Leslie Groves]] known as project leader of the Pentagon building and [[Kenneth Nichols|Colonel Nichols]].<ref>* {{cite book
  | first     = Denise
  | last      = Kiernan
  | author-link = Denise Kiernan
  | title     = The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II
  | url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=zav6AgAAQBAJ
  | date      = March 11, 2014
  | publisher = [[Simon and Schuster]]
  | isbn      = 978-1-4516-1753-5
}}</ref> the Manhattan District Engineer.

In day-to-day activities Charles was assisted by his secretary the tall blond well-dressed Sherry (Frances Rose McSherry 1921-2018)<ref name="Sherry">[https://theprowersjournal.com/2018/06/frances-rose-mcsherry-grahamapril-11-1921-june-12-2018/ Obituary and biography Frances Rose McSherry]</ref><ref>{{cite book
  | first     = Denise
  | last      = Kiernan
  | author-link = Denise Kiernan
  | title     = The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II
  | url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=zav6AgAAQBAJ
  | date      = 11 March 2014
  | publisher = [[Simon and Schuster]]
  | page      = 286
  | quote     = Lieutenant Colonel Vanden Bulck's secretary was tall, blond, always well-put together, and rarely seen wearing the same thing twice.
  | isbn      = 978-1-4516-1753-5
}}</ref> or in her absence by one of her colleagues such as Celia Szapka Klemski.<ref name="KlemskiInterview1">[https://www.manhattanprojectvoices.org/oral-histories/celia-szapka-klemskis-interview Interview Celia Szapka-Klemski]</ref>
<ref> {{cite book
  | first     = Denise
  | last      = Kiernan
  | author-link = Denise Kiernan
  | title     = The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II
  | url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=zav6AgAAQBAJ
  | date      = 11 March 2014
  | publisher = [[Simon and Schuster]]
  | isbn      = 978-1-4516-1753-5
}} </ref>
Sherry made such an impression on the physicist [[Richard Feynman]] that he would later mention her in his biography and refer to her as 'the movie queen'.
<ref>{{cite book
  | first     = James
  | last      = Gleick
  | author-link = 
  | title     = The Life and Science of Richard Feynman
  | url       = 
  | date      = 2 April 1994
  | publisher = 978-0349105321
  | isbn      = 
}} pages 263 and 266</ref>  
She also did not remain unnoticed during the Oak Ridge staff meetings as General [[Leslie Groves]] would appoint her later as his private secretary.<ref name="Sherry"></ref>

Charles was director of administration and special disbursing officer of the [[Manhattan Project]]. In more general terms he was the procurement manager in charge of the aquisition and administrative processing of all the materials and services. The project mainly contracted large American companies with prior army work experience. An important exception was the Belgian-Kongolese company [[Union_Minière_du_Haut-Katanga|Union Minière du Haut-Katanga or UMHK]] that took care of the supply of [[uranium]] via their director [[Edgar Sengier]]. An important part of the highly needed UMHK [[uranium]] stock was luckily already stored in New York.
<BR>

End of August 1943 Charles brought his family to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Due to war related shortages the car trip would take them 3 days as they often needed to wait in exhausted gas stations for fuel trucks with new deliveries. Upon arrival September 1st - his son's birthday - they first stayed in the [[Alexander_Inn|Guest House]] taking their meals in the Central Cafeteria. Once their planned home was finished and furbished they moved to 303 West Fernhill. Later on they would move one more time to 111 Olney Lane. This was the former home of [[Kenneth_Nichols|Colonel Nichols]] and was of a much higher standard than the caravans and barracks where most workers stayed. It was also an upgrade from coal to electric heating.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oakridgetn.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15388coll1/id/798/ |interviewer-first=Don|interviewer-last=Hunnicutt|author-first=Charles Franz|author-last=VandenBulck|publisher=Center for Oak Ridge Oral History|title=Charles Vanden Bulck|date=2017}}</ref>

All homes were build according to standard types and both their homes were of type D - family house.<ref>[https://www.nps.gov/places/oak-ridge-alphabet-housing.htm Oak Ridge Alphabet Housing Manhattan Project National Historical Park]</ref> On the floorplan one sees the standard kind of rooms but also a coal room..
As the family only has 1 child, they had a spare sleeping room which was almost always assigned to arriving corp members. As soon as their guests family arrived they would leave to their own newly constructed home.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oakridgetn.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15388coll1/id/798/ |interviewer-first=Don|interviewer-last=Hunnicutt|author-first=Charles Franz|author-last=VandenBulck|publisher=Center for Oak Ridge Oral History|title=Charles Vanden Bulck|date=2017}}</ref> 
Construction on the site continued 24/24 so it happened that where in the morning you passed an empty ground that in the evening you crossed a brand new residential quarter.

During the war years over 60% of the 2 billion USD Manhattan project costs and contracts would be processed by his administration.<ref name="ManhattanProjectCosts"></ref> In 2022 the estimated amount of 1,118.325.000 USD would represent a relative value of almost 19 billion USD<ref>[https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ USD inflation calculator]</ref>. Most of it was spend on the [[K-25|K-25 Gaseous diffusion plant]] and the [[Y-12_National_Security_Complex|Y-12 electromagnetic plant]].

His ASN - Army Service Number was O-490878

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Code !! Meaning
|-
| O || Commissioned Officer 
|-
| 4 || drafted in either  Alabama, Florida, Georgia Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, '''Tennessee'''
|-
| 90878 || "'''Special Use'''" service numbers range 90.001 – 99.999
|}

[[:en:Timeline_of_the_Manhattan_Project|The detailed Manhattan project timeline]] 
<br>

<gallery>
File:Manhattan Engineering District Organigram 1943.png|Organization chart as major (1943)
File:1280px-Manhttan_Project_Organization_Chart.gif|Organization chart as lieutenant colonel
File:Oak Ridge Building Type D.jpg|Oak Ridge family house type D
</gallery>

=== Atomic Energy Commission ===
[[File:Seal of the United States Atomic Energy Commission.gif|right|Atomic Energy Commission|120x120px]]

The [[United States Atomic Energy Commission|United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)]] was created in 1946 after signing the [[Atomic_Energy_Act_of_1946|McMahon/Atomic Energy act]] in order to transfer the military nuclear knowledge and infrastructure to the civil world.

After World War II Charles continued the administration at the Oak Ridge site until November 1946.

Returning to civilian life he then worked 2 months for the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] to transfer in Januari 1947 with his relevant knowledge and experience to the non-military [[:en:United_States_Atomic_Energy_Commission|Atomic Energy Commission]].<ref name="SupremeCourt1"></ref>

In 1953 he was promoted to "assistent manager of the operations offices" to lead 6 divisions including budgetting and rapporting.<ref name="SupremeCourt1"></ref>

He was listed among others in the January 3, 1956, edition of the [[Official_Congressional_Directory|Congressional Directory]]<ref>[https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5QafY7KbKdwbaQuPfYHFlptATENok55Al6jOXS3TZVMrBBNiKjMFswV-oGBHwPDy5NZBqrcrnOVyEqp_7HB2jq4NnQaiI2GaBpHjaEPvrVxVg2W7cXTiwBGp0OXE6CADHfxMQT135VjMRsBQlsyYANsN8t49yZqlZ3O-FAVibdWq_ktigxSrs1F-qxRPiTpaZHL9WIm-srrjDwxsIw_goWOEwsGHaaHgw2cHcgbc_XRMmxljTbf1a9WoTr1Wf15pRBPGT7Dj_n8OT5MOPGdw961tEhy2somJ7jT-33HngYMm8JyipAeQ Congressional directory 1956]</ref>  - FOR THE USE OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, onder het "Office of the General Manger" als "Special Assistant to the General Manager", extensie 452. His home at the time near [[Washington D.C.]] is mentioned as 6017 Kirby Road, [[Bethesda,_Maryland]].

In Augustus 1960 he retired from the Atomic Energy Commission but not without informing [[Kenneth Nichols]] by letter and looking back on their common history (see attached letter).

=== American Machine and Foundry ===

After his retirement from the Atomic Energy Commission in August 1960, he took one more job with the American Machine and Foundry (AMF) that originally started as a recreational equipment company.<ref>{{cite journal|date=2011|journal= The Oak Ridger’s Historically Speaking|title=Charles Vanden bulck – The story of the name and a man of integrity|quote=After his retirement from the Atomic Energy Commission in 1960, he took a job with the American Machine and Foundry or AMF a recreational equipment company for many years that started out as the first automated cigarette manufacturer.}}</ref> At that time however one of their products was the launching system for the U.S. Army's Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM). <ref>{{cite journal|date=2011|journal= The Oak Ridger’s Historically Speaking|title=Charles Vanden bulck – The story of the name and a man of integrity|quote=One of their product lines was the launching system for Inter Centennial Ballistic Missiles for the U. S. Air Force.}}</ref> This required a thorough investigation into his past, revealing details about his birth and younger life in Antwerp, Belgium.

=== Hobbies ===
Charles Vanden Bulck was an avid athlete who enjoyed [[American handball]], slow pitch [[softball]] and [[bowling]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oakridgetn.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15388coll1/id/798/ |title=ORAL HISTORY OF CHARLES VANDENBULCK|author= Charles Franz VandenBulck |quote=My dad was very active in the sporting scene. He did well in the slow pitch, Sunday mornings, slow pitch softball. And when it got too cold to play softball, they went to the bowling alley at Midtown, and had Sunday morning bowling, and the kids could play.}}</ref>

== Honours ==
[[File:Us legion of merit legionnaire.png|right|Medal of Merit|70x70px]]
* October 2, 1945, for services rendered in the period 1942-1945 he was awarded the [[Legion of Merit]].<ref name="MilitaryTimes">[https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/98053 Legion of Merit according to official act]</ref>
* Washington D.C. 1956, he receives the highest Atomic Energy Commission price "the gold Distinguished Service Award".<ref name="ProcurementManager">[http://smithdray1.net/historicallyspeaking/2011/7-5-11%20Charles%20Vandenbulck%20rev%201.pdf Charles Vanden Bulck – Procurement Manager for Manhattan Project]</ref>
* Loudon County 1962, a bridge on the Tennessee SR95, White Wing Road nearby Clinch View Church northeast of Bradbury Valley was named the Charles Vanden Bulck bridge in his honour.
* 1962, after his passing a certificate by president John F. Kennedy send in honor of the memory to Charles Vanden Bulck.<ref>[https://doczz.net/doc/8535029/charles-vanden-bulck-%E2%80%93-procurement-manager-for-manhattan The Oak Ridger’s Historically Speaking]</ref>
* Honored by the National Civil Service League.<ref>The Oak Ridgers newspaper article</ref>

== Appraisals == 
* Several appraisals by General [[Kenneth_Nichols|Kenneth David Nichols]] in his book "The Road to Trinity" (1987).
* Communication mentioned in the "Manhattan History - Book 1 - Volume 4 - Chapter 8":
"TO: CHARLES VANDEN-BULCK, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Box 231, Mountain View, NJ
<BR>
FOR:As Chief Administrative Officer of the Manhattan Engineer District of October 1942 to August 1945. Although handicapped by rigid security control which at times required wide variation from normal War Department administrative procedures, he ingeniously devised many new means for effecting special administrative requirements. By his initiative, great force, and unusual comprehension of detail, he rendered service of outstanding value to the Government and assisted materially in the furtherance of the war effort.<ref name="BlackVault1"></ref>

== Charity and culture ==
 
According to several sources, he would have been a very agreeable person<ref name="KlemskiInterview1"></ref> who also worked for charities including the local [[Children's Museum of Oak Ridge]]. His son Charlie Franz has donated many of his father's documents to this museum, so that they can be preserved for the future.<ref name="GiftDeed">[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Charles_Franz_VandenBulck_-_Deed_of_Gift_to_the_Oak_Ridge_Children%27s_Museum.pdf Deed of gift for his family pictures and documents to the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge.]</ref>

In the article 'Recreation and Welfare Groups Function Lists'<ref>[https://oakridgetn.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p16107coll7/id/53/download The Oak Ridge Journal archive]</ref> on page 3 and 4 of [[Oak Ridge Journal|The Oak Ridge Journal]] of August 3, 1944, his name appears along with those of other members of the Recreation and Welfare Association. This concerns the organization of open-air dance moments at the tennis club and the construction of additional sports infrastructure. In the beginning, the tennis courts were one of the first and rare paved areas in Oak Ridge.
The local youth also had their own rhythms and dance moves during the war years.

== Passing ==
[[File:Morganmanor_Morganstreet_83_Stamford.jpg|thumb|Morgan Manor 83, Stamford]]
After fighting cancer he passed away September 29, 1962, at [[Stamford Hospital]] at the age of 58.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1962/09/30/archives/c-vanden-bulck-58-aided-atom-project.html ''The New York Times'']</ref><ref name="ProcurementManager"></ref>

His last know address was Morgan Manor, Morgan Street 83, Stamford, Connecticut.

On May 25, 1963 a new bridge on the Tennessee State Route 95, crossing the Clinch river, was dedicated in honor of his person and his achievements and given his name.

== Charles Vanden Bulck Bridge ==
[[File:Charles Vanden Bulck Bridge 3.jpg|thumb|Shore view]]
[[File:Vanden_Bulck_Bridge_4.png|thumb|Road view]]
The Charles Vanden Bulck Bridge is located on [[Tennessee State Route 95]], White Wing Road, [[Loudon County, Tennessee|Loudon county, Tennessee]] in sight of the [[Melton Hill Dam]] where it crosses the [[Clinch River|Clinch]].
Next to the bridge one finds the Melton Hill Dam Tailwater Ramp with easy access into the river.
The current modern bridge replaced an old floating bridge and got its name on May 25, 1963.

The name was officialized March 2, 1965 by Tennessee governor [[Frank G. Clement]] via Public Act, House Resolution No. 37.
<ref name="ProcurementManager"></ref>
<ref>Senate Journal of the 48th General Assembly of the State of Tennessee (1965)</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Feature!! Value
|-
| GeoNames id.||4612803 
|-
| Classification || Structure with physical, cultural and historical features
|-
| ZIP code || 37771
|-
| County || Loudon
|-
| State || Tennessee
|-
| Country || United States
|-
| Latitude || 35.8870216
|-
| Longitude || -84.3240905
|-
| Elevation || 741 feet or 226m above sea level
|}


=== External links === 
[https://www.google.be/maps/search/Melton+Hill+Dam+-+Tailwater+Ramp/@35.8879255,-84.3318339,16z Google maps chart]

[https://www.google.be/maps/search/Melton+Hill+Dam+-+Tailwater+Ramp/@35.8858252,-84.3273133,1747m/data=!3m1!1e3 Google maps air view]

[https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x885dd3b3fa2b58bf%3A0xff7209456fe098fe!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipP7DVlrzYZzq-tcJ4DstLGqbl9_BjTAxrh4dvqf%3Dw299-h160-k-no!5sgoogle%20maps%20tennessee%20charles%20vanden%20bulck%20bridge%20-%20Google%20Zoeken!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipP7DVlrzYZzq-tcJ4DstLGqbl9_BjTAxrh4dvqf&hl=nl&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj-6OHAzKf5AhWGO-wKHYgfD2UQoip6BAhAEAM Google maps pictures]

== Sources ==

=== Books ===
* {{cite book
  | first     = Denise
  | last      = Kiernan
  | author-link = Denise Kiernan
  | title     = The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II
  | url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=zav6AgAAQBAJ
  | date      = March 11, 2014
  | publisher = [[Simon and Schuster]]
  | isbn      = 978-1-4516-1753-5
}}
** In the 'Large Print Edition' with 655 pages he is mentioned on pages 44, 45, 120,121, 122, 286, 367.

* {{cite book 
| last = Groves
| first = Leslie R.
| author-link = Leslie_Groves
| title = Racing for the Bomb
| year = 2014
| publisher = Skyhorse Publishing
| isbn = 978-1629145310
}}
** Several accolades a.o. page 465

* {{cite book 
| last = Nichols 
| first = Kenneth D. 
| author-link = Kenneth Nichols 
| title = The Road to Trinity 
| year = 1987 
| publisher = William Morrow and Company 
| location = New York 
| isbn =  0-688-06910-X 
| oclc = 15223648
}}
** Page  67 "Vanden Bulck did a tremendous job setting up administrative procedures for each area and each project." 
** Page 299 "The one key employee I mist the most was Vanden Bulck." 

* {{cite book 
| last1 = Jackson
| first1 = Charles O.
| last2 = Johnson
| first2 = Charles W.
| title = City behind a Fence: Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 1942-1946
| year = 1981
| publisher = University of Tennessee Press
| isbn = 978-0870493096
}}
** Mentioned in chapter 2.

* {{cite book 
| last  = Bacon Hales
| first = Peter
| title = Atomic Spaces: Living on the Manhattan Project
| year = 1999
| publisher = University of Illinois Press
| isbn = 978-0252068317
}} 
** Items or pages 225 en 275

* {{cite book 
| last  = US Department of Defence
| first = 
| title = Defense's Nuclear Agency 1947-1997
| year = 1999
| publisher = Defence Threat Reduction Agency
| isbn = 
}} 
** Manhattan Engineering District Organization Chart

* {{cite book 
| last  = Fine
| first = Lenore
| title = The Corps of Engineers: Construction in the United States
| year = 2003
| publisher = US Army, Center of Military History
| isbn = 
}} 
** Sigining up in Syracuse for the Manhattan project<ref>[https://history.army.mil/html/books/010/10-5/CMH_Pub_10-5.pdf The Corps of Engineers: Construction in the United States]</ref>

=== Other sources ===
* [http://smithdray1.net/historicallyspeaking/2011/7-5-11%20Charles%20Vandenbulck%20rev%201.pdf Charles Vanden Bulck – Procurement Manager for Manhattan Project]. Including a personal picture as lieutenant colonel.
* [http://smithdray1.net/historicallyspeaking/2011/7-12-11%20Charles%20Vanden%20Bulck%20name.pdf Charles Vanden Bulck – The story of the name and a man of integrity]. Including a personal picture as civilian.
* Interview with his son Charles Franz VandenBulck : [https://oakridgetn.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15388coll1/id/798 Oral History of Charles Vandenbulck, Interviewed by Don Hunnicutt, Filmed by BBB Communications, LLC., June 9, 2017].
* [http://smithdray1.net/historicallyspeaking/archive.html The Oak Ridger’s Historically Speaking files]. 
* Children's Museum of Oak Ridge (CMOR) for providing his archived pictures and documents donated by his son Charles Franz VandenBulck<ref name="GiftDeed"></ref>
* Manhattan Project Voices : [https://www.manhattanprojectvoices.org/search/node/Bulck Interviews on Manhattan project mentioning Charles]
* Atomic heritage : [https://www.atomicheritage.org/profile/bulck-c-vanden Mentioned as contributor]
* [https://redstarline.be/nl Red Star Line Museum Antwerp, Belgium].
* [https://heritage.statueofliberty.org Heritage statue of liberty] passenger lists of Ellis Island.
* [https://oakridgetn.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/search/searchterm/Bulck Oak Ridge Public Library].
* [https://exploreoakridge.com/oak-ridge-history/ Explore Oak Ridge].
* [https://www.atomicheritage.org/location/oak-ridge-tn Atomic Heritage @ Oak Ridge].
* [https://norwayheritage.com The Norway Heritage website on the SS Finland].
* [https://books.google.be/books?id=eXuJIb-HxxEC&pg=PA597&dq=charles+vanden+bulck&hl=nl&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwju47nx8o75AhXDjqQKHRU2CNM4ChDoAXoECAoQAg#v=onepage&q=charles%20vanden%20bulck&f=false MANHATTAN: The Army and the Atomic Bom]

References
{{reflist}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|Nuclear technology||World War II}}
{{Manhattan Project}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vanden Bulck, Charles}}
[[:Category:1904 births]]
[[:Category:1962 deaths]]
[[:Category:United States Army Corps of Engineers personnel]]
[[:Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[:Category:Military personnel from New Jersey]]
[[:Category:Manhattan Project people]]
[[:Category:United States Atomic Energy Commission| ]]
[[:Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[:Category:American people of Belgian descent]]
[[:Category:American people of Flemish descent]]
[[:Category:Oak Ridge, Tennessee]]