My parents came to the U.S. in 1960 for my dad to get a Ph.D. degree at Michigan State University. Out of money, they settled for a masters and sought an engineering job. My dad applied to 75 companies, with my mom typing each application letter separately on a small typewriter. Of the 75 letters, they received 1 positive reply letter. If not for that 1 letter, they would have had to leave the U.S. Below is the letter that therefore completely changed the lives of my parents and my siblings and me (the underlining was done by my dad when he first received the letter in 1962).

The Letter

In addition to the obvious significance to my family, you might also note how much times have changed (i.e., read the sentence about the robe and turban).