After a 20 year career in teh U.S. Army, serving in World War II and the Korean War, Reynold Muranaka studied sociology at the University of Puget Sound, and, immediately after graduation, was hired as a caseworker to counsel street alcoholics in the gritty downtown and Hilltop areas of Tacoma, Washington. Through his own initiative, Muranaka developed a unique "Group Meeting" program about which Alcoholics Anonymous stated: "Many persons of alcoholic make-up, who would not even consider attending a meeting of A.A., have lost their fears and come to A.A. by first attending his meetings..." "One could easily estimate that his educational and friendly meetings have helped hundreds (or even thousands) of people."