Buk was first published with a letter to the editor, while in college (although this does not really count). He graduated High School in 1939 and was first REALLY published in 1944 (Story Magazine), so I would think that he probably started some time in 1940-43 (Buk would have been 20-23 years old), but there is someone here that has researched the timeline and has the answer (it may also be something that hee mentioned in poems and stories, but I do not recall)..
Bill
Does anyone here have a copy of that letter to the editor from LA College? If so, a scan would be VERY cool!