1931*

Once again the most important number of changes in the Class of '31 seem to be from civilian life to the Army. Art Brettler has just joined this group. Art Ecker, formerly a doctor in Syracuse, now assumes a Captaincy in the United States Army. Went Eldredge who formerly was doing civilian work in Washington is now a Lieu- tenant in the Army. Charlie Sullivan, med- ico from Brookline, Mass., is a Lieutenant in the Navy. Recent newspaper clippings show Art Davis, who has been practicing medicine in Glens Falls, as a Lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the Army Air Force at Chanute Field in Illinois. Freddie Burkhardt, who used to fly through the water as our backstroke specialist, is now going to do all his flying for the Govern- ment in the Air Corps and is taking his officer training at Keesler Field in Missis- sippi.

Some other changes: Bert Brock, form- erly with the Pan American Corp. in Cleve- land, has been transferred to Los Angeles, California. Ted Harms, who previously spent most of his time up in Keeseville, New York, has now returned to Brooklyn where he is taking over the family real es- tate business. We ran into Ted the other night at Shep Wolff's in Scarsdale, and I don't know whether or not you are fam- iliar with the unfortunate hunting acci- dent Ted had a number of years ago which eventually resulted in the loss of his leg. To us, Ted is another example of fellows like Billy Walsh in our own Class, Glen Cunningham, Bill Bonthrom and other famous athletes who, in spite of severe physical handicaps, have carried on in a way that shames most of us who have had the good fortune to retain all of our health and faculties. Ted gets around with aston- ishing ease and plays a game of tennis that has made him an example for many fellows who have had similar misfortunes—so much so that he has had letters written to him from all over the country, and at the pres- ent time is even being considered for a job in the United States Navy. He is an amazing guy!

After the spell of increased marriages and births which occurred in the Class, it has been rather a let-down to have had only one to report for the last two columns until we realized we had overlooked in some manner the recent marriage of Gene Smith to Martha Suter of Pittsburgh on September ist. We are sorry, Gene and Martha, that we neglected to report this, but add our belated congratulations to- gether with those of the other members of the Class of '3l.

From time to time we have found the members in the Class taking an active part in community life and the most recent bit of news on this score comes from Pittsfield, Mass., where Rex Fall was recently named chairman of the membership committee for the YMCA's annual campaign. Rex has been a campaign manager and a candidate for mayoralty in the association's contest, so he is well known and they are looking to him to do a bang-up job. Since gradu- ation he has worked for the Berkshire Eve-ning Eagle and currently is its feature edi- tor and dramatic critic.

Seldom do we have a chance to report on the doings of some of the fellows outside the country, but we recently had a letter from Bob Biesel's Dad in Newport, Rhode Island, with the up-to-date news on Bob, so we are giving it to you first-hand. His father writes: "We have received no word direct from Bob since his letter of last No- vember which arrived in March as mail service has been suspended from the East. Bob is still in Shanghai but they have not been interned—in fact, Swan, Culbertson 8c Fritz are still operating. Both Susan's father and I are awaiting letters from them that were brought over on the Gripsholm but have to go past the censor and we ex- pect them any day now. Some of Mr. Fow- ler's friends who arrived on the Grips-holm brought good news that Bob, Susan and both the children are in good health and both are taking things in stride.

"Bob is running the Refugee Camp for destitute Americans in Shanghai (about 150) who are quartered in the American School. Bob and family are listed to come home on the next trip of the boat but it is up to the Japanese, of course, as to who leaves."

I know we all hope that Bob and his family do make the next boat and that af- ter he gets here, he will have a chance to give us an account of some of his experi- ences.

This is a short column, fellows, largely because we haven't heard from anybody in quite a while. I know that your activities probably keep you pretty well tied down, but it is in times like this when changes are occurring rapidly and pressure gets the greatest that we are even more inter- ested in knowing what is happening to you. So if you can find the time, how's about dropping us a line.

Secretary, Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Cos. 31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, N. Y. Treasurer, WILLIAM A. GEIGER 400 W. Madison St., Chicago, 111.