1931*
The response to our request for some news from you fellows was most gratifying and we have had some interesting letters. Here we go.
First is news from Dorothy Henry in which she states that Dick is expected home on a furlough from China and is supposed to be on his way. Although we have heard no more recent report than this, we certainly hope Dick reaches here safely, and we will plan to give you a full report on his experiences as soon as we see him ourselves, Ed. note:—censorship permitting).
Still no further report on Biesel from Shanghai although we have a sneaking idea that Bob is probably back in Manila where the home office of his firm is located.
From Si Leach in Winnipeg we hear, "Life continues in its more or less normal course, except that the addition of many duties in conjunction with the war effort, etc., take up quite a bit of time. I have been loaned by the Searle Grain Company to the Canadian Government for six weeks in connection with the coming War Loan and, at the same time, am a member of a Reserve Regiment of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, in the lowly position of a Second Lieutenant, which takes up two nights a week and Sunday mornings. It is all very interesting, however, and instead of finding the work irksome, it is somewhat of a pleasure to be making some contribution, no matter how small, in the right direction.
"Apparently modern warfare needs younger men and my age of 32 is too old to obtain a Junior Commission in our active army at this date, although we do not see how this can continue far into the future because the Air Force is gobbling up all the right kind of younger officer material and the age limit the other way will have to be changed we think. The duties of our Reserve Regiment, therefore, whose officers are mostly all in my own category, are to train men of younger officer material so that they can then step into officer's positions or non-commissioned officer's positions with the active forces. So far we feel that we have been doing an excellent job, as we have put quite a number through the mill and, of course, we always get a good training ourselves in the meantime." Thanks, Si, for your grand letter.
A long letter from Tommy Williams from whom we haven't heard in some time. Tom is with the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company and has recently moved to Wyncote, Pennsylvania, although his office is still in Philadelphia. He writes, "You can probably appreciate the fact that we are a little busy these days in the railroad business. The government doesn't mess around much when it ships anything and trainloads, instead of carloads, seem to be a common occurrence.
"A change of address should be noted on your records; I have already notified the office of Alumni Records. The move was made December 15th from Jericho Manor, Jenkintown, Pa., to the above address. Gett ing moved is an operation that seems to require a period of weeks, instead of just a few days, but things have begun to straighten themselves out and it's well worth all the trouble. The present abode is a house and was formerly occupied by Ernie Hedler of the Class of '35, so I wasn't surprised to find a few Hanoverian touches here and there. A cordial invitation is extended once again, with the hope that some of the gang will really take advantage of it when they're in the neighborhood of Philadelphia. I used to see Ed Maas once in a while on his way to the Baldwin Locomotive plant, but he must be travelling by plane the past few months.
"Tom the 3rd is really filling out—9 months old yesterday—and I'm convinced that our search for a real triple-threat halfback is ended. He's got a swell pair of legs and can he ever pass! He can hit any given spot on the wall from ten feet, even now, with the best breakable crockery in the house.
"The local Dartmouth Club takes up some of my time and if any of you fellows are in Phila. on Tuesdays at 12:30 P.M., luncheon is served in our joint quarters with the Yale Club on the Bth floor of the University Bldg. It's the most active of any Club in any of the towns I've been in around the country, although there may be some who will take exception. You will have to agree, however, that we've done our bit for the Big Green with Lou Young Jr. '4l, and Bud Troxell '44. Jim Frame and I seem to be the only active participants from our class, though there are a few others around here, who apparently are tied down and fail to show up. At the minute we are keeping ourselves busy checking the applicants for the next freshman class.
"Before I sign off, I might say that Whitey Fuller recently expressed the thought, that I know a lot of us must have, to the effect that some pretty good prospects for Hanover are being passed up right in our own bailiwicks because of a lack of a little additional effort on our part in interesting these better men in Dartmouth." It was good to hear from you again, Tom, and I think we all check 100% on this last thought. It seems to me that if Dartmouth is going to hold the position we would like to have it hold during the next trying years, it would be important that the right boys are interested. I have discussed this many times with various fellows and we all agree that it isn't necessary to subsidize, but a little honest-to-goodness selling would convert a lot of boys to Hanover if we made the effort ourselves.
Line Page, of the United States Geological Survey Department, writes this time from Silver Spring, Maryland. "After your many letters trying to get this $3.00, I should at least write you a note. After a look in on Reunion last year I was hurriedly sent to the Isle of Pines, to investigate some deposits. After four months spent in the sunshine and rain, I returned to Washington, D. C. to write reports. So far I've managed to stay here but rumor has it that before long I shall be off to the hills to look for more strategic minerals. U-nfortunately strategic minerals seem to shun the good ski areas and hills of New Hampshire and appear to thrive best in hot, desert areas—at least the ones I have to look at."
Apparently we didn't get the story quite straight on Jim Swift so Jim has written the enclosed to give us the real dope. "Because of my buying work with Harvester, I got a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in Quartermasters Reserve in 1939, but it wasn't until last December that I was requested to take a physical and prepare to leave. On the 27th a radiogram arrived to tell me to head for Wyoming the 29th. I reported in and went right to work training selectees in everything but buying. It wasn't bad at all except that I couldn't quite get used to 12 hours a day. After two weeks of that I began a 14-hour-day course in officers school learning everything from basic military up and out, winding up, I understand, in tactical problems. However, one week of that and another radiogram called me back to Chicago where I am at present assigned to the Chicago Signal Corps Procurement District. It's the same work nearly that I've been doing for several years and only 48 hours a week, so far. I feel like a banker (or insurance agent). I can truthfully say that I have enjoyed Army life very much, but also will have to add that I could wish this assignment to be for the duration. Time alone will tell. I'll try to keep you informed of additional changes. Bill Galley is working in the same depot as I, but is in Q.M. (subsistence branch, I think). He also holds a 2nd Lt. Commission." Thanks, Jim, for straightening us out.
In the Army now, too, is Frank Nichols who is the Commanding Officer of the 4th Training Battery, Coast Artillery School at Monroe where his 250 children keep him plenty busy.
Bob Fredericks reports that Dr. Bob Fraser is now with the 2nd Evacuation Hospital Unit, St. Luke's Division, at camp. Thad Smith, whose name appears on the letterhead of Chamberlin, Stone & Bosson of Boston, reports Bob Tonis with the F.8.1, in the same city.
George Frankel, after a rather hectic period in December which almost all of us in the insurance business went through with the inclusion of war clauses and the change of rates by many companies, took time out to give us a hand on the Class Dues and reports that the much-travelled Ed Flynn is now located with Garfield, Harris, Robinson & Shaefer in Washington, D. C.
Changes in address show Charlie Babbitt now living in Shrewsbury, Mass. and Barney Ash as a dealer in scrap and waste in Stamford, Conn.
A recent clipping from one of the New York papers with a list of Chase National Bank promotions shows Vic Rockhill elected to the post of assistant cashier. Vic has really been hammering away at the Chase and we are glad to see him get this break.
About this time we usually get a letter from Bob Baumrucker about his customary trip to the Bahamas. This time it is from Cleveland, Ohio, the firm of McCannErickson with whom we recently reported Bob as having become newly associated. "I came over here last June for economic reasons, but now it looks as though I'm due for another sudden change. Finding out last winter that the old bones weren't so brittle after all, I had plans all made to go out to Sun Valley instead of what has been my customary trip to the Bahamas. Since last Saturday, however, when I went out to Great Lakes, I don't think I've ever hoped for anything quite so much as that the Navy will decide they can use me. Meanwhile there are a few slopes within a couple of hundred miles of here.
"Not much news from the rest of the class, as I rarely see any one but Steck, Flynn or Cram down on the main street. Had a Christmas card from Dick Baldwin from the Marine Corps base in San Diego, but haven't raised him again."
In passing, we would like to remind any of you who are in New York that we are going to have a dinner on the 2nd of March and we have obtained a block of tickets for the Dartmouth-Columbia basketball game. If your wives happen to be with you, bring them along as it will be a good party and a lot of fun.
At this time, too, bearing in mind the job we have just had in collecting the Class Dues, I would like you all to give Charlie Gristede a chance to keep that red hair of his by sending in your contribution to the Alumni Fund early. His isn't an easy job and since he is a conscientious sort of a guy who takes things seriously, give him a break. When the Alumni Fund drive starts, as it will this month, if you are planning to contribute, do it at the beginning and save Red a few gray hairs—and get it off your own chest.
Secretary, Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Co. 31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, N. Y.
