1915*
Picking up the threads in ye editorial office on the day after participating in a grand Fourth of July parade in the old home town isn't conducive to much consecutive thought, but a deadline is a deadline, and these notes must be on their way to Hanover today.
We have had quite a few notes and letters in the last couple of months, and we'll just pick them up as they come to us, give you the dope from them, and let the chips fall where they may.
Of course the armed services are now the topic of greatest interest, and we have heard from quite a few. Col. Howie Fuller, our top ranking officer is in the South Pacific—censorship forbids any further detail—but he'd be glad to hear from you if you address him Colonel iBand Inf., Task Force 6814-A, A. P. O. 502, c/o Postmaster, San Francisco. He's right in there in the midst of it all.
Then to the Navy. I had the extreme pleasure of talking a few minutes with Lieut. Murray Austin, U. S. N. the other day in his Boston office, and he's just the same Murray with all his gold stripes. He's a mighty busy boy lining up officers for the Navy, but he wasn't too busy to answer a '15 up. On his desk is something most anyone would prize highly—a certificate as a master mariner, and the notation in that part which tells where he can practice his profession reads "Any Ocean," which gives you a pretty fair idea that Murray is tops as a navigator. In the same department with Murray is Lieut. Elliott Sharp, who, we learn also, was married on May 23, 1942 to Miss Hazel L. Moffett of Natick, Mass. For the present, Lieut, and Mrs. Sharp are living in Brookline, Mass., but we presume that Elliott may be transferred many times before this big show is over.
Had a nice visit with Phil Murdock and his wife in New York about a month agoPhil looks fine and Fannie and I enjoyed our evening together.
The Stockton (Cal.) Record, of recent date, tells of a conference on War Time Business Problems at which Roy Frothingham was the principal speaker. Roy now is president of Facts Consolidated, with four offices on the Pacific Coast, and from his record as quoted, has been active along business lines for many years.
I have at hand a swell long letter from Paul Gibson, who says "I am still the only '15er in this State," so that Paul holds forth as our one representative in the old Commonwealth of Virginia. But he sure keeps '15 in the limelight, for under the Civilian Defense set-up in Richmond, Paul is the Controller of the Richmond Office, and you '15ers who are tied up in the C. D. set-up know that he's a busy guy. Plus that they've got him in charge of training and organizing all the air-raid wardens, auxiliary police and firemen, and all the other sections—well, I just wonder how he has any time for his own business, for I've been in the middle of it myself since Pearl Harbor, and you can spend a lot of time on just the control end of it.
And still on Civilian Defense—Johnnie Johnson, who for many months before Pearl Harbor was the Grand Mogul of C. D. down around his section of Cape Cod, is doing such a good job that Bill Cunningham in his Boston Herald column mentioned him the other day.
Phil Pelletier sent me the details on the Connecticut Dartmouth Association annual meeting held in New Britain the first part of May, and there were present from the class besides Phil, Al English, Chan Harwood, Herb Blaisdell, Art Tower, and Johnny Mullin. A big evening was enjoyed by all, sez Phil.
A letter from Jack Mason tells me that he saw Hal Budd, who told Jack that he was to be married "the following Saturday." Drop us a line Hal, so we may introduce Mrs. Budd to the assembled 'lgers!
A clipping sent me by Kell Rose shows a picture of Marvin Frederick, supervisor of the General Electric Cos. Business Training Course, and states that Marv is leaving to accept a commission as a Lieut.-Colonel in the newly created Army Specialists Corps at Washington, so here we have another of the boys in the top ranks of the military forces.
Well, Eben Clough continues to get around, and he keeps me posted in his own inimitable way as to the doings around Boston. Eben just oozes with enthusiasm about our Bangor Musician de Luxe, Casey Jones, and feeds me reams about Casey's newest musical compositions. A half dozen more have been produced since the last class notes.—That boy is a wonder.
Ernie Early '18 sent me a pamphlet published by Dexter Davis—and has Dexter got some degrees—A.B., M.D., F.A.C.A., etc. The title of the pamphlet is "Static Electricity in Tissues as a Guide in Surgical Care," and looks like good stuff. I'm afraid it's over my head a bit, but I am sure that Dexter and his co:author, Dr. Edward Singer, know their static. Dexter spends the summers in Vermont, far away from civilization, but he more than makes up for it in the long months of the winter when he is always on the job no matter what the call may be. Dexter is the personification of all the finest traditions in the medical profession.
And now I'm at the bottom of the third sheet—my limit for this issue, so I'll quit. But let me say briefly, for the record, that your Secretary, Treasurer and Class Agent were all at the annual meetings of their respective associations the week after Commencement and attended all the prescribed meetings and gatherings. It was a most enjoyable, yet solemn affair this year with so many faces missing.
Secretary, 1069 Essex St., Lawrence, Mass
