Thayer School
AFTER SIX WEEKS of operating the School under the Navy program, it is the general consensus that it is a sound program and will enable us to give our students the education they should have both for participation in war work and for successful practice in civilian life later. Naturally, adjustments have been necessary and the heavy schedule of class hours carried by the students has involved difficulties, but the trainees have adjusted themselves to their new way of life surprisingly fast, and the outlook for the future is bright.
The School has recently been the recipient of an anonymous gift to be used at the discretion of the Dean, as a memorial to the friend of a Thayer School graduate. The memorial is to honor Lt. Randolph D. White, Army Air Force, who was killed in an air crash at Cochran Field on May 7- 1943-
Congratulations are in order for Professor and Mrs. Fred Knights who are the parents of a ten-pound son, born August 9 at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital. At last reports, both mother and son were progressing well.
A recent letter from Capt. George G. Kisevalter '31 indicates that after two years of construction and combat duty with the Army Engineers, he has been transferred to a new location in the Pacific and is engaged in an entirely different kind of work. Kisty is most enthusiastic over the opportunities which his new work gives him, and we'll have to be content to pass on our best wishes to him and wait until after the war to find out more details.
Phil Jackson '43 writes that he has been commissioned in the Navy A-V (S) in the maintenance division. Dick Livingston '43 spent a few days in Hanover last month before reporting to M.I.T. as an ensign in the Navy A-V (S) for special training. The day before he left, he put in an appearance in his khakis, probably for the benefit of the-apprentice seamen who are a few months behind him in school. Roger Gaskill '43 spent a few days in Hanover last month, but his future plans were not definite at that time.
A good letter from Russ Stearns '37 tells of the interesting work he has been doing for Dry Dock Associates at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Russ has been in charge of field work, laying out docks, river walls and piers and a marine railway and of the layout and engineering for a concrete service building. More recently, he has been engaged in designing and detailing piers, paving, drainage, and other features.
Good news from the Lockheed squad tells of the continuing interest of the work there. Several of the boys have been continuing their studies in order to keep brushed up on their strength of materials, which they use continuously in their design work, of course. Paul Breck '43 reports that their ability to handle Mohr's circle has given them an advantage over graduates of other schools. (Advt. Other recent alumni and present students please note.) He reports facts and figures about the temperature at Los Angeles this summer which would surely be good for a free ride from the Chamber of Commerce if they were to be published.
Will Pitz '41 writes enthusiastically of his work with his Seabee battalion somewhere in the Pacific. The only complaint he has is that although they are in the front line, they haven't managed to contact the enemy yet, and apparently that is the one thing they all are most anxious to do.
For real unadulterated Dartmouth spirit, combined with enthusiasm for aircraft production, I should refer you to the recent letter from Holden Waterbury '43 who is working at Lockheed and also taking courses at the University of Southern California. Both space and caution prevent my quoting the letter here, for there is some information in it which is so interesting that it probably isn't for general publication. Drop in and read it.
If there seems to be an overuse of the word "enthusiastic" in this letter, don't blame your reporter. If you could read these letters which come in, you'd understand that no other word can describe them accurately. This remarkable enthusiasm for engineering, for the particular work they are doing, for Dartmouth in general, and for the Thayer School is something which has to be seen day in and day out to be believed. It gives us stay-at-homes on the faculty a real lift to get reports like this from our friends who have gone out to do the job of winning this war in a more direct way than we can accomplish.
Except for occasional visits from alumni, little happened at the school during September which is not in the nature of routine business. We have had good visits with Russ Stearns '38 and Allen Hazen '40, each of whom was in town for a short time. Congratulations to Lt. Buford Hayden '41 USNR, on his marriage in Washington, D. C., on August 21, to Elizabeth Hillman Hollister. It is hot known where the Haydens are living, but at last reports 800 was still stationed in Washington. Best wishes to them both.
We have just received the news that Roger Gaskill '43 has been accepted by the graduate school of the Chrysler Institute of Engineering for enrollment in the current year. The number of engineering graduates who are given this fine opportunity for an internship in engineering each year is very small, and Rog should feel honored that his application has been successful.
Ens. Harry Gerber '43 USNR has recently reported to Ft. Schuyler for indoctrination. He is at present attached to the Bureau of Ordnance as a maintenance officer.
Ens. Lewis O. English '43 USNR expected to be sent to Quonset, R. 1., for indoctrination, but no word has been received recently to verify his whereabouts.
John L. Muchemore '43 has written advising us of his marriage and of his position with an aircraft company in San Diego, Calif. This news calls for double congratulations which are accordingly proffered. John's letter is not available at the time of writing these notes; so more specific details can't be given. Mr. and Mrs. George Collins '35 have been the proud parents, since July 29th, of George Nason 11, born in New Britain, Conn. More congratulations.
A very brief note from Dave Mann '38 brings the first news that he has deserted mining, temporarily, at least, for the Navy. He is already in the USNR, is applying for a commission, and his address is c/o F.P.0., San Francisco, California.
Bob Stokes '43 writes from the U. S. Naval Air Technical Training Center at Jacksonville, Fla., where he is in training for radio operator or maintenance man, with hopes of getting assigned to lighter-than-air craft.
