Commanding Officer

CAPTAIN DAMON E. CUMMINGS, USN arrived in Hanover on October 4 to assume command of the Dartmouth V-12 Unit. A Naval officer of some 36 years' experience, Captain Cummings came here from the Naval Operating Base in Newport, R. I., to take over the position held by Major John Howland, who had succeeded Commander William F. Bullis, as Commanding Officer of the nation's largest V-12 Unit.

Captain Cummings, who is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, class of 1907, the Naval War College, and the Army War College, has a varied record of sea and shore duty behind him and has seen service in many parts of the world.

At various times in his career he has commanded the United States Ships Dupont, Dubuque (interim command), Shawmut (interim command), Sirius, Utah, and Tennessee. Other Naval vessels on which he has served include the Louisiana, Celtic, Nebraska, Illinois, Arkansas, and Trenton.

His shore duty includes service at the Boston Navy Yard; the Naval War College; Bureau of Construction and Repair of the Navy Department; Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, where he was in charge of enlisted training; Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (war plans); and the Naval Operating Base at Newport.

He has also been in command of the Naval Air Station Rockaway Beach, Director of Naval Reserves (intelligence) of the 13th Naval District, and a member of the faculty at the Army War College. From January, 1941, until spring of this year he had what he has termed "the busiest job of my career," Chief of Staff of the strategic Panama Canal Zone.

In addition to his enviable record of service, Captain Cummings has received a number of decorations, not only from this country, but from Portugal and Nicaragua as well. He was awarded the Navy Cross in the last war for his participation in the laying of the famous North Sea mine barrage—the United States' greatest naval contribution to the Allied cause.

One of the Captain's highlights was the great world cruise taken by the U. S. Navy in 1908, primarily for the purpose of impressing Japan with our naval strength.

He was joined, shortly after his arrival in Hanover, by Mrs. Cummings. Their only son, Lieutenant-Commander Damon M. Cummings, a President Coolidge appointee to the Naval Academy, class of 1931, was killed in action in November, 1942, while serving aboard the U.S.S. San Francisco on the staff of Rear Admiral Daniel Callaglian. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross with a citation for "extraordinary heroism" in the line of duty.