1932
It's a small world, as Ed Marks's brother remarked in his proposed book on midgets, and although I have no dealings with midgets, I am inclined to agree. What to my wondering eyes should appear, not the miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, but Ed Miller and Ray Bartlett, of your own class, who are slaving away at the Princeton Naval Training School in the latest contingent, and looking mighty handsome in their j.g. lieutenants' uniforms.
Ed Miller enlisted in September, after one year in the Western Dept. of the Marine Office of America (marine insurance underwriters), following a seven-year stint at the company's home office in New York. For the benefit of those who didn't know it, he was married June 30, 1937, to Marian Smith of Cedar Rapids, la., and they have one son, Michael Brook, born April 1, 1940. Last seen at reunion, decorous, dignified, and enthusiastic, Ray Bartlett is no less so here. He was commissioned November 23, and like Ed Miller, has been at Princeton since December 11. Wife, Dawn Kelley Bartlett, carries on in various patriotic duties in Montclair, New Jersey, where until his entry into the Navy he had been assistant sales manager of the Botany Worsted Mills. He and Ed will finish their 60-day course in February.
Already in command of subchasers are Lt. Art Allen, and your other good friend and mine, Lt. (j.g.) Bob Gould, while Fred Gage is aboard a Coast Guard cutter with an ensign's commission.
"Since coming into the Navy," writes Art, with great glee, "I've been on duty in New York as a maintenance officer, and then in fairly rapid succession at Boston, Key West, and Miami. Now I've finally gotten what I've been trying for all along: command of this brand new subchaser. With excellent officers, a fine crew, and a sweet little ship, believe me, this is the life Lt. (j.g.) Bob Gould has command of another subchaser, and is doing as able a job as his predecessors 25 years ago, and they did a fine job. Bob and Fred Gage are the only '32-ers I've seen or heard of, but I hope to bump into some others in the course of our travels."
More martial-marital news: Ensign Frank Kelliher, stationed at Woods Hole, is to marry Miss Miriam Ruth Hoy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Hoy of Milton, Mass. The engagement was announced November 22. At last advices the wedding date had not been set. Lt. Tom Foss, as already announced, married Miss Anne Gately of Springfield, Mass., on October 24. Tom was commissioned Oct. 17 at the O.T.S. in Fort Benning, Ga., and according to the newspaper account the wedders will live at Fort McClellan, Anniston, Ala. Of interest to wives (if any read this column) may be the information that when Anne Foss left on her wedding trip she wore "a red and green Lanz suit, with brown accessories." Sounds like Xmas.
Corp. Bob MacLaury of Westbury, N. Y., left Keesler Field, Miss., in mid-November to begin a 12-week officer candidate course with the A.A.F at Miami Beach. On completion of the course he will be commissioned second lieutenant in Air Force administration. Bob had had flying experience as flight leader and drill instructor in Mississippi, and has been in the service since July 15. Red Drake has gone and enlisted and is learning how it is done in the Army at Fort Eustis, Va. Correspondents can reach him through Battery B, 4 Bat. (A.A.). Rodney Neville Hatcher became a member of the U. S. Navy as of December 22, and is a lieutenant (j.g.) stationed at Quonset Point, R. 1., for two months. "He's a j.g. in Quonset," writes Katy Hatcher, "and I'm an n.g. stationed in New Canaan, Connecticut. Lonely is a mild word."
Time out from military affairs to describe the largest and most lactescent Christmas card it has been my good fortune to receive. It emanates from the Chicago offices of Adriano A. Walser at 2843 West Nineteenth Street, and is intended for the South American clientele of the Babson Brothers, dealers in Surge Milking Machines. The trade is wished FelicesNavidades y Prospero Ano Nuevo by Adriano "Whip" Walser de La Casa Babson, while on the face of the card are two (obviously male) members of the bovine tribe, shaking right front hooves beside Surge milkers, the one attired in North American dungarees, the other in gaucho garb. The highly Christian motto under them calls for Mejor Leche para Las Americas by which one might conclude that Whip favors a bottle of milk for every peon, unlike the NAM which is on record as being against milk for Hottentots, or TVA's on the Danube.
Congratulations are very much in order for Bus Sails, new principal of the Crittenden School in Shelburne Falls, Mass. About the first of the year, Bus will take over his new duties and surrender those of principal at the elementary school in Norton, where he has been doing a bangup job for the past two years.
Happy Washington's birthday!
Secretary, 210 Moore St., Princeton, N. J
