1917
It was a long hard winter—no doubt about it. But as you look back on it from the vantage point of early spring it was of about average length and about average severity. And, thank goodness and you all, news of '17ers seems to distill regardless of the season.
The annual meeting of the Alumni Association of Boston in February brought out Barrows, Mott Brown, Curly Carr. Ferguson, Holden, Olds, Sunny Sanborn, Stockwell, and Errol Thompson. Those who couldn't make it missed not only the inspiring words of President Hopkins, but the exquisite tribute paid to Hal Tobin by Professor John Pelenyi, former Hungarian Minister to the United States and now Visiting Lecturer in Political Science at Dartmouth, who is carrying on with part of Hal's work. It was a pleasure to see Walt Barrows again. He has been practicing law with Palmer Dodge Wilkins and Davis, 53 State Street, Boston, lo! these many years and lives in Wellesley Hills. And it was no less a pleasure to learn that Bunny Holden has come home to New England with his old firm of Nichols & Cos., 140 Federal St., Boston, after his extended absence with American Viscose in New York.
The final bound volume of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE of the set covering Gene Towler's five years as chairman, with which the class presented him in May, has at last been delivered to that hardworking '17er. This fact is reported in order that each may know of Gene's renewed enthusiastic thanks for this appreciation of his able work, which incidentally continues, albeit without a title.
There are ten sons of '17 at Dartmouth at the present time. As Sid Hayward says, however, "Things are happening everyday to pull these boys away for service in the armed forces, so the list may not be good very long." They are: '46, Robert A. Barrows, Robert S. Gerrish, Bradford L. Jones (son of Jimmie), John C. Koeniger, and Willard H. Wyeth Jr.; '45, William M. Hartshorn, Victor C. Smith Jr., Richard G. Tracy, and A. Phillip Trier; and '44, Harold J. Weeks Jr.
Jim Durkee reports word from his nephew, Bill Durkee '41, contained in Bill's letter of mid-December. "I am writing this in a hurry in order to let you know that I am definitely on the road to recovery. I was bad for a while and the hospital or Embassy might have sent word that things were not so good—either by cable or letter. Well, disregard any other news except that I am well on my way to recovery. The doctor was very elated this morning. My legs were injured by airplane machine gun bullets. One got through my knee. What the eventual result will be depends largely how much I will be able to exercise and work over it."
Ike Sprague, recently seen in Boston, reported that he and his family are back East permanently, having found it just too much to attempt to maintain his Wellesley interests from Pasadena. His family is in Jaffrey, N. H., at least for the present.
Jim McGowan is in the Engineers' Dept. of the U. S. Army as a civilian employee in the Report Section, and has been since June. Since November his headquarters have been Lowell. Jim has written a song, "A Yankee Battle Cry," and is looking for a publisher, so keep an ear to the wind for its stirring new strains
Bob Adams is a Vice President of Ernest W. Brown, Inc., one of the finest reciprocal fire underwriters in the country and claims a touch of old man's bursitis, from violent ping-pong of late. The old tenniser can serve a tough ball. We learn he served a beautiful game when he handled his company's annual meeting recently.
Commander George Currier USNR, has finished his work at the Naval Training (Indoctrination) School at Miami, and has been ordered to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, as Commanding Officer of the Naval Training School (Oil Burning). Navy personnel from ships with oil burning equipment here get the latest on design, operation, and maintenance. Helen and the three children will remain in Florida until late spring, then go to Helen's home in Keene, N. H., for the summer and move to Philadelphia in the fall.
Lt. Col. Hap Mason was so keen about his assignment in Washington and the promise which it held, that he overworked and now finds himself at home in Brattleboro on inactive service for the time being. Hap says the doctors told him he must take it easy and get some rest, "so while I am home here I am spending a good deal of time out of doors walking and trying to take care of myself. My son, George, graduated from Dartmouth in December, is now out at Notre Dame in the V-7 School and enjoys it a lot. There are some seventy boys from College out there and I guess it is a small Dartmouth in itself."
A letter from Capt. Ray Collerd at the Army Air Forces Intelligence School, Harrisburg, Pa., reports a pleasant surprise in finding Capt. Hal Ingersoll there also—"the first '17er I have seen. Hal is down here as a student, having been in New York. Guess we have both changed a good deal but I recognized him instantly."
About himself Ray says, "I have been recently assigned as Chief of the Naval Section of the Photo-Intelligence Department—the most interesting part of the entire school. Our mission is to train Intelligence Officers for Field Duty and I have every reason in the world to think that we are doing a bang-up job. Harrisburg seems to be the most sought-after service school in the country and our graduates are snatched up as fast as we can turn them out. Had the good fortune to be at the top of the class on graduating and was kept on here because of certain experience that I have had over past years. At first I was a bit disappointed, but now it seems that I can really do more here than I could anywhere else. It's fascinating work, and we think nothing of putting in 60-hour weeks. Please give my best to any of the Gang that you see and tell them to be sure to look me up if any business brings them this way. We do have an Officer's Club, even if the new regulations do say '3.2'."
We have been officially advised that the ALUMNI MAGAZINE may be forwarded to sons, brothers, or husbands in the service at A. P. O. or other addresses by the simple expedient of adding the new address and five 'cents postage, and mailing in the original envelope. This instruction is important since it is the only guaranty of your forwarded copy getting through.
The college aids and abets us in our quest for pictures. Many can be published in forthcoming numbers and all will be welcome additions to the Dartmouth War Record. Please send your photograph, preferably a shiny print, to your humble servant, whether or not you are in the service, and you will know that these notes will be brightened accordingly.
CLASS AGENT KARL W. KOENIGER '17
Secretary, 57 Chestnut St., Dedham, Mass. Class Agent, 487 Berkeley Avenue, South Orange, N. J.
