1934
As we go to press, the North African campaign has turned into a complete rout. By the time you read this, a lot more will have happened, some good, some bad. Dartmouth guys will be mixed up in all of it. There's one fellow I can't help thinking about a lot these days. He sent me a letter a couple of months ago and asked that I keep it to myself. I can't help feeling, though, that if he thought it would help put over an idea, he wouldn't mind my passing the story along to you. I'm taking the chance and going ahead because I can't ask his permission. But I will keep his name confidential. "Dear Bill,
"I guess you'll be a little surprised to hear from me and even more surprised to know that I have sent a check up to Hanover for the Alumni Fund. It's the first time I've felt like loosening up, frankly. I suppose I had my share of fun at Hanover, but I let a lot of little things get in my hair. I got disappointed on the fraternity angle and just missed making the grade on some other things. I missed a 'dip' because one prof made up his mind to do all he could to gum the works. Then I went out West and never saw any Dartmouth men for several years. I never heard from Hanover except when Hicks or Collaway or you hit me for a contribution to the Fund. It left me pretty cold.
"But about a year ago I was drafted into Uncle Sam's Army. I got buffeted about from camp to camp and one day I picked up an ALUMNI MAGAZINE in a reading room. I read it through carefully, mostly because I was bored stiff and had nothing else to do. I did find myself growing more and more interested in reading about what the college was doing and then somewhere I ran across the story of Chuck Stern, first Dartmouth man to fall. He was '36, I think. Anyway, I had a couple classes with him and used to eat breakfast with him sometimes after our 8 o'clock. That story got me thinking again about Hanover. Then I read Marty's notes and ran across news of some more '34 fellows I used to know pretty well.
"When I finished reading the MAGAZINE I tossed it on a table and started to walk out. Before I had turned away, a little guy I hadn't noticed grabbed it, looked up at me and said, 'Say, did you go to Dartmouth?' I told him I did and mumbled something about not graduating. He popped right back, 'Neither did I. I just got through two years when the money gave out and I had to go home to help out with two kid brothers. See you again.'
"About a week later I did see him again and he introduced me to another Dartmouth guy he'd run across. I got transferred right after that and never saw either guy again.
"Then I made O.C.S. and finally pulled through with a 2nd It I ran across a few more Dartmouth fellows, and it never seemed to bother them a bit that I hadn't graduated. It's taken about 10 years for me to wake up to the fact that I'm the only guy who has lost anything.
"I saw recently that the prof I didn't like is in the Navy somewhere along with about 40% of the other members of the faculty. Maybe he was right all along and I was wrong. Well, next month our unit is supposed to go sailing. I was sore when we got into this war, but I've found an awful gang of guys who are sacrificing a heluva lot more than I am. Most of them can't tell you what they are fighting for, but they feel if. I'm not a particularly emotional fellow, as probably know, but I am beginning to realize that if I get up to where there's any real action, I'll be fighting for a lot of little things. And somewhere near the top of the list is Dartmouth. Not dear old alma mater, but a lot of swell ideas and ideals I wouldn't accept then, a lot of good guys I haven't seen for a long time, some beautiful hills I was too busy to ski on, and all that'. It's pretty ridiculous that it takes a world-wide conflagration to wake up a guy like me, but I must confess I'm glad I did wake up at all.
"This isn't for public consumption but I was afraid the shock of my contribution might be a little too much for you. I hope Willie Scherman's Newsletters will keep on coming for a while and best of luck on the Fund."
Here is a letter from Dick Fowle's father:
"A letter received yesterday from our boy Dick asks that I send you a check for class dues and Alumni Fund, so here's the check. Hope you'll want to acknowledge direct to Dick, so I enclose a V-Mail letter sheet addressed to him in case you care to use it. He also says to tell you that he hasn't seen Grant Healey yet, and that so far as he can find out he's the only classmate in that general neck of the woods, meaning presumably the S. W. Pacific. Dick seems to be enjoying his job, working hard."
According to recent reports PeanutsDavies and Johnny Spiegel have just been promoted to the rank of captain. Herb Heston announces a son, Frank Craig Heston, born April 14th. I spent a day in New York last week and had a delightful bull session with Sherman and Collaway and later in the afternoon spent some time with Lt. (jg) Hedges.
This just about exhausts the news. Willie Sherman's Newsletter won't keep on coming unless some of you fellows write in a note about yourselves. And if you're traveling about the world, here's hoping some of your folks will read the column and send along some news we can use.
Secretary, Upper Terrace St., Montpelier, Vt. Class Agent, 1038 Clay Avenue, Pelham Manor, N. Y.
