1936
41 East 42nd Street, New York City
This is being written in Hanover. We've come "home," just for five days. You may well be envious; for there's still no place like home. At the moment, the student body is on vacation. Most of the undergraduates are out-of-town until May 10th, when the short Intersession period starts. The next to last Navy Indoctrination class graduated yesterday. All in all, Hanover is quiet. We've seen many familiar faces, however, and we're saying "hello" for all of you!
The reason for this visit? Simply a last look around—a last fling, if you like—before joining you boys in khaki. After two months' of waiting, Hofman has at last been inducted into the Army under the V.O.C. plan. Next Monday (May 10th), he reports to Camp Upton, N. Y.—there to be assigned to a permanent training camp. After basic training as a buck private, he hopes to be given the opportunity for Officer Training, for which this V.O.C. plan provides.
Before we sign off officially—and before we urge you to keep in touch, by sending news to Jocko Morrison (John E. Morrison Jr., The Bank of New York, 48 Wall Street, New York, N. Y.)—there's news to be re- ported.
OF WEDDING BELLS ....
On April 18th, Bob Lewis married Miss Alice Barrett at Wells River, Vt Jim Atwill middle-aisled it with Miss May Gray in St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Cocoa, Florida, on April 3rd. .... On May 22, Miss Helen Rothery will become Mrs. Ed Higbee A May wedding is reported for Miss Lorraine Ness of Brookline, Mass., to Lt. Rus Page Best wishes to you all!
Bill Gray, now a lieutenant in Army Administration, sent us a note about his Army career to date, explaining that he enlisted last June in Washington, had his basic training in the Field Artillery Replacement Center, Fort Bragg, N. C., went to Officer Candidate School at Gainesville, Florida, in November; and graduated from there on February 10. He's now stationed at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, as Assistant Provost Marshall. Bill enclosed a clipping announcing his engagement to Miss Jean Larner of Staunton, Mass.
Here's a letter from the too-long-silent Earl Copp:
"I have nothing heroical or significant to report. Here at Clemson (Agricultural College) I am a teacher of Freshman English, six sections of which totaled 180 students on February 1, but now I have less than 110, since the draft, ERC and the Air Corps are yanking them out all the time. This summer I will return to Duke to finish my thesis and expect to receive my Master's in American and English Lit., by Sept. 1. I am not sure where I will be next year, but I suspect that I will be many miles north of here. This is my third year in the South and I would fain go back to damyankeeland, having been too long in exile.
"At Xmas time in New York, I saw Gene Kern, now married, sleek, bourgeois, disgustingly mature, who has a hot-shot radio job with OWI. While I was in N. Y., I also succeeded in establishing vague communication with a Naval expert on communications—M. Blake Johnson, Ensign USN, but that character was, as usual, so vague and nebulous in his conception of reality that our luncheon date did not materialize, albeit he practically tripped over me in his effort to find me and not find me. I was downstairs. He was upstairs. You know Johnson.
"That's about all I know. I am still looking through a glass darkly, but when I come face to face with the Dartmouth ALUMNI MAGAZINE, I am myself again. Good luck from a distant '36er crying in the wilderness "
We thank wives and parents of '36 for responding so nicely to our plea for news. Most of the rest of this month's news is the result of their cooperation
Bill Munson's Dad, for example, sent us that snapshot of Bill, together with the news that "Bill went to North Africa last November as a 2nd It. in the Quartermaster Corps. Was made a Ist It., Jan. Ist, 1943.
.... From recent letters, in which he comments on the amount of pounding his rear end has taken in riding in his jeep over the mountain roads of Africa, we know he is carrying supplies to the tanks. He is not able to give us much information, but between the lines we read of long hours, hard work and many thousands of miles covered in his jeep. Haven't heard a word of complaint, so guess Bill can take it "
From Tommy Thompson's Mother comes word that Tommy is now cost auditor in the Army Air Forces in North Africa
.... and that he has announced his engagement to Miss Isobel Laura Flynn of Dayton, Ohio.
El Thomas has a wife who has written eloquently about his activities. You'll be interested, we think, in hearing that:
"Tommy works in Gloucester, and his draft card says 'canvas worker.' I prefer 'sail maker,' the ancient, honorable and, I regret to say, fast disappearing profession.
"There is a great demand for the work, but few are willing to do it for it requires quite a long apprenticeship. According to my father who is Tommy's boss, Tommy has become quite an expert with palm and needle, sewing machine and yards and yards of canvas. It's varied work that uses both mind and muscle, for it entails everything from the complicated geometries and math of nautical blueprints to wrestling with two-hundred-pound rolls of 'duck.'
"It's boats day, night, Sundays and holidays in this family, for his hobby (now Victory Garden perforce) is sailing and racing a 31-foot knockabout, the 'Limpet,' which means a crustacean adhering to rocks. However, due to expert tutelage, I'm sure he's never grounded once, and has trophies to prove his racing ability. A frequent crew member has been Cliff England. Now that sailing for fun will probably be out of order for a while, his lust for the sea is well satisfied by shore and sea patrol. He is a member of the Coast Guard Temporary Reserve. He enjoys and is very loyal to this work, and gives more and more time to it, although I can't imagine where he'll get much more to give. But he thrives on his busy life—has put on no weight whatsoever, but lots of muscle. The only, change you would notice is the slow division into three parts of his blonde top with increasing spaces between. (It still annoys me that after six years of married life, he is still taken for my younger brother!)
"This letter is much longer than intended, but you know these women when they start on their favorite subject. But you can take this news for what it is worth, and consider it part payment for services rendered—namely, your enjoyable class notes. Sincerely, Laura C. Thomas."
IMPORTANT ETCETERAS .... "A New Year," by Dexter Martin has been published as a pamphlet of 71 pages by the Carmel Pine Cone Press, California. .... Johnny Clark has been promoted to Captain Ist Lt. Norm Simon, a flight surgeon, is now attached to the 102 nd Reconnaissance Squadron, Esler Field, La. .... Herb Higgins is a special Assistant at the American Embassy, Condesa, Mexico. .... Now in the Army are Norm Henshaw,Hugh Jones, Henry Newell and Pat Pope..... Paul Guibord, agency assistant of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co., has been getting around quite a bit. Not too long ago, he was the speaker at a regular luncheon of the Southern Maine Life Underwriters Ass'n, at Portland.
That's all there is for now. In signing off, may I thank you for your support in making these columns newsy. It's been a privilege to be at the reporting end these past months. It will be a privilege to be at the reading end in the months to come. The best of luck to you all.... and don't forget to keep in touch with Jocko Morrison.
So long .... till Victory!
LT. WILLIAM H. MUNSON '36 With Victorious Ar?ny in North Africa.
Secretary, 315 West 86th St., New York, N. Y. Class Agent, Binney and Smith Co.
