1936
This month's news is darkened by the passing of Captain Dan McEndy. A member of the Army Medical Corps which did such brilliant work in New Guinea, he contracted an infection there. Despite treatment at the Army Medical Center in Washington, he succuml«_-d on August 20. We add his name to our Gold Star list, with sadness and with great respect for the fine way in which he served.
The monthly p'.ea has brought in quite a tew letters from both yourselves ami your - families. Thanks for writing—and keep the mail coming. To start with, here's news from Lt. (jg) Sherm Peabody, assistant Medical Officer aboard the USS —. The only 'gOer Sherm has run into in over two years is Paul Guibord. Sherm seems to have spent most of that two years aboard ship, where he has "a single room that has a nice shiny sink and even a radio—just like in the movies. My work is interesting, and I have had quite a variety of medical work, but will welcome a little shore duty, which I hope to get soon."
Helene Smith has done a grand job of bringing us up to date on hubby Jack. She writes:
Last February he left Pearl Harbor aboard a carrier escort on temporary orders and was involved in several important raids in the South Pacific area. He was en route to P. H. to receive new orders when his daughter, Suzanne Winifred, arrived in New Haven, the morning of May 4. As a result, he knew nothing of her whereabouts until he called via radio-phone on May 21. Three weeks is a mighty- long time for a frantic father to be pacing the flight deck. We talked for eight glorious minutes, during which our little one burst forth with a lusty squawl, after a prod in the proper places. Needless to say, Jack was quite thrilled. In celebration of his daughter's arrival, he entered the Hawaiian Y.M.C.A. Centennial Swimming Championships, and came through with top diving honors. The competition was keen, as he defeated the Hawaiian AAU champ, the captain of Northwestern's '36 swimming team, a Jap-Hawaiian, and three other good boys. His next duty was aboard one of the huge carriers, and it was on this ship that he showed that good old Dartmouth fighting spirit. Rear Admiral Davison came aboard one day, commended him on some recent work he had done (during the Saipan invasion), and whisked him off to join his staff as Radar Plot and Fighter Director Officer. The next thing he knew, the Admiral was pinning a medal on his chest and he was cited "for meritorious performance of duty as Staff Plotting Officer during the action with the Japanese Fleet off the Marianas Islands on June 19 and June 20, 1944." The latest word tells me he is well and safe, but expects to be involved in more terrific work from now on. He claims life is a bit hectic these days—a slight understatement, I think.
Lt. (jg) Lou Benezet breaks his long silencewith a communique:
I got my call to take a trip across the Pacific in April; travelled by the usual devious routes, entailing a two weeks' stopover in New Guinea; and now (July 8) I'm fairly well settled in Australia, late homeland of D. Stonewall Jackson and family. I came out to do work in Educational Services, as at Great Lakes—the program which provides opportunities for servicemen to go on with their education in off-duty time. Eventually, I hope I can carry on with it, because it is a swell idea, meeting a real need and packing a real punch so far as morale is concerned. At the time, however, local needs have put me on the Staff of the Service Force, involved in various kinds of training and personnel assistance. College memories are always among those which go through the mind in idle hours far away from home I suppose there's a mathematical chance of our having our 10th Reunion. If so, here's to then. In any case, best regards always.
Another V-Mail letter from Pvt. Dan Schwartz, this time from somewhere in France, to let us know that he's "very excited to be back in France and in on the final push to finish Nazism for good. My pride in the Infantry has continued to rise since the Invasion—everything I've seen here has convinced me that the Infantry is playing by far the largest role in winning the war. I have hopes of seeing some of our classmates here, but so far I haven't met any."
Recent promotions that we may not have reported before: Frank Curtis is now wearing a gold leaf, and carrying on at Bryan Field, Texas, as a Group Squadron Commander. .... Pep Mintz is a captain,-travelling around Italy and vicinity. The only Dartmouth man Pep's run into overseas is Dave Camerer '37; and we are given to understand it was quite a reunion.
From Bombing Squadron —, Fleet Post Office, N. Y., comes a flash from Len Florsheim:
What I have to offer is probably quite light, but anyway, I joined the ranks of the two-stripers last April, and am now two and one-half years in the Service. George Tillinghast, whom I saw on a recent States-side visit, has just risen to that estate of added braid I have been with this outfit about nine months, in the capacity of Assistant Gunnery Officer, and most recently have taken on the duties of an Air Controller, which is an operations job. I used to run into quite a few Dartmouth boys, but out here we don't seem to see any. Sometimes I think the Navy is 100 per cent populated by southerners People I'd like to hear from: 2nd Lt. Jack Klauer USMCR and Joe Smith.
(We'd like to hear from them too!) Thanks to Mr. Munson for his latest on Bill: Bill was promoted to a captaincy last spring, and is Deputy Port Commander at Casablanca. A recent letter states he is in good health and his duties keep him busy.
Last month's column erroneously stated Ross Woodbridge's whereabouts as Australia. As a matter of fact, he's in New Guinea—and has been for the past six months.
Dune Newell has been named Boston division chairman for the Massachusetts Republican Finance Committee, raising funds for the campaigns of local, state and national Republican candidates.
In a letter from Normandy dated July 15 to his mother (and reprinted in the Manchester (N. H.) Leader, Capt. Walt Chase (Medical Corps) wrote: Things are very quiet at the moment. We all give thanks for quiet days. Tonight I shall try to find some French woman to do my laundry. You can probably imagine how I dislike doing it myself. My conversation with the natives in French is also something like a three-ring circus. France is a great deal like England, only warmer. Same kind of hedges. Many old stone buildings. The people are for the most part very glad to see us come—and the Germans go.
Major Gage Aborn and Phyllis Caroline Woods were married on June 24 at Orlando, Fla Capt. Harry Shaw Carter walked down the aisle with Anna Elizabeth Austin of Honolulu, there, on March 18 (a while back, but we're just getting the low-down!).. . . The engagement has been announced of Lt. Betty M. Johnson, Army Nurse Corps, to Ensign John Witzel Capt. Roger Williams, stationed in England, has become engaged to Miss Jean Gannett Ten pounds worth of Frank Kenneth II arrived at the Kapplers on August 7
Home from Manta, Ecuador, where he established a new United States consulate late in 1942, Henry Dearborn has been given a new and highly responsible position in the State Dept., Washington. No more details available.
Yours Truly wangled a furlough in July, and headed hastily for Hanover. Folks can talk all they want to about the way the place has changed—what with the Navy and Marines there, many dorms closed, fraternity row blacked out, the Coffee Shop self-service, etc., etc. But take it from one lucky enough to find out in person—it's still basically the same wonderful spot.
A glance at Miss Ford's Alumni Records revealed some interesting facts about '36 in service Of course, the picture changes from day to day—but, for your info, as of August Ist, and as far as we know, there were 312 '36ers in service (191 in the U. S.; 121 overseas). Eight have died in service; one has been reported missing; and 5 have been medically discharged. As you'd suspect, the Army claims the largest number—182; Navy—ll3; Marines—7; Coast Guard—7; RCAF—2; and the Merchant Marine—l.
That's the score for now. Will be back with more news—with your help—next month.
MARRIED IN JUNE, Major Gage N. Aborn '36 and Mrs. Aborn. The Major is stationed in Orlando, Fla. with an AAF Base Unit.
First Ass't Secretary 130 East 39th Street, New York 16, N. Y. Treasurer, 163 - 11 43rd Ave., Flushing, N. Y,
