1942

Every time I apply the seat of the trousers to the seat of the chair for the purpose of informing you nomads, I feel like a reporter that has just heard that it's a different Roosevelt from Teddy in office. I guess the only sure way of reaching you is to send these copies to Berlin and Tokyo. I realize that "Joe '42" is already a major with five decorations when I'm reporting his commission. But we members of the permanent-party can't be responsible for your rapid operations. So I shall have to content myself with repetition in the hope that you might not have heard one small item.

In sitting at this central point where all lines of communication lead, I discover a great variety. But underlying this there always seems to be a common denominator. It's a clear picture that there's more than the gallantry and the sacrifice that depletes our ranks. It's the picture of three '42's striding down the road. The one on the right is griping and swearing. He is the civilian soldier who knows that in spite of it all he must by his ingenuity and persistence win this war so he can travel that road back to Hanover.

On the other end of the trio there's a fellow like Jim Fowler. Jim fought as commander of a Ranger Company in Sicily, Salerno, and was killed in action at Anzio. Of all the citations and honors that came to Jim, the greatest by far were those that came from the men in his command. No medal could express the extreme honor that represents the faith, trust, and love of his men. They expressed their willingness to follow him anywhere by words and letters, both before and after his death. So Jim walks for all on that left end, wearing that highest of all citations which we can't see, but which we all know is there.

In the center marches a guy who is laughing and joking. He's the bearer of that undying sense-of-humor that will prevail through anything. Here he's Lt. Ted Lapres who, in his letter from England to Lt. Eddie Jeremiah, calls himself "Stumpy." Ted stepped on a Jerry mine and discovered that he was missing a foot. Ted, another Ranger, swears that "he didn't do it purposely to get a trip back to the U.S.A." But he's on his way back to get his "new mail-order foot, size 8y2d." Yes, Ted's the guy that always has the funny story, who always gets a big laugh out of hell. He's the one that's walking in thecenter bringing them all along.

So here they come down the road. You canhear them all around the world. Say, with atrio like that we'll all be back in Hanovertomorrow.

WITH MANY CLUSTERS

Word has been received that First Lieutenant Stanley P. Wright was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously for: "Gallantry and intrepidity in action on Bougainville Island last November." It is also learned in a letter from his father that First Lieutenant Robert K. Schoonmaker is missing over France since July 8. Bob was a pilot of a Martin Marauder and had completed 67 missions. He had received the Air Medal with several Oak Leaf Clusters. Recently promoted Lt. Richard A. Kersting was killed in action somewhere in France. Also the death of Lt. Richard R. Stanton is reported. Dick was killed in action somewhere in the Southwest Pacific.

The information accompanying these notices is no more extensive, although we all feel that the notices themselves are far too much so.

UP THE LADDER

Second Lieutenant Herbert L. Osborne, Lt. (jg) Robert D. Grimm, Lt. (jg) John L. Brooks, Capt. Ford G. Coffman, Lt. (jg) Harry L. Edgcomb Jr., Lt. Richard A. Kersting, Ens. Eugene B. Thomal Jr.

DEPARTMENT OF GOOD INTENTIONS

Katherine Schacht and 2nd Lt. Robert Gorman USMCR; Ruth Margaret O'Leary and David Smith USNR; Ens. Dorothy L. Ryan and Lt. (jg) John Roseboom Jr.; Muriel E. Leavitt and Joseph F. Arico Jr. LTSMCR, Marjorie Crosby and Roger Simpter USNR; G. Elizabeth Drake and Lt. (jg) Edward McLaughlin USNR; Louise Gordon and Pfc. John Glesmann AUS.

HEARTS AND FLOWERS

Bettie Eberhart and Lt. (jg) Clifford Fuller USNR; Jean Regnemer and Lt. (jg) Vincent B. Tibbals USNR; Ernestine Marie Feeney and Pfc. William Burk; Janet Louise Barber and Lt. Joseph Clark AUS; Elisabeth Ann Vincent and Capt. Hugh Corrigan USMC; Gertrude Miller Howard and Lt. (jg) William Harris USNR; Carol M. Babbitt and Hervert S. Morrison; Macy Elsbeth Windrath and Hazen Hinman Jr.; Gertrude Mil- lar Howard and Lt. (jg) William Harris USNR; Celesta Ida Finn and Dr. Robert Klein.

NOTES FROM THE ROAMING SONS

It seems that Proc Page has finally met some Dartmouth men. He writes that he is now working for the Air Transport Command. Directly across the hall from him is the office of Capt. Jerry Garduno. Capt. Dick Howe is there also, and Capt. Pete Kirst is not far away. Proc has also heard that Bill Gray is a fighter pilot with the Navy in the Pacific and that Chick Emslie is on a destroyer in the same locality. I am glad that Proc has gathered some information; it was really bothering him. Paul Ullmann, who is in the Middle East with Dick Levy, reports that Ed Finn is a first lieutenant in the Pacific, and that Sandy Frank is the executive officer of an LCT which took part in the Invasion.

Sgt. Bill Richards is with the personnel division of the Air Force Redistribution Station, Miami Beach. Dick served thirteen months as a windlass operator in the Asiatic-Pacific theater. A report that came straight from a Public Relations Office in England described the work of the test pilots over there. Among these is Lfr. Fred Huntley, who is testing these shops when they are assembled at this depot, and is finding this life a bit tame. He enlisted in the RCAF in 1941, you may remember. He flew in the RAF Beaufighter "Strike" squadron, being credited with sinking a number of coastal vessels, "Flak" ships, and several attacks on destroyers. He transferred to the USAF last November. Fred is highly praised for his little publicized battle with the "Gremlins," which is certainly no Sunday School picnic.

Duke Freeman is an instructor at the Glenview Naval Air Station. He lives in Chicago with his wife. Duke saw Nate Ward and Rog Simpter when they were in boot camp at Great Lakes. He also informs us that Tom Danes is a first lieutenant in the Paratroops. Duke probably talks the language of all the cadets.

Well, this winds up another meeting. I am afraid it wasn't very newsy. But then I can't keep track of where you are, and you know where I am. And so with picturesque words of sunsets and romantic lands fading in the horizon, I take leave until our next meeting.

ANTI-SUB patrol duty is the first assignment of Ens. Melvin B. Lee '42, recently commissioned at Lakehurst, N. J., as a blimp pilot.

Acting Secretary, R. D. No. 1, Rensselaer, N. Y.