1911
Another 1911 son has been killed in action. Bendy Griswold's son Carleton W., 24 years old, Pharmacist Mate 3/c, was killed in action at Peleliu, September 17, 1944. Carleton was a graduate of Tilton Academy and was attending Norwich University when he enlisted in 1942. He went overseas in September of 1943 and took part in the action at New Gloucester and Bougainville. Bendy's son Bud, who graduated from Dartmouth and Tuck School, was discharged from the Marines recently because of asthma and is now associated with Bendy in his firm.
The big 1911 news for this month is the Class Dinner held in conjunction with 1910 at the University Club the night before the Notre Dame game. Here is the list of the twenty-nine dinner guests and then just a bit of news which was picked up at the party: Agry, Beane, Bond, Briggs, Clark, Butts, Crooks, Farrell, Gibson, Gonyer, Gooding, Harvey, Hawkridge, Learoyd, Keeler, Chick Jordan, Mullen, Mayo, Paul, Putnam, Sanderson, Fred Sprague, Schell, Stafford, Wheeler, Thornton Wilson, Wheldon, Whitman, and Winship.
The incident which seemed to please everybody most was Harry Gonyer's presence. It is probably safe to say that this was Harry's first appearance at a class party in thirty-five years. However, he promised not to miss another in the next thirty-five.
One of the "Believe It or Not" items was that Chick Jordan was telling Wheeler and some of the others how to hit the right notes.
Robbie Robinson sent in his card afterwards saying that on Friday the thirteenth he was on his way back "on a hell of a rough trip on the North Atlantic," his third this year, but that he still had his stomach, caustically inquiring whether Butts also had his.
Shorty Mayo's son Herbert is at Fort Pierce, Florida, with the Demolition Squad, U. S. Navy.
George French is now on inactive service, AUS, at Nashua, N. H. Jake Lovejoy wrote that he was. going to let the doctors take him over so he could get rid of some of the gall which he has always had. Riley Young's son Robert is a member of the V-12 at Princeton. In the Barstow family, Paul R. is a private first class in the 20th Infantry at Camp Shelby. Bob Jr., Dartmouth '41, is teaching at a private school in Bristol, Penn. Aubrey Butler has. become the proud grandfather of a baby girl named Wendy.
For one who attended many different colleges, Harland Don Carlos has maintained his keen interest in Dartmouth 1911. He writes, "I have been behaving myself since leaving the exhilarating influence of my 1911 classmates. (Damn it!)." Paul Ayer's boy Bill is a fighter pilot flying a P-40 and is at present at Talahassee, Florida, awaiting orders. Ben Ayers son Kim and one of his sons-in-law are in the Pacific fighting the Japs. Ben hopes that any classmates who are near Concord will drop in at 35 Auburn St. Warren Douglas Corritt recently announced his arrival by sending his regards to his grandfather, Art Gray.
Mrs. Sid Backus, better known as Ruth, was a recent visitor in Washington, where she had been invited to address a meeting of the Planned Parenthood Association. She said Sid is all excited about the election but otherwise is in good health. Son Dick had just returned from Europe for a brief furlough before receiving another assignment. He has been a navigator on a B-24. Daughter Priscilla has just become a private in the Women's Auxiliary Corps and has gone to Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
According to the Manchester Union, two Dartmouth men led War Fund campaigns. One, Sid Rollins, brother of Mac, of course, was chairman of Sullivan County in New Hampshire, while John Pearson was chairman of Grafton County. Since the campaign was just getting under way when their pictures appeared, no statement can be made as to whether or not the quotas were made, except that if John was behind it, it is a safe bet Grafton County went over the top.
Here are a few more excerpts from letterswritten by Jim Mathes Jr.:
Our train today took us by a crater left by last night's plane out in a field.
The country we ride through is as lovely in a farming, rolling, lush way as any I've ever seen. Full of stock—healthy sheep and beef and dairy cattle. The animals make me think of home. A darnnice English gentleman who rode with us for several hours, spoke ardently of his bees, his hobby. Made me think of mine.
Can't tell you where we're going—don't even know yet, for that matter. But I really think it's all right to tell you that we've traveled all day and that I'm loving it. These English are wonderful. One man we rode with this A.M. told us with a modest gaiety of his having been bombed more than once—of having five neighbors in the house next door getting buried. He dug them out—all unharmed. The bricks from their splattered home flew into his kitchen through the open door. He and his wife were under the kitchen table.
I hope I can get to know some of these people. For no matter how lovely a land is, you continue to look at it as an outsider until you get a key to let you in. Acquaintanceship with the native inhabitants is the only key worth using. Hope I can meet a nice family who will take me in occasionally and make me feel at home. I'm so eager to know these people and their country. I've met some awfully fine men already; hope some such will be near by at our destination, the which I truly don't know. Our folks should take visiting British and Australian officers in. I'd love so to have someone like your folks or mine do this for me—and I've only been in this land for the daylight of one day.
We're eating royally here. They wait on us hand and foot. Have linen table cloths, linen napkins. Tonight the boys ate ice cream and steak! Went to the movies with Art and two other officers we met here.
Walked home. It's about 10:30. Twilight and rain have combined to make it a lovely evening. The birds—and there are many of them—sing so beautifully. The air is heavy with the scent of flowers, wet grass, and country dust freshened by the rain. It's very lovely, very peaceful. They have a thrush over here, and this bird can sing sweetly and with great variety.
I'm very fascinated with this new land, the people and their ways. Even the air raid, now the damn thing is over, was fun. It was a spectacle full of impressiveness.
Guess the character I got to know the best was the town blacksmith, Mr. Campbell. He also runs a bicycle rental, plus a general baby carriage, lawn mower, etc., repair shop. His place of work is like a junk shop, but not his home. The brass doorknobs gleam, the front steps are scrubbed clean. Even dirty Mr. Campbell appears well dressed, neat and clean when he is at home.
Secretary, Harvard Hall, Apt. 705 1650 Harvard St., N. W., Washington, D. C Treasurer, 631 Walden Road, Winnetka, Ill.
