1946
After a long leave of absence '46 again makes an appearance in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. This is your class agent, pinch-hitting for Hal and Charley momentarily until the MAGAZINE'S frantic search for a substitute meets with success. Letters have not been any too abundant lately—the blame for which admittedly is mine for. not getting out any newsletters—but here's the most recent news culled from the letters which have arrived in Hanover.
First we have two open house invitations from parents of '46. The first arrived in a letter from Stan Gates' mother. Stan was at the time stationed at Chanute Field, learning to fly the Liberator. Revelant to the invitation to '46, Mrs. Gates says in part:—
Stan's father, Donald S. Gates, is USO director at the Recreational Center, Norfolk (Va.), and would be delighted to see any of the boys from up Hanover way. You might also broadcast our temporary home address, 120 West 30th St., Norfolk. Although it is practically a telephone booth with chairs, we have an apartment, complete with Stan's sister, who just graduated from Hood College in Maryland. If Larry Doty or any of the Dartmouth boys are in this vicinity, I hope they will look up the USO, the Gates menage, or both.
The other invitation comes by word of mouth from Mel Johnson, Navy med. student here at Dartmouth. In reply to the scathing letters concerning Southern hospitality which appeared in the Tomahawk, the Johnsons wish to prove to all '46s that are near, or pass through, Shreveport, La., that the South is proud of its world-famed hospitality which is as strong as ever. The Johnson's domicile is at not Erie St., and the telephone appropriately enough is Shreveport 7-1946. Needless to say, the class is properly appreciative for these swell offers.
In the Hearts and Flowers department, '46 has the engagements of two and the marriage of one of its sons to announce, with appropriate fanfares. The marriage of Lt. Bill Rearden Jr. USNR to Mary V. Butler was announced on July 21 in the New York Times. Mary is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Butler of Riverdale, New York City. On August 4 Art Crawford's engagement to Mary Hinkamp of Knoxville, Tenn., was announced. Art was stationed at Fort Dix at last report and Mary is a student at Purdue University. Tom Montgomery proclaimed his intentions of forsaking bachelorhood on September 24, when his engagement to Helen Anne Dunkel of Gloversdale, N. Y., was announced. Tom was at Midshipman's School at Cornell at the time, and Helen is a junior at Skidmore. Felicitations and congratulations are in order, of course, to all.
OVERSEAS
The mails have been both good and bad to us as far as these boys of '46 overseas are concerned. The good news is that both Don Smith .and Art Livermore who were both announced as missing earlier in the Tomahawk have been reported safe. Art is a prisoner-of-war and Don returned safely to England, I believe, as his parents received a cablegram from him. The bad news is twofold this time. Word has been received from Mr. and Mrs. Charles Moncrief of Bellerose, New York, that their son, Charles "Jr., was killed on August 20 in the invasion of southern France. Charley entered the service September 11, 1943, and saw action with the Infantry from the Anzio Beachhead to Rome. I'm sure the entire class joins with me in sending heartfelt condolences to Mr. and Mrs. Moncrief. News has also been released that 2nd Lt. "Chuck" Allen is reported missing in action as of July 29. He was a co-pilot of one of the Flying Fortresses that made the historic shuttle flight from England to Russia to Italy and back, making four separate bombing attacks on Nazi targets in Germany, Poland, Rumania and France. Chuck was with the Bth AAF heavy bombardment group.
A letter from Lt. Bill McDougall arrived last July written just before "the big deal" and Bill himself arrived back in the States on leave early in August. Mac had at that time completed thirty-one missions in his Fort, "Big Misery," and holds the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross. George Swick reports from England, doing hushhush work in the weather service. Dick McMahon is with the paratroopers, Malcolm (Mac) McLane with the 9th Air Force flying a P-47, Paul Foley with the 8th Air Force, Buol Hinman and Bob Hunt with the Engi- neers, Ted Fajen with the Infantry—all in England or points Berlinward. From the other side of the globe Henry Kent has reported in from New Guinea, as has Bill Burner. Henry is with an Aviation Engineer Battalion; Bill, who is with an Ordnance Automotive Battallion, writes in part:—
Since training near Hollywood, Calif., I have taken a little ocean voyage and landed in mudstruck New Guinea. There is no beer or liquor to be had on the island. The only thing we have to celebrate with in the old Dartmouth style is 'Jungle Juice' or ordinary moonshine which we make ourselves with sugar and fruit juices. It's really a potent mixture after it sets in a jug for a couple of weeks. The female situation is really pretty bad. The only time you see a white woman is when you are in the hospital. The native women don't look like'Heddy Lamar or Dottie Lamour but in reality are as ugly as hell and blacker than the ace of spades. It's true that they go around with just a hunk of cloth around their waists, but their ugliness overshadows their nakedness- so much, that you don't stare in amazement when they pass by. There are supposed to be a couple of thous and WAACS here pretty soon which will really be a blessing from heaven!
Leonard Fritz's father reports that Leonard was wounded off Blak Island on May 29. He has been recuperating in New Guinea and should be well on the way to recovery, if not yet up and about now.
THE HANOVER FRONT—There is very little to report from Hanover itself. The number of the class still at Dartmouth was sadly reduced by the transfers to Midshipmen School and Marine Officers training first in July and again last month, so now only a few civilians and smattering of V-ia students represent the class. The '46 delegation to Dartmouth Medi- cal School represent a large portion of these and includes "Bud" Bennett, Dave Stephen- son, Dick Turk, Art Naitove, Tickelis, Howie Hewitt, Guy Van Syckle, Jim Brod, Chan Bowen, Bill Schillhammer, Soule, and yours truly as civilian members, and Ed Attiy, Wayne Frerichs, Bill Beaven, George Vogt, Fred Richardson, Milt Cooper, Mel Johnson, and Bert Schwarz representing the Navy. Howie Hewitt has been chosen captain of this year's ski team. Carl McKinnon is back with the big Green football team, having moved up from Parris Island last July to join the Marine Unit.
This is about all the news space will allow and we'll try to catch up in next month's article, for there's plenty more. Let's hear from you fellows as soon as possible again. Despite the dearth of newsletters these past few months, I'm still here and will try and get out a newsletter for the class as soon as enough up-to-date news comes in. Till then, no solicitations, and Merry Christmas.
UP IN THE AIR but gradually coming down, A/S Jeff Mills '47, acting editor, perches atop the present supply of the 1944 Aegis and calls the sterling qualities of the book to the attention of Marine Pvt. Bob Coon.
Secretary, 614 Alameda Padre Serra, Santa Barbara, Calif. Treasurer, Hanover, N. H.
