1941

Our class made a good record last year in the Alumni Fund Campaign, but this year we are out to win, at least insofar as the number of contributors is concerned. We can't expect to donate the most money because we are a young class and have not yet had the opportunity to establish ourselves in the business world. However, each and everyone of us can send in at least something and bring up the percentage of contributors to one hundred per cent. Let's all sit down right now and help Lew Johnstone by sending in what we can afford. It's one way of showing our class spirit. So much for that. 1 have several notes of interest this month.

We have a potential alumnus in David Edmund Tanzi, who was bom December 23, 1943. His proud poppa and mamma, Lt. (jg) and Mrs. Edmund A. Tanzi report this tact. Ted is now in Pacific waters where he is serving as navigator on a new destroyer.

I gave a short comment on Major John C. Meyer several months ago, but I have just got the low-down on his activities for the past four years and think they are well worth airing. John is with the Bth Air Force in England and a major at 24. He's really been giving the Jerries the works with his P-47 Thunderbolt. His fighter plane carries the name,

"Who's lambie is '00?" That's almost as bad as "Marezy doats." Nevertheless, the plane came by it sacredly and who am I to delve into the intimate conversations of two people in love. John is now squadron commander of a fighter group. He recently received his third Oak Leaf Cluster to his Air Medal lor downing three German aircraft, along with a probable and a damaged one on his personal account. He has a Distinguished Flying Cross and has completed more than forty missions over the continent. After a year's service in Iceland where once he was reported missing for a week but was rescued after a forced landing, John proceeded to England. Refusing to ask for a furlough after his twenty-fifth mission he wrote home: "I want to stay here and help finish this job." Since John dropped out of medicine his senior year to get his commission at Kelly Field, he has seen and done much. He would still like to get back to the U. S., though, for a date that didn't cost him $lOO a crack.

Our class has three new M.D.'s. Bill Jamison was recently awarded his degree at the University of Virginia Medical School and is now serving his interneship at George Washington Hospital, Manassas, Va. Drs. Robert C. Raine and Elmer L. Creham began their nine months' interneship in the C.M.G. Hospital, Lewiston, Maine, preparatory to entering active service with their respective units. Rainie is a first lieutenant in the Army and Crehan is lieutenant (jg) in the Navy. Both received their M.D.'s at Boston University Medical School.

Bob Hamilton is leaving the Washington merry-go-iound to take on a new position with Pacific Tel. and Tel. in Los Angeles, Calif.

Charles Schlenker, invalided by malaria out of service from his post as U. S. Marine Lieutenant on Guadalcanal has taken a post as job-grading engineer at Western Electric's Kearny Works. Charles says, "Malaria and dysentary did more harm than Japanese bullets. At one time there were only 10 out o£ 42 men in my outfit who were fit for duty." Thorns and creepers in the jungle made scratches that were hard to heal. Schlenker said that the natives were friendly and quite partial to shorts, which they liked to wear when they could get them from an American soldier. He attended platoon leaders' classes at Quantico, Va., in 1939, and 1940, and got his commission in July, 1941. Going into active duty in February, 1942, he moved fast and hit Guadalcanal in August, 1942.

I would like to include a poem by Frank Simpson, captain in the U. S. Marine Corps, who is located somewhere in the South Pacific. Read it when you start to feel sorry for yourself. It's good.

So you're sick of the way the country's run Sick of the way the rationing's done. And you're sick of standing around in a line You're sick, you say,—well, that's just fine.

I'm sick of the sun and the heat And I'm sick of the feel of my aching feet, I'm sick of the mud and the jungle flies And I'm sick of the stink when the night mists rise.

I'm sick of the siren's wailing shriek And I'm sick of the groan of the wounded and weak, I'm sick of the sound of the bomber's whine And I'm sick of seeing the dead alive.*

I'm sick of the rain and the noise and din And I'm sick of the taste of food from a tin, Im sick of the slaughter, I'm sick in my soul, I'm sick of playing a killer's role.

But I'll be damned if I wouldn't be sicker To hear folks at home cry cause they couldn't get liquor, Prices go up and they want more pay While we're getting fifty a month, not a day.

Life is too short to cry and moan So the boys are happy and they help the loan, They buy their bonds,—just the other day "We paid them off and they began to say,

"How many can I get for this month's pay." They spend all they've got and walk away They're proud to know they've done a damned sight more Than most * Maggots.

COMMISSIONS: Second Lieutenant Alfred W. Gordon Jr. of Omaha, Nebr., won his silver wings at Randolph Field, Texas, and Robert Harry Chisholm became a second lieutenant at Hondo Army Air Field, Texas. He will be a combat navigator.

MARRIAGES AND ENGAGEMENTS: Lt. Frederick Montfort USCGR became engaged to Miss Ethelinda Bartlett of New London, Conn. Montfort was attending Law School at Columbia University before he enlisted and was stationed at New London. The remainder are marriages: PFC Roger L. Epply AAF to Patricia Anne Paton, in Gordon Chapel of Old South Church, Boston. Epply graduated from Vesper George School after leaving Dartmouth. Lt. William C. Billings USNR to Miss Margaret D. Lightner in California on December 25, 1943. Lt. (jg) Robert H. Baker, USNR to Miss Selma Jane Allan, in Woodbury, N. J. Capt. Ralph E. Johnson AAC to Miss Jean Spence on Tuesday, December 14., 1943, in Hinsdale, 111.

I close with the announcement of the birth of Georgia Anne on November 15, 1943, to Lt. (jg) and Mrs. James P. Rogers. Congratulations.

A VOLUNTEER with the American Field Service, George Alden Ladd '41 will be stationed somewhere in India.

LT. ALFRED W. GORDON '41 AAF is congratulated by his father Col. A. W. Gordon, upon receiving his commission.

Secretary, Presidential Gardens, Alexandria, Va. Treasurer, 17 N. Park St., Hanover, N. H.