1936
For the third time in the past four months I have found it my duty to be the bearer of unpleasant news. The class of 1936 has lost one more of its loyal members while in the service of his country as Ben Farber, a Lieutenant (jg) in the United States Navy Air Corps, was killed in an airplane crash on February 21, 1944. It is with sorrow and pride that we add his gold star to our service flag. Ben's necrology appears in this or subsequent issues.
That erstwhile scribe of Tithe and ace collector of that green stuff, Ed Brooks, has once again started to turn out the up-to-the-minute news in that scandal sheet of his, but the mailman did ring twice at 48 Wall Street during the past month with some mighty interesting letters; so here goes once again.
Sgt. Don Ballantyne writes from Keesler Field, Miss., that he is an instructor down there in the Aircraft Mechanics School. For the past eight months Don has been privileged to live off the reservation and has found Army life quite pleasant with his wife living right there with him. Zeb White drops a line from Monticello, Ark. proudly announcing the arrival of Susan Carol on last September 23rd. Zeb is still in forestry work, doing timberland management and logging in the southern states. The news was recently passed on that the February issue of Journal of Higher Education contains an article "The Progressive College" by Lou Benezet.
Pvt. Paul Zens is a new recruit in the Army but is already making forward strides. Paul went in on September 18, 1944 and received his basic training at Fort McClellan, which according to Paul is only a clever anagram of Howling Hell. Regardless, Paul was designated as a potential radio operator for the infantry and after preliminary training at Howling Hell, he was sent to the infantry school at Fort Benning; a great relief. Paul, like so many of you fellows who have written, expressed the thought of a grand 10th reunion in mufti.
Another success story that has come our way arrived by way of Chuck William's proud father for which we are grateful. Chuck, who is in England, has recently received his captaincy just twenty months after entering the Army and being assigned as a ward boy in the camp hospital at Camp Edwards. Congrats Chuck and best wishes.
Early in February many papers throughout the country carried an AP story from Bougainville written by Staff Sgt. "Mac" McCarty '35 who is now a Marine combat correspondent. Mac's story was about a battle-weary marine who was sent down to the Bougainville beach to take a rest after a real close call. At the beach he found an anchored PT boat which was scheduled for an idle night and had an extra bunk; just the place for a rest. Just after the marine fell asleep the skipper of the PT boat received urgent orders for a run to Buka as Jap destroyers had been sighted and there was no time to get the marine ashore. The PT went aH the way to Buka, getting involved in a lot of firing and torpedoing and returned the next day with the battle-weary marine thanking the PT skipper for the ride. Well, the PT skipper who gave that marine that enjoyable ride was none other than our own Lt. (jg) Art Atkinson. How's the golf on Bougainville, Art?
Several months ago it was reported in this column that Emil Hokanson was an aide to some General, the news coming via Bob Kable. A recent letter from Emily Hokanson reports that Bob had wonderful ideas but that her husband, now a captain, was transferred to the Inspector General Department last June. He is now overseas in the south Pacific and would welcome a letter from the gang.
There have been a number of service promotions which it is a pleasure to record. Bill Crangle is now a Lt. (jg) in the Navy and likewise Russ Hurd is wearing one and a half stripes. According to our records the only 's6er who is a two and a half striper is Lt. Comdr. Mario Guerrieri. Bob Morris has graduated from OCS and besides wearing a gold bar is privileged to wear a suit of which the coat and pants do not have to match in color. Hank Mayo, Boyce Price and Bill Garlick have all been advanced to captain. Eddie Chamberlain is now a full lieutenant in the Navy. Herb Beskind and Ken Langler have their commissions as ensigns. Joe Berman has discarded his gold bar in favor of a silver one.
Lt. Bill Stimson of the Coast Guard is now attached to the 10th Naval District Office with an FPO address. Lt. Jack Squiers USNR is attached to the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, Washington.. Jim Pollock's address is % Ground Hog Mine, Vanadium, New Mexico. Tommy Parker is with the Remington Arms Co. in Bridgeport.
On January 9, 1944, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Brown of Gurdon, Ark. announced the engagement of their daughter, Tanna, to Bob Fernald. She has been doing graduate work at George Washington University in Washington, where Bob is also located as Chief of Research, Food Requirements Section, Office of the Quartermaster General. The wedding is to take place in the spring.
The stork paid a visit to the Bob Bullock's on January 11, 1944, and now young Anthony is keeping them busy.
Since our last report on the Memorial Fund several months ago, we have received second contributions from Bud Titcomb and Paul Hessler as well as original contributions from Joe Carson, Ed Kendall, Dan Holland, Art Toan, Harvey Sevigny, Emily and Karl Hokanson, Gage Aborn, Russ Hurd, Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Smith and Dick Taylor. Many thanks to each of you for this thought in memory of John Schulz, Charlie Stern, Ken Robinson, Steve Smith, Dick Huerth, Gil Portmore and Ben Farber.
It is with this latter thought in mind that I ring down the curtain as Acting Secretary for 1936. I soon will be joining the ranks of many of you in the service and it is with regret that I must give up this job as I have enjoyed it a lot and I only hope that we will all be back to our normal pursuits before too long. Fortunately, Norb Hofman, who did an outstanding job as Ist Asst. Secretary until he entered the Army last year and was forced to take a leave of absence, is now detailed here in New York and is in a position for the time being to reassume these duties. So, send your news and letters from now on to him at Hotel Peter Cooper, Lexington Ave. & 39th Streets, New York, N. Y. It all depends where I am located and what my duties will be next fall as to whether or not I will once again be sending out the bills for class dues, but don't worry, you will get them from somebody. In the meantime any contributions to the Memorial Fund may be sent to me at the Bank of New York and the funds will be taken care of properly.
Acting Secretary and Treasurer, Bank of New York 48 Wall St., New York 5, N. Y.
