1941
News this month is quite abundant and so I won't spend any time trying to think up anything to fill up space.
A letter from Jim Vaughn, recently promoted to Lt. (jg) USNR, tells me that he is back at sea. His ship is one of the new aircraft carriers. Jim's career in the Navy started shortly after graduation and most of his time has been spent in Pacific waters, Aleutian waters. Before reaching Alaska Jim was told that there was a girl behind every tree. "I found the word was correct for once—there weren't any trees." Nick Carter and Jack Devor gave Jim a send off from Dutch Harbor on his trip back to the states for flight training. After some leave, he journeyed to Dallas, Texas where after 4 weeks the Navy decided he'd make a much better sailor and so to sea. Jim likes his new ship and says she's so big you really need to be in shape to get around in a hurry to your battle stations.
Fred "Que-ball" Eaton is wondering when Uncle Sam is going to pass a "Pay as you come" tax instead of the present "Pay as you go" plan. Anyway he's hoping for a raise so he can handle any such possibilities. Mamma and Pappa Eaton with Ariel and Chris, daughter and son respectively have quite a head start in the baby raising race a good many of the 4iers are in on. It's really swell. Fred is still working for Sears and Roebuck. He handles the catalogue advertising for Electrical Appliances and Building Materials. Thinks he might be going to work for Uncle Sam if they continue to take daddys.
Buzz Willis is now instructing in flying in ray home town, Minneapolis. Nice place isn't it Buzz, Ha. Ha. Robert H. Chisholm was just commissioned at Hondo Army Air Field, Hondo, Texas. Alfred W. Gordon Jr. was commissioned a Second Lieutenant at Foster Field, Victoria, Texas. He is a fighter pilot. Aviation Cadet Anthony P. Nanos completed the intensive 11 week course at the U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School, Chapel Hill, N. C. and has been assigned to Glenview, 111., for primary flight training.
P.F.C. Roger L. Epply, free lance commercial artist before he was assigned to the Technical School, A.A.F. Technical Training Command, Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin for training as a radio technician. Rog entered the Army, January 26, 1942 and prior to his recent transfer back to the states had spent 18 months overseas.
A correction to my March issue is in order. In it I attributed a poem therein to one Frank Simpson. Frank sent it to his father thinking it had some eye-opening thoughts in it and somewhere between his father and me, it became his own work. I'm sorry Frank.
George R. Cruze's father sent in a clipping which tells of George being seriously wounded in Italy on February 9, 1944. The Class of 1941 sure hope by now that he is well on the road to recovery.
In a Nissen hut at some U. S. bomber base in England a U. S. foreign correspondent wrote of how our ground forces "Sweat it Out" while waiting for the bombers to return. One of the returning pilots which this correspondent interrogated about his mission was none other than our own Lt. Bob Krieger. He was described as a "tall, lean, shy- looking youngster." Bob hopes he can get home in time to be around when his baby is born. We certainly hope so too, Gretchan. Congratulations! Bob thought his first mission was exciting, but he said "This one was more so. It was so tough that I got to thinking I'd rather be playing football against Joe Osmanski who once knocked me cold." All kinds of continued good luck, Bob.
Chuck D'Olive writes from "this forsaken place which makes Hanover look like a tropical paradise." He's an aviation cadet in Yankton, South Dakota at the C.A.A.-W.T.S. School learning to fly for the Navy. In December he went to Liberty Field, Kansas City, Mo., and there he completed his pre-flight ground school work. He is getting plenty of flying and has no doubt soloed by now. Glad to hear about you Chuck and wish to remind you I finished my thesis in plenty of time to graduate. Must have been an hour or maybe two to spare.
"Pidge" Hughes, who has been reported as missing in action recently was awarded the permanent citation of the Air Medal by Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy. The citation reads: "For meritorious achievement participating in aerial flight as Pilot in Bombing Squadron ELEVEN during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area from April 26 to July 28, 1943. Fighting with outstanding aggressiveness and courage, Lieutenant (junior grade) Hughes launched consistently accurate dive-bombing attacks against strongly fortified positions and, in spite of heavy anti-aircraft fire, inflicted serious damage on the enemy and aided materially in the advance of our ground forces. His superb airmanship throughout these hazardous missions and during a strike by our forces at enemy shipping in Kahili Harbor, in which four hostile destroyers were sunk reflects great credit upon the United States Naval Service."
Congratulations Men on the fine showing in the Alumni race. Let's stay up on top and win all honors this year. I have a few statistics to pass along this month.
Lt. (jg) Josiah Fuller, USNR (MC) recently married Miss Thelma Pearl Leigh of Claremont, New Hampshire. Thelma is a technologist in the bacteriology laboratory of Mary Hitchcock Hospital where Josiah is now interning.
Lt. (jg) Frederic Montfort, USCGR was wed to Miss Ethelinda Bartlett in the Church of the Reconciliation at Webster, Mass. February 19. Fred was attending Columbia Law School when he enlisted in the Coast Guard.
Lt. Herbert Edward Bailey, A.A.F. became engaged to Miss Marion Gale Ferris not long ago. Herb was in his third year at Yale Law School when he entered the service in June 1942.
Keep the new flowing.
WOUNDED IN ACTION on Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island, Lt. Lee Barrett '41 USMCR, is convalescing at U. S. Naval Hospital, Oakland, Calif. He received the Purple Heart medal while in a hospital at Sidney, Australia.
Secretary, Presidential Gardens, Alexandria, Va. Treasurer, 17 N. Park St., Hanover, N. H.
