1939
Our class nominating committee has selected the following officers for the five-year period starting June, 1944: President—Mr. Moreau Brown; Vice President—Capt. Rodger Harrison; Secretary—Lt. Robert W. Gibson; Treasurer—Lt. Herbert Mattlage. This selection has been verified by those of the executive committee heard from to date.
From Fred Nixon's father comes word that Fred has been promoted to captain in the Signal Corps and is located at Camp Swift, Texas. Ralph Sperry was recently promoted to captain and is stationed at a German P.O.YV. Camp in Southwest lowa. He tells of Sam Hird being recently promoted to first lieutenant and is with a Field Artillery Observation Battalion in Italy. He also tells of Pvt. Ken Hugo, who has just finished basic training and is now taking an administration course at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Fred Mcßrien writes that it has taken months for him to receive any letters, owing to his transfer from the RCAF to the USAAF. He is still flying as a navigator and hopes to be able to get back to the States this summer. Fred now has an APO address—c/o Postmaster, New York City.
From Mrs. Robert Haslan Jr. comes news that in May, 1943, her husband received his commission as ensign. At the same time he became father to a daughter Judy. After his indoctrination at Quonset Point, R. 1., he had several more months of training at Saint Semons, Georgia. The last report was that he was on a converted aircraft carrier.
From Lt. (jg) John Davenport comes the following short history, "After a two-month indoctrination course at Boston as an ensign in the Naval Reserve, I was sent to Miami for further instruction in anti-submarine warfare. Then joined the USS (a 110 ft. subchaser) as Gunnery Officer. We sailed for Africa on November 6, 1942, the first ship of its type to make a trans-Atlantic crossing in the war, and, incidentally, at the time, the longest non-stop trip for vessels of this size. We were only in on the tail end of the invasion, however. Have been at this spot since, doing harbor entrance patrol work and coastal escort duty. We like to refer to ourselves as the Moroccan Coast Guard, which, I think, quite appropriate. The duty is not entirely devoid of interesting moments, however. Several months ago I made skipper and find the new duties a pleasant tonic in this rather dull existence. The nicest thing about the change, however, is my next move will be back to the States and Ellie. Haven't seen her now in almost fifteen months, which is much too long for this married guy."
From Baxter Prescott comes the following, "Right after graduating I came down to Washington and started work for the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Cos. My present title is traffic supervisor. There is no proper definition of the job so I won't attempt one, but I will say that the work is very interesting. Perhaps some of the other like Joe Urban will know what I am talking about, since they also work in the same organization, but elsewhere in the country. I still remain a civilian, having been classified 11-B five times now, but it wouldn't surprise me if the draft board suddenly reached out that long arm and I soon became Private Prescott. Concerning other members of the class—Rodger Harrison has been here almost two years now. He lived with me until he married a year ago and now is a proud father of Suzanne Eliot who was born one week ago. He just got back from four months in England and is a captain in the Army. Charlie Grant is now in Louisiana as a navigation instructor. He is also a captain, in the Air Force, and is living in great bliss since he was married last May to a Raleigh, N. C., girl."
Vernon Tailor recently graduated from the Naval Air Training Center, Corpus Christi, was commissioned an ensign. Also Edwin Cummings was recently graduated and commissioned a second lieutenant from Freemond Field, Indiana. He is now at Chanute Field, Rantoul, 111., at pilot school for Flying Fortresses. Leroy E. Middleworth Jr. was recently promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, is piloting a Liberator, and is based in England. Jim Mathes recently wrote that he will be on sea duty by the time this column is read.
On March 25 Ensign Walter M. Isbrandtsen and Miss Evelyn Kelley were wed. The bride, a native of California, attended Barnard College and is completing a course in occupational therapy at Columbia University. Ensign Isbrandtsen attended the Friends School, and is a recent graduate from the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. Miss Alice Ervin Beary and Lt. (jg) Robb Milmine DeGraff were married April 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sulgrave Club. The bride attended Westlake School. Lt. Hugh McLaren and Miss Gertrude Helen Bergman exchanged marriage vows March 25 at the home of his parents. The bride studied at Jamestown High School and Buffalo University, while Lt. McLaren went to the Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn. The marriage of Miss Jane Adene Gerrie to Lt. Robert Eaton Kalaidjian took place on April 2 in San Francisco. The bride has been associated with the British Embassy in Washington and the British Consulate in Los Angeles for the past three years. Lt. Kalaidjian returned recently from twenty months' service in the South Pacific. The engagement of Miss Patricia Ransohoff to Lt. Walter T. Kohn Jr. has been announced. Previous to her enlistment in the Waves, Miss Ransohoff worked for the British Ministry of Supply Mission, Washington. Lt. Kohn has just returned from England after eighteen months.
Secretary, Bethany Woods, Bethany, Conn. Treasurer, c/o J. M. Mathes, Inc. 122 East 42nd St., New York, N. Y.
