1931

This month's vacation from writing this column is like a shot in the arm, but like all other vacations you hate to get back to work. So roll up your sleeves* McAllister, and act like you were happy about the whole thing.

Speaking of being back, Frank (Lt. sg) McCord came in from a six months' freighter trip to Russia. Mac made the run to Murmansk and told us something about it. Hodson, Wolif, Clark, and yours truly and our respective wives all made dinner and an evening at the Pennsylvania to see the "Monk" and Alice. His experience ranged all the way from having his freighter crack up to a run through an uncharted mine field and then to being part of a convoy that apparently was trying to bait Tirpitz. Asked him if he got a shot at any of the Nazis, and he said that the convoy had been so heavily guarded that no German plane got near them. In Murmansk the highlight of the trip was a dinner for the ship's officers at which vodka, wine, and champagne flowed freely and the vodka had to be bottomed up every time a new toast was given. To Mac that seemed like every five minutes. Apparently the trip through the uncharted mine field was nothing compared to getting back to the ship after that party. Mac's training at the famous

"Boston Tea Parties"—like his other Dartmouth training—stood him in good stead.

From Monk we learned that Dick Cukor, also a lieutenant in the armed guard, has been sailing the South Pacific and now ships out from San Francisco.

On the 21st of June the class of '31 had a dinner in N. Y. at the Dartmouth Club and had a swell turnout—20 of the gang appearing—under the fine hand of Charlie Gristede and Dutch Holland. Also in attendance were Charlie Schneider, "Nick" Nichols, Al Torres, "Shep" Wolff, Vic Rockhill, Wilbur Light, Dick Henry, Bunce Clarkson, Keith Shearman, Al Sutton, Stew Rose, George Metier, Don Stoddard, Hank Richmond, Jim Lyall, and Charlie Briggs. (Our apologies to the two that Charlie Schneider—our reporter—didn't list, it's always a job to remember all the fellows who attended a couple of weeks after it took place.)

Dick Henry, back from China on the last trip of the Gripsholm, had some interesting experiences in the Japanese prison camps and told the fellows of them. Bob Biesel, he said, came back on the same boat and rumor has it that Bob is now in South America. Dick was reasonably well treated and looks to be in good shape again.

A post card from Camp Meade from brother "Chuck" O'Neill as of May 10—"Add to 31's A. U. S. and re: Ed Gruen's otherwise fine note, I wasn't pushed. I jumped by voluntary induction and not for historic or prehistoric intelligence—lt's the regular 50c blue plate dinner"—Thanks, Chuck, for the card and good luck.

Got another post card not long ago from Charlie Simonson who had been inducted and was at Camp Dix—no word since, however.

From the Haverhill, Mass. Record's "Who's Who," "Space devoted to today's 'Who's Who' is briefer because of the years of the subject—Attorney W. Clifford McDonald, city solicitor are fewer. These years, however, promising for the future, are also rich in early achievements." It then goes on to tell about Mac's early history—Haverhill H. S.; Dartmouth College and Harvard Law—"He was elected city solicitor in 1938 and thus became one of the youngest attorneys in the history of the community to be thus honored. He served four years from 1938 to 1941 and then was returned to office this year. He also serves as a director of the Merrimack National Bank, the Haverhill Kiwanis Club, the Haverhill Girl's Club, and as an incorporator of the Pentucket Saving Bank. Some record, Mac, and it is good to hear about you. Been a long time coming but when it did it was O.K.

It's also been a long time since the days -when one of the gang would pick up a telephone at 1:30 A.M. and just say "hello"—that is, it was until last week when foggy brained and foggy eyed, I shut off the alarm clock and wondered why it kept ringing only to realize that it was the telephone. Then when I answered it I was greeted by the bright cheery—beg pardon—beery voice of one lug from Missouri—Gray Magee. He, Koelson (who just got his commission Lt. (jg) in the Navy), and Clark had been tossing a few short ones and thought it would be fine sport to speak to a few of the clan, waited for 1:30 A.M.—and then Bell system was put to work and I was one of those called. Gray sounded swell and Frank says he looks in the pink. His military school is active and he has a real set-up there in Alton, Ill.

Came down to Philadelphia on the train last week with Frank Quinn. Frank is American Fork and Hoe in these parts and does a good job of it—looks well and his family and garden in White Plains keep him busy outside of business hours.

By mail this A.M. from Bill Wilson of Kellett Aircraft the following Press release: "The National War Labor Board today announced the appointment of P. C. Brownell. He succeeds John Byrne (the Red) Chamberlin who has been in charge of enforcement since December 1942 and who is leaying the W.L.B. to take an overseas position with the Army Air Force." No further details were available.

And finally a grand letter from Frank Gavan—Lieutenant Colonel in the Engineers and one of '31's top ranking officers

"To bring you up to date, I was working at Armstrong Cork since 1931, got married in 1936, have two children—both girls—Pat and Linda (the later may be a wise child, but she doesn't know her father) and was called up as a first lieutenant Corps of Engineers reserve in March 1941. My Army career in brief: trained at Fort Buvoir, 1941 Carolina manoeuvers, training at Fort Bragg, the Alcan highway (when Low Wallace '41 and Abe Bilsby '37 and I, all in the same regiment, had a sort of Dartmouth Club) trained at Camp Claiborne; Arkansas flood duty and then moved to Great Britain. Not very exciting but rather solid with hard work and all with troops. Rather interestingly there are five of my family over here now—one brother and three cousins.

"Give my best to all the gang. I haven't kept in touch at all but there have been 'wheels within wheels.'

"Was billeted recently with a chaplain Caldwell —former Yale footballer—and after seeing Eli Yale's tomb, we had quite an argument over whether Eli was notable for founding Yale or for being Eleazar Wheelock's teacher."

Thanks, Frank, it was swell to hear from you. I only wish more of the gang would shoot us a letter now and then to bring us up to date the same way. Writing this column is really fun when there's stuff to "give" with and I'm sure it would make for more interesting reading for the fellows in service if more would write. What do you say?

SIXTY-THOUSAND SEA MILES have been covered in three trans-Pacific trips by Sey Rogers '32, CO of a hospital ship platoon. Photo taken in New Guinea, his last stop.

Secretary, 224 Beverly Rd., Scarsdale, New York Treasurer, 400 W. Madison St., Chicago, Ill.