1919
The class of 1949 started college on July first of this year and we find the following sons of 1919 fathers enrolled: Robert M. Davidson, Lester M. Felton Jr., William B. Jones, Robert W. Pierce, John S. Ransom, Alex T. Smith, and William M. Stedman Jr.
In the same order, we name the fathers: Lucius A. Davidson, Lester M. Felton, Alan P. Tones, Winthrop L. Pierce, Philip W. Ransom, William T. Smith, and William M. Stedman.
Communications from Shorty Gray, Bill Grant, Shorty Lyon, Tom Riley, Bill Hoard, and Spider Martin are acknowledged with thanks.
Tom Riley reports breaking his right wrist while up in Lowell, Mass. The rest of his family are in good health and spirits.
Tom Bresnahan spent some time with Gene Neely early this summer in Dallas, Texas. Reports Gene in good health and wanting to be remembered to many of his classmates whom he has not seen since 1917.
Wednesday, August 8th, produced a fine cool day, and a dinner gathering was held at the Bonnie Briar Country Club in Larchmont to welcome the return of, and to honor, Major George W. Rand, Comdr. John H. Chipman, and Lt. Comdr. E. Clarke Ingraham. In addition to the Army and Navy were: Bill McMahon, Tom Bresnahan, Hal Davidson, Bri Greeley, Dennie Sullivan, San Treat, Chet DeMond, Fat Jackson, and Ken Huntington.
DeMond and Bresnahan opposed each other in the same golf foursome and halved 9 holes in a row coming in, both playing pretty hot golf and ending up with an 82, for 18.
George Rand described in interesting detail flight conditions in New Guinea and the Philippines where the Fifth Fighter Squadron operated during most of the war. He related to us certain facts about his ace flyer, the late Major Richard Ira Bong, whose glorious sue, cess in combat was ended in a fatal accident, following a test flight in Burbank, Calif.
George described the work done by Charles Lindberg in improving flying conditions of the P-38S. He told of the trying conditions under which combat raged during the Leyte campaign, and gave the Nips very little credit for courage or strategy.
Clarke Ingraham added to George's story in describing the operations on Espiritu Santo where he helped make ready a replacement base for plane carriers. From a rough landing field with a few badly patched planes, Clarke described the rapid growth of that base to one of outstanding efficiency, able to furnish 500 brand new planes in perfect condition for any of the many carriers that required replacements.
A very interesting account by John Chipman of his activities, starting with a flight from Newfoundland to Ireland and then on to Africa, with none other than Gene Markey as a companion, followed. John claims that Gene Markey is the smartest intelligence officer he has ever met and with a personality that can't be equalled. He described his stay at Shepherds Hotel in Cairo where he and Gene were together for two and a half months, and his stay at Beirut where he spent considerable time coordinating American activities with those of our British and Russian allies. John's description of the Near East and parts of Africa would never enthuse the luxury-loving tourist or one who wishes to guard his health. The famous Shepherds Hotel offered little but dirt, bugs and disillusionment.
Chipman paid tribute to the boys in our Service that he met over-seas and feels that the U. S. A. has great reason to be proud of her present sons in the war. He was confining his remarks largely to those young G.I.s and pilots who were out and doing things every minute in the front fighting areas.
Upon John's return to the States, he went into Naval Operations work and had much to do with commissioning of ships at the base in New Orleans. He is now released to inactive duty after three and a half years of service and joins Ashenfelter and Morrow, New York Food brokers, and will represent the firm in New England, with offices in Boston. He reports the purchase of a farm in Norwell, Mass., and claims that he will soon set up the necessary freezing units to take care of home-raised stock. John has always been very close to the frozen food industry, having been associated with the General Foods Company and the Birdseye Company, prior to this war.
"Bob" Robert Masten Newcomb, Lt. Comdr. USNR in command of the Destroyer Escort Underhill, lost his life while in action, July 24, in the Pacific. We report this loss with great regret. Further details appear in "In Memoriam."
Ban Featherstone, Lt. Col. MC, has written from Finschlafen, New Guinea:
We came through here on our way from Frisco to the Philippines and landed in Manila the middle of May in time to see the ruins of that once beautiful city and to see them blast open the torture vaults in the Walled City and take out hundreds of bodies. Incidentally, they caught a live Jap once in a while, but he was not alive long when the Filipino marines started swinging. We hung around there for a month and lying in our tents we could see the boys shelling and bombing a ridge nearby. To add to the confusion they turned our hospital into the N. P. section of a big medical center and as I am not in Jack Murray's class and cannot, as yet, qualify as a patient, I drew a surgical post down here. It has not been too bad except for the heat, rain, bugs and lousy chow. I'm off 25 pounds and have not felt as well in ten years.
No doubt but that this column speaks for every 1919 alumnus when it states: "Ernest Martin Hopkins, though retired, will always live in our minds and hearts as Dartmouth's greatest and most beloved President. We wish him well and know now, how much he will be missed."
The secretary would welcome an expression regarding our hoped-for and delayed 25th Reunion. June 1946 will soon be here. The College may grant us facilities for holding our twenty-fifth if food and housing can be made available.
Clarence Buttenweiser, Captain MC, was in New York City for a 30-day-leave and has no doubt returned to Army Hospital work in Hawaii.
A letter from Fred Balch, offering to arrange a day in Philadelphia for those of us who could attend the Dartmouth-Penn football game is appreciated. Fred and Jane who hold Open House after the game issued an invitation to all in '19 who could be on hand.
Secretary, 103 Aviemore Drive, New Rochelle, N. Y.
Treasurer, Hanover, N. H.
