1917
These words should reach you at about the time of the annual sectional Alumni meetings. Let them remind you, if the opportunity is still yours, of the good time and the inspiration which is yours for the attending, whether it be Boston, New York, Chicago, or elsewhere.
Major Charley Peters, whose picture illuminates these words, is the same Charley who occupied 59 Wheeler in the fall of 1913. He heads the motor pool at Whittemore Ordnance Base at Fort Devens, where he has remained consistently since early in the war. And it may be fairly said that Charley prepped thoroughly for his assignment in his years in the automobile business in Boston and vicinity. Although we have been unsuccessful in getting him out to the Boston meetings, he does keep us posted, and maybe our luck will change.
The recent card from Lt. Col. Trennie Trenholm is probably the most travelled in our mail bag. It brought greetings from the China-Burma-India theater. As we figure it Trennie must have travelled about halfway round the girdled earth to reach his present address. We will want him in the group around the fireplace someday when it can all be told.
The Hats off Department this .month salutes Major Tom Clark on his promotion. Tom has been newly assigned to the U. S. Engineers Sub-office at the American Car and Foundry Co., Berwick, Pa., and gives as his address, Hotel Berwick, that city.
A card from Major Arch Gile reminds us that he has been overseas nearly six months, "though it seems longer." Arch was down with bronchitis at the time and our hope is that his period of inactivity was of short duration. He sends his best "to all the gang." Mary reports that daughter Joy and her husband are happily established in a nice apartment in Princeton where Lt. Pete is on the Navy staff.
Lt. Comdr. Slatz Baxter is back in New England on the Receiving Ship, Fargo Building, Boston, after his tour of duty on the West Coast. Next to duty on the high seas our guess is that Slatz likes his current assignment best, for after all he is an old Navy man by training and a seafarer by ancestry. He has already used the facilities of the MacKillop luncheon club at least once, in company with Howard Bartlett.
Lt. Don Aldrich USNR has resigned as rector of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, New York, and will accept the office of Bishop Coadjutor of Michigan. Announcement of his decision was contained in a radiogram from Pearl Harbor, where he has been attached to the Staff of Admiral Nimitz in the Chaplain Corps. The brief word did not state when Don would leave his naval duties to take up his new post, but the possibility that he had obtained a release from Naval service was indicated. The Michigan diocese elected Don last May, but at that time he declined in the belief that his Navy duties would not permit his acceptance.
Well, Gene and Lucile Towler have gone and done it,—moved into New England, even if only by a few miles. In other words the "Towler USO for '17 Service Men", to use Slatz' words for the hospitable Towler home, is now at Fillow St. and Fox Run, R. R. No. 2, Norwalk, Conn., on the outskirts of Darien. Gene writes, "It is a modernized colonial house, over one hundred years old, on three acres, with a typical farmer's stone fence and stone well, with winding roads, lots of trees, and only four houses in sight. It is our idea of taking to rural life. I'll be right near Pop Ford, as well as Robie and Scott. Spique was in town for a brief visit recently and we ran into Sailor Ford who says he'll give me the nautical low-down in his neighborhood." Gene sounds enthusiastic. We'd like to be around for the house warming.
Bob Paine who occasionally tickles the ivories for the harmony at local '17 gatherings, has got himself a new job. He is pianist in a businessmen's orchestra called the Swing Shifters, playing once a week at the Buddies Club, Esplanade Club, and other Boston USO centers for servicemen. The group was written up in the December American Magazine. Bob didn't say how he liked the publicity, but we'll wager he has a swell time separating the boys from their cares by the route of good music.
From Wilmington, Del., Russ Fisher brings us up to date on himself. "For over a year I was with Dravo Corporation, ship builders, as induction manager, later also morale welfare and absenteeism control. Quit to train in job relations training for WMC, chiefly in Pennsylvania. Then went with Bellanca Aircraft Corp. in New Castle, Del., on much the same sort of work I did with Dravo. Recently, the management promoted me to direction of plant security, including safety, guards, fire, dispensaries, communications, service, and training. Busy is the word. Mary, Mary Lee Jr., nine, Chan, four, and I like the transportation ease and urban life. Best to the gang." Just to refresh your memory: Russ, who was captain of the 61st Infantry in World War I, commanded Co. G in the regiment known as "Pershing's Own," which was chosen from the Army of Occupation to march in the Victory celebration in Paris on July 4 and July 14; 1919. He received the D.S.C., is a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, and was awarded the Croix de Guerre with two palms,—a swell record in any man's war.
A good letter from Searles Morton reminds us of how fortunate we are that our lot has kept us in the East. Searles keeps in touch, no doubt about it, but in common with other hinterlanders, regrets that Columbus, Ohio, is not a '17 crossroads. "I had determined to make an annual trip East for the sole purpose of seeing some of you again, and as soon as the war is over I am going to do so every fall,—even if we do play Notre Dame "
Sherm and Gladys Smith have announced the engagement of Natalie to Walter K. Chisholm Jr. USNR '43, who is a senior at Tufts Dental College. Natalie is a senior at Simmons, where Sherm recently had the pleasure of lecturing to her class -in advertising Dewey Duhamel sent us a clipping from the Toledo Blade containing a very attractive picture of Mrs. Charles Marc Gilmore. Both Charles and his bride, Arlene Sentle, are students at Rollins College, Win ter Park, Fla., where they were married in December Lt. Harold J. Weeks Jr. USAAF '44 has become engaged to Miss Phyllis Frances Campbell of Wakefield, Mass. Phyllis is a cadet nurse at the Margaret Pillsbury General Hospital, Concord, N. H. Jack is in Europe, a navigator on a B-24 "bombing the daylights out of Germany," according to Hal and Jo. He was awarded the Air Medal in November for his successful missions over enemy territory. .... The Old (1743) Sanborn Homestead, Sanbornville, N. H., is not far from Exeter, and reports have it that the Weekses and the Sanborns are visiting back and forth, including Thanksgiving at the Homestead, as their grandparents undoubtedly did in bygone years. There's a couple of fireplaces we'd like to pull up in front of.
Belle Black says that Lt. (jg) Angus Jr. USNR '45 has been a fljght instructor for Naval Air Cadets, and will leave shortly for Texas for reassignment, probably as fighter pilot. She sends kindest regards: "If Angus were here, he'd say, 'Me, too',—but he has been on the hump since early morning and it's now 'most midnight." But that is the lot of the country doctor, bless his heart Walt Sisson says that he and Ruth always wish that they lived closer to the center of '17 activities, too. But Carol, their oldest daughter, transferred to Wheelock College, Boston, this year, after a year at Maryland College for Women, Baltimore. So maybe we'll see them yet, Notre Dame or no Ping Doty reports, "No change in my status or condition," but tells us, "Lawrence '46 has been in France for some time, but was back in Scotland when last heard from. Douglas went over with his Tank Corps unit, and we assume he is in France."
Skipper Norwood is the Comptroller of the Brown Co., Berlin, N. H., living at 272 Church Street, that city Ned Dewey says, "There is nothing new about me and mine, but didn't the Alumni Fund Committee do a swell job? I hope the gang gets behind them _ for an even greater success this year. 'Let's Arrive in Forty-five.' "
BOSTON AUTOMOBILE MAN heads Army motor pool at Camp Devens. Major Charles Peters '17 "prepped thoroughly" for Army assignment during his years in the automobile business.
STATIONED IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC, Comdr. Roger L. Howland '1B has been stationed in the Guadalcanal area for about two years. The above picture was taken a few years ago in New York.
Secretary, 57 Chestnut St., Dedham, Mass.
Treasurer, 9 Park Terrace, Upper Montclair, N. J.
