1941
My notes for this month sound more like the Birth Registry of a good sized town. What "prolificity." To start things off, Virginia and Don Norton are happy to announce the birth of their daughter, Elizabeth Anne, who was born on the third of December. All other vital statistics are lacking, but congratulations, Virginia and Don. The Elses are expecting again sometime in July. Don's address points to the fact that his stay with Elizabeth Anne has been short-lived and that he is now somewhere in the Pacific.
Dick Whittier sent in a clipping concerning our Lt. Col. John C. Meyer. John has the distinction of being the top U. S. Ace in' the European theater, having shot down thirty-four enemy planes in aerial combat. Back to Louise and Dick Whittier, they are proud to report the birth of an eight-pound baby girl named Nancy Louise. That's really swell. Dick says that he has had a letter from Harry Douty who now sports an FPO, San Francisco, address.
Lt. (jg) Rowland B. French has been assigned to the Medical Field Service School at Camp Lejeune, N. C., as a student. Rowland was commissioned at Boston in December 1942.
It is with deep sadness that I must tell you of the death of Capt. John T. Munroe. He had previously been listed as missing, but a wire from the Government stated that he was killed in action in Germany on November 19, this past year. John enlisted in the Army in July 1941, following our graduation, and was commissioned captain of Headquarters Company in an armored division at Camp Chaffee, Ark., in February 1944. He left for overseas duty in June 1944. We can only note our classmate's passing, but his memory will always be imprinted on our minds.
A Christmas Greeting from Johnny Kelley indicates that he is on one of our largest battleships, the USS ; however, I know more than that about him. He very deservedly has won himself the choice position of being in charge of the Marine detachment on this floating fortress.
Now let us back to babies and Bob and Roxie Nichols. Although the news came from different locations, both Roxie and Bob radiate the sunshine that Carol Sue, born on the 22nd of November last has put into their hearts. Bob is now in the Pacific and had only five days before leaving to gaze and wonder at his daughter. Before Bob went on active duty with the Navy Medical Corps on the 14th of November, Roxie and he, along with Win Shorey, took in the Dartmouth- Penn game and ran into the Stillman, Kiers, and the Dick Hills. Bob spent a week at the Philadelphia Navy Yard before he went West and had a pow-wow with Doc Spillane on the west coast before he left the country. Doc is about ready to leave the country also, I understand. Bob completed his interneship and "sheltered life" at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
I want to pass along a greeting from LesDavis to one and all. He writes that he haspretty much lost track of "all the boys bynow so I'll just aim this one card your wayand if you run across any of them pass onthe sentiments." Les is now overseas with anArmored Field Artillery Battalion.
That song about the trolley could very well be adapted as follows: "Wa Wa Wa went the babies!!!" Maybe I'm a little -premature on this one, though. Anyway Sally and Henry Frechette are expecting in May, but Hank is resigned to being away on "the" day. Hank is now a Lt. (jg) in the Supply Corps and is now with the NCB, FPO San Francisco, Calif., after short tours of duty at Bonnet Shores, R. I., Camp Parks, and Port Huenune, Calif. He likes his new billet better than his Bermuda stay and has met several Dartmouth men, there although none of our class. He saw Lt. (jg) Jack. Guenther at Camp Parks and saw Cam Farmer at a hotel "squiring a beautiful gal" before he left.
Capt. Robert J. Dixon recently became the first American photographic pilot to complete a tour of hours in the European theater of operations, and he has been named commanding officer of his photographic reconnaissance squadron which is one of the units that comprises the Seventh Photographic Reconnaissance Group. In setting the tour of hours precedence, Bob flew dozens of hazardous, solitary missions deep into enemy-held territory to photograph German troop and supply movements, communication lines, defenses and industrial installations. Although his completion of a tour of hours makes him eligible to return to the United States on a leave and possible reassignment to a different type of squadron, he has chosen to remain in England as his squadron commander and a photo pilot. Bob holds the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Unit Citation Ribbon. The Air Medal and Oak Leaf Clusters are in recognition of the numerous hazardous missions he has flown, while the Unit Citation was awarded to all personnel of the Seventh Group for their part in the invasion of the continent.
The Croix de Guerre has been awarded to John C. Hodel, who has been a volunteer ambulance driver with the American Field Service attached to the First Company of the 433 Medical Battalion with the French First Army in France. "He distinguished himself by his zeal and brave conduct during the evacuations which he carried through despite the fire of enemy artillery, particularly during the period of the 17th to 18th of October."
From New Delhi, India, word comes that Cameron B. Hosmer has been promoted to the rank of first lieutenant for his excellent work with a Signal Corps unit somewhere in India. He
has served for more than one year in the India- Burma theater. That's all folks.
Secretary, James Buchanan Apt., B 12 Presidential Gardens, Alexandria, Va.
Treasurer, 17 N. Park St., Hanover, N. H.
