Thayer School

YOUR CORRESPONDENT had an enviable chance last month to see Thayer School men at work in the shipyard of the Walsh- Kaiser Corporation at Providence. General Manager Jack Macdonald '14, with the able assistance of Frank E. Cudworth '02, office engineer, and Don Phinney '34, plant engineer, has transformed a swamp into a completely equipped six-way shipyard. In addition to the construction work needed on the site, a major job of organization was required. When Jack took over management of the yard less than two years ago, the yard was poorly organized, facilities were inadequate, and a total of one ship had been completed in the year of so-called operation. In the following 19 months, the yard facilities had been developed to the point where they bore no resemblance to the disorganized array of temporary structures previously occupying the site, and a total of 34 ships had been actually delivered to the Maritime Commission and four others launched. By the time this, article is in print, my estimate is that the yard will have delivered 44 ships and launched three others. The ships built have varied in type and include Liberty cargo ships and frigates, but the present contract is for the large combat loaded cargo vessels which have top priority of all naval craft regardless of type.

Incidentally, plant engineer in a shipyard employing over twenty thousand men and women and turning out the tonnage of the Walsh-Kaiser yard is a full-time job for any one, and I am told that Don Phinney is the youngest plant engineer at any major shipyard in the country. Vacations are entirely lacking and responsibility is great, but the rewards of accomplishment in a job like that are very real.

At the risk of duplication in other departments of the MAGAZINE, and because the School is proud of his achievement, the citation which accompanied the award of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Lieutenant F. A. "Rick" Davidson '41 USNR is quoted in full:

For distinguishing himself by heroism in rescuing a critically injured and unconscious officer from the wreckage of a carrier-based airplane which, returning from a mission against the enemy, crashed on the flight deck of a carrier on the night of June 20, 1944, in the vicinity of the Mariana Islands. In spite of the fact that he himself had been injured in the crash and that the wreckage was a mass of flames in imminent danger of exploding, he dashed into the midst of the flames and single handedly extricated the injured officer. His utter disregard of his own safety was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Rick is now back in this country on a thirty-day leave after 18 months duty in the Pacific. The School is very anxious to have word of honors received by Thayer School men and I urge any of you who may have received such honors to report them to us.

At last reports, Captain Halloran's Tinimanhat Club on Tinian has a membership of eight, of whom 62.5 per cent are Thayer School graduates. Additions to the list are Lieutenants Gordon Spencer '36, Will Pitz '41, and Bob Barr '42, all USNR.

It is with deep regret that we record the death on December 11 of Gerald M. Hall '35. At the time of his death, Gerry was a captain in the Army stationed at the U. S. Military Academy. Those of us on the faculty who remember him from his undergraduate days and from his occasional visits to the School after graduation feel in his death a deep sense of personal loss. He was an outstanding student, a good athlete and a fine friend.

Lt. (jg) Charlie Hitchcock '39, USNR, has recently returned to this country with his construction battalion after six months on beach and harbor installations on the French coast. Charlie visited Hanover last month, looked in fine condition, and had some interesting experiences to relate.

Allen P. Richmond Jr. '15, assistant to the secretary of the Am. Soc. C. E., has recently served on a committee reporting on salaries and ratings for professional and sub-professional pubic employees in the Milwaukee area. Al has had a wide experience in this kind of work through his connection with the Am. Soc. C. E.

I wish space permitted me to publish the letters which keep coming in from the younger alumni in various branches of the service. Unfortunately, this can't be done, but it is possible to record that fairly complete reports, within the limits of censorship, have recently been received of the activities of the following: Lt. (jg) "Muggs" Bly '41; Ensign "Phil" Jackson '43; Cpl. Bill Knoff '43; S l/c Nate Ward '43: Lt. (jg) Don Amy '43; Captain Paul Halloran '20; Ensign Gordon Ross '44; Pvt. Dave Ward '40; Lt. Will Pitz '41; Ensign Harry Gerber '44; Ensign Harold Stein '44.