1914
Captain Arthur E. Emerson,—that's right, he's a four-striper now—is still at the Fleet School, Destroyer Base, San Diego, Calif. He is residing at 416 9th St., Coronado, Calif. We have a young friend, an ensign, learning all about torpedoes, who was personally going to extend our greetings to Comdr. Emerson, but when the kid got to California, and found he was up against four stripes instead of three, he quit cold. So we take this opportunity to congratulate the Captain on this most recent promotion.
From deep in the heart of Texas, at long last, is a letter from Jack Dellinger, P. O. Box 2004, Tyler, Texas. Jack asks for a lot of information but does not tell us anything about himself, so here's a dealt Write us all about yourself and you get the low-down on all of the people you asked about.
Major Roscoe DeWitt's father also writes from Texas, saying that Roscoe is back in this country again. That Major DeWitt has developed writer's cramp, and is one hard nut to crack. Will somebody try to arouse him from his lethargy? We might almost offer a cigarette for a letter.
Still from the West comes the Chicago edition. The following letter from Hal Castle speaks for itself
In Margeson's defense I should have written sooner, as I can testify that he was diligently carrying out your instructions when I saw him for the first time in thirty years, framed in my office doorway—a small, unpretentious office not at all like his suite which so impressed you. We later had a very pleasant lunch together, discussing such important matters as his generosity in throwing a basket for Williams.
I have only a vague idea of what I was supposed to do after he "aroused my enthusiasm," but he left your address.
After fifteen years in Muskegon, Mich., manufacturing paper, I thought I would try to find a small business—one which rolled on smoothly by itself. My naive program provided as a concession for spending about half my time suggesting and criticizing—the remaining half to be occupied in gently rocking back and forth in the shade somewhere. The inspiration for the latter half came from seeing Mart Remsen in 1940 on top of his hill in Hanover.
As you see from the letter head, I found this business, a little organization which had been rolling along for over forty years, manufacturing flags. However, that other half of my time now belongs to the OPA, WLB, WPB, USES, WMC, etc., etc. On the theory that a few fleas are good for a dog, I probably should be properly appreciative.
Hal's family consists of his son Bob '40, a captain in the Air Corps, who, since completing fifty missions as navigator on a Flying Fortress for a year and one-half over Europe and Africa, now has charge of a part of the instruction for navigators at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. Al, ex-'42, is with Ordnance in England. Bruce '45 got his gold bars and pilots' wings last summer, the day after he became twenty-one, and is now in the Philippines. (As this is being written, the fall of Manila is coming over the air.) With his nine year old daughter Karin, Hal and his wife are living at their home north of Glenview, Ill
With Jim Margeson's help, that trip to Chicago was surely productive. From Jim comes word that Franz Marceau has been in Chicago for thirty years, about twenty-one of which have been spent with Montgomery Ward & Cos., where he is now in charge of their merchandise supplies and distribution units for retail stores. Jim writes that Franz and his wife have two handsome boys, twins, twenty-one years old, and both in naval aviation. We imagine that Franz is having his headaches right now, as he must be in the middle of the Army vs. Montgomery Ward battle.
Another letter from "Marg" told of having lunch with Walter Netsch, the latter part of January. He reports that Walter looks swell, weighing 185 pounds on Armours scales: "He boasts a wife and two youngsters, a boy of twenty-four, who graduated from who is now an engineer in the Army, located at present in the Aleutians, and a girl twentytwo years of age who is living at home."
Well, wasn't that a nice trip out West? Let's go down to 903 N. Wayne Street, Apt. 2-B, Arlington, Va., and visit Vogie Stiles and his wife, Jane. Their daughter Shirley graduated from Wells College in 1938, and married Peter L. Paull, Yale '35. They are now living in Canada, where he is assistant manager of the BritishAmerican Oil Company Refinery, at Clarkson, Ont. Vogie's grandson is two years old. Grandpa has been in Washington, D. C., three years now as a "Refining Specialist" with the Petroleum Administration for War. Prior to being drafted for that job he had been producing and refining petroleum in Illinois.
Fred Weed, living in Chevy Chase, Md., with his wife, Polly, has three daughters. Elinor is at Randolph, Macon and, is head over heels preparing for a medical career. Mary is following her mother's footsteps and is a freshman at Wellesley. Janice is in Wilson High School in Washington. Fred is Chief of the Water Supply Section of the War Production Board. His particular work is to devise emergency measures to the war plants and war communities supplied with water. After citing many important jobs, Fred adds, "There have been many other such jobs and we are still at it. I am getting the biggest kick out of it, imaginable." Thanks a lot, Fred, I wish I felt free and had the space to publish your whole letter.
Is there anyone in the class who would not run out and stop the automobile bearing the license plate, N. J. 1914? The owner of that car is one of the secretary's mainstays. Yes, Dick Barlow sends us lots of news. Dick says that "In this neck of the woods there are only "Moose" Engelhorn, "Red" Davidson, and myself, to carry the banner, but we do have the opportunity of getting to New York and Philadelphia, for class affairs. Moreover, I have been fortunate in being able to get back to Hanover, once or twice a year, over a period of time. Matching Jess Stillman's record, and not to be out done by my good friend the doctor, I can add that I am also in my twenty-ninth year with the DuPont C 0.." Dick's older boy, George, Dartmouth '43 is an ensign in the U. S. Navy Air Corps, serving on one of our largest and latest carriers in the Pacific. Dick Jr. entered Dartmouth last July with the class of '4B, but left after his first semester to join the Navy, and is now going through boot training at Bainbridge, Md. Suzanne was married three years ago, and her daughter, Dick reports, has "really taken over the running of our home." Mary Jane graduated from Villa Victoria Academy last June and is at present employed here in Trenton.
Dick strongly urges that the member of our class have get-togethers a little more often. He would like to see one or two dinners each year in various parts of the country where there are sufficient numbers even though the groups be small,get-togethers similar to those held in Boston and New York. It is a good Dick, and the secretary will be glad to assist with addresses wherever desired.
Congratulations to Paul L. Perkins, recently promoted from major to lieutenant colonel!
The sympathies of the class are extended to two of its members: To Dr. and Mrs. Albert C. Herring, whose only son, S/Sgt. Albert C. Jr., was killed in action December 22, in Belgium; also to Ellsworth and Mrs. Buck, whose son, Lt. Orlando J. Buck, previously reported as missing, is now known to have been killed in the plane crash on September 18, at Mt. McKinley, Alaska.
Even if you have paid your dues and still get Rufe's letters don't worry. He sends them to everyone whether paid or not and his nostalgic appeals are well worth reading.
LT. COLONEL CARROLL EDSON 'l4, AUS, is sta- tioned at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma.
Secretary, 88 Sea Street, North Weymouth, Mass. Treasurer, 26 Garden Street, Potsdam, N. Y.
