1932
I very much regret to have to record the deaths of three more classmates. These have occurred at intervals over the past several months, but news of them has only recently come to this desk. Capt. Percy G. Stone, formerly a member of our class, though he got his degree from Stanford, was killed in action in the European Theatre of War on October 16, 1944. At the time of his death he was a captain of Field Artillery. Lt. Ben Hill was killed in action while serving aboard a warship in the Pacific about the middle of January, so that the likelihood is that he was engaged in the operations connected with the landings on Luzon, although no further details are yet available. The third death is that of Alex Young, who was killed in a hunting accident in Panama, November 4, 1944. Here also I lack further details. Brief notices about all these men will be found in the In Memoriam section this month and next. It will be sad news to all classmates, who will wish, I am sure, to join me in an official expression of our corporate regret that the fortunes of war should have taken this direction.
To turn to bright matters, Chuck Adkins, who very kindly sent in the report about Ben Hill, is still teaching English to the armed services at the James Millikin University in Decatur, Ill., to which, Chuck says, no 32s have ever happened to pay a visit. A very welcome note from Dick Stoiber advises that Dick and Edna are the delighted parents of a first baby named Christine Edna, whose first birthday will be December 4, 1945. Dick is still with the Signal Corps in a civilian capacity with offices in that Second Capitol, the sprawling Pentagon. He had a Christmas card from Lt. Frank Gilbert USNR mailed from the Philippines, where Frank's ship was hovering off Leyte. Dick's sigh of relief at the news that Bill Harlow was taken prisoner instead of something worse is an echo of many such that have been wafting in to this desk lately. I added one, myself, and I hope that Bill will be freed before long.
Those who remember Milt Alpert as one of the more intelligent and articulate members of the freshman class in citizenship will be glad to learn that Lawyer Alpert, counsel to the executive secretary of the New York State War Council, will have opportunity for the further exercise of his powers of ratiocination in his new post as secretary to Governor Dewey's special committee to investigate New York State's financial aid to education. State funds have long been allocated according to the outmoded "Friedsam Formula," which apparently has nothing else than a happy alliteration to recommend it. The committee's job will be to overhaul, investigate, and re-appraise the apportionment of state moneys to various primary and secondary schools. In New York State this is quite a task. Last year about one hundred eight million dollars was expended in teaching the kids the what-whoand-wherewithal. I hope Milt will keep in mind that teacher's salaries are long overdue for an upping. But meantime, congratulations on a responsible post in a great state.
Previously unreported service promotions include those of Lt. Comdr. Warren Hallamore, who has been active in Navy Air, and Ben Burch, recently commissioned second lieutenant AUS. Clarke Munn is a lawyer with Swift and Cos., and lives at 353 Lincoln St., Woodstock, 111. Frank Elliott can be reached at Flat Rock Rd., Narberth, Pa. Dr. Les Meister is busy at the Shelton Clinic, 921 Westmore Blvd., Los Aneeles 24. Lt. Carl McGowan USN lives in Arlington, Va., and Lt. Mai Metcalf USN has a Pomona, Calif., address (605 Washington). Paul McKinnie lives in sight of the site of the Fort at 7 Fort Sewall Terrace, Marblehead, Mass., and Stu Thatford has offices at 800 Court Square Bldg., Baltimore.
Don't forget Howie Pierpont and your class dues for the current year. Save paper and Pierpont's time by a quick check. On to Tokyo!
Secretary, 178 Prospect Ave., Princeton, N. J. Treasurer, 7 North St., Old Greenwich, Conn.
