1936

When this issue goes to press, your columnist should be half way across to some place. Just where and what for must be on the q.t. list for the time being. It would have been pleasant to make this so-called swan song an especially newsy edition. But Uncle Sam's mail couriers have not been very generous these past weeks, and so we pass on what little information there is with hopes that future months will yield more and increasingly better news. The Mrs. is collating the items and serving them up.

By next month, another one of us will be taking over. To him, as to every one of you, the very best of luck.

If too many cooks do spoil the broth, better stop here, since we have following, through the courtesy of '38's reasonable facsimile of Tithe: John Merrill, Ensign USNR, who left Lockheed for the Navy a few months ago, has finished his training at the University of Arizona and has been assigned to sea duty. Lt. Bob Morris, whose address includes the line "c/o U. S. Embassy, Military Attache," writes from England:

I am too green in this mail censorship business to know what is scrawlable and what must be left unanswered—but even if I could write there is little in my life of excitement to the general reader. Granted, it is plenty exciting for me to be here and out of the Pentagon—still that's about all we can report. .... We can put Washington down to a hot but happy summer. Weecie and Mike were wonderful to be with, to put it mildly, after our year's separation—and while I suffered pangs upon renewed separation, this was too wonderful a thing to pass up.

Gage Aborn, Major, AAF, is currently stationed in Egypt. This is his second tour of duty overseas, the first one being of eight months' duration in the South Pacific.

As of December, Jack Smith is a combination fighter director officer and assistant navigator aboard the Flagship of Rear-Admiral Davison, and we have his wife's word for it that he has managed to take part in every major battle in the Pacific, including the Battle of the Philippines. Since September last, he has been a lieutenant (jg).

Other recently noted promotions include the following: Capt. William M. Balfour, Lt. (jg) Robert D. Densmore, Major Ed-ward S.Jacobson, Capt. H. Clay Mellor, Lt. Col. Richard C. Ruby, Lt. (jg) Budd W. Schulberg, Capt. Robert M. Tyler.

While we're on the plaudits, Capt. AdnaUnderbill has been given the Silver Star for gallantry on duty and Capt. DonaldErion received the Bronze Star for meritorious service with his Infantry division in Germany. He participated in the initial landings in Algiers, the succeeding ones in Tunisia and Sicily, and he landed on the beaches of France with early elements of the invasion force, taking part in the cutting of the Cotentin peninsula, the capture of Cherbourg and the breakthrough at St. Lo.

On the home front, Tech. Sgt. Victor Gates, now stationed at Camp Howze, Texas, became engaged in December to Helen Elizabeth Hobbie, specialist technician 2/c in the WAVES Ensign Jack Morrison writes from the Office of Inspector of Naval Material, "There is nothing of outstanding news as far as I am concerned, except that I am getting quite accustomed to and like Atlanta and the South. Ruth and young Jack finally joined me here about the middle of February for, as far as 1 can find out, it looks as if I will be stationed here for quite some length of time. I hope that this war is over within the next fifteen months so that we can hold our Tenth Reunion."

Lt. Andy Schmidt reports: "Since last writing, a busy but delightful change has taken place in my activities. I am now based at 521 Fifth Ave., assigned as a Liaison Officer out of the Office of the Quartermaster General. You perhaps think that in two months' time I'd have had a chance to buzz you at least once. These trips, however, explain it away—two flights to Kentucky, one to Atlanta and Savannah, one to Charlotte and Richmond, two train trips to Philadelphia—with Jeffersonville and Memphis on this and next week's itinerary—leaving only a few intermittent days of the month for the 'Big City.' My duties involve management analysis at the QM Procuring Depots located at these places. If any '36ers are located near any of them, I'd like to know because I expect return visits—with Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Ogden, San Francisco and Seattle for later."

N.B.—Ren Ostrom will do the taking over of the class secretary chores, and his address follows:

MORTON SALT COMPANY, 1350 PRODUCE ST. Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

First Ass't Secretary

c/o Karelsen, Hotel Bradford 210 West 70 Street, New York 23, N. Y.

Treasurer, 494 Spring St., N. W., Atlanta 3, Ga.