1942

It's been just about a month since I've written a letter, but still that is a lot better than most of my correspondents.

Things around the old home-time front have been popping occasionally. I'm wearing a civilian "slightly aquamarine heart" which was recently awarded me for bravery in combat. It was a handto-hand, and other bodily extremities, battle with a female war-worker, one of the type that wants to show her equality with the male at work, but nevertheless believes she should be afforded the ancient courtesy, immediately after punching the time-clock. But I managed to beat her to a seat on a bus, which is a dangerous mission in itself. Naturally I suffered a few serious physical injuries; these babies that push a drill-press or a crane around all day really develop the biceps, or something.

Speaking of battles and stuff, I've heard quite a bit of late concerning some real operations. For instance, Lt. Bob Schoonmaker wrote personally, which proves happily that he is no longer "missing in action," and said that he was shot down on November 18 over France, spent three nervous months "hobnobbing" with the FFI until the Allies took over, and then spent a proportionate time in Paris and vicinity celebrating. He is now back in the States in San Angelo, Texas. To make things exciting he rushed over to Houston and married the former Mary Gene Logan, all of which adds a wedding ring to his other decorations of the DFC and the Purple Heart.

I also saw by the paper that Lt. (jg) Nelson G Craw skippered an LCI which discovered a fleet of Jap suicide boats which, were the instru- ments of a fantastic plan to destroy the American invasion ships in Lingayen Gulf. The rapid advance of the U. S. forces is cited as the cause of the failure of the attempt and the entire fleet ■was found abandoned.

I'm afraid that I have a lot of news-bits of interest to write and I will have to forfeit some of the details of enlargement to meet Charlie Widmayer's word maximum. If I did I think he would collapse, but then you are all so active.

I heard from Lt. (jg) Paul Vaitses who meets everything but '42s out in "Left field" (the Pacific) where he is now occupying himself with a "much smaller shop" than the battlewagon which was his home for sixteen months before his six months stay around the States.

Say, you can kick me if I ever comment again on the scarcity of '42s that are travelling down the "Orange blossom trail," or who are buying one-way tickets for the same. I don't want to be referred to as the cause for the increase in vital statistics. If you don't believe it, just skim over the following: Ens. Barbara Sawhill was engaged to Dick Smith who is serving with the Merchant Marine around the globe, Coraline Davies of Kenilworth, Ill., to Bob Strassenburgh who is back in the States now after eighteen months in the Pacific on a submarine, (Bob says that he met Glen Green, "Abe" Stoors and Pete Link in Frisco); Dorothy Scruten of Westfield, N. J., to Lt. (jg) Dick Baldwin who is now serving in the South Pacific; Eleanor Hare of Elkins Park, Pa., to Lt. (jg) Ralph Tyson who is now also Dr. Tyson; Betty Parlin of New Bedford, Mass., to Irving Newcomer, who is now a chemical engineer doing Government work in Everett, Mass.; Mary Whalen USNR to Lt. John Robert Taylor U.S.A.; Andrea Roberts of Grosse lie, Mich., to Lt. (jg) William Melanson, who is an instructor in the USNAC in Norman, Okla.

I don't want you to think that I am running a serial in these monthly epistles, but that guy Nehring is in again. This time he wrote a personal note giving a play-by-play description of his whirlwind courtship plus a super sales-talk on the new Mrs. He casually mentions most of what has been already reported with the added bit that he is now waiting for his new cruiser to form. If anyone cares for a complete final chapter of this great continued story that is edging ForeverAmber, entitled Catching "The Bird" in a GildedCage just send in your request.

But now I must be getting on with such news as that received from Bob Dewey who has been in the Pacific for nineteen months, back to the States and now in the Pacific again. Burr said that Bill Donavan wrote that he was heading back home soon after two years in the South Pacific; that he ran into Ed Ferber, the supply officer on a can fifteen months out; that he received the authentic report from Jimmie Doerr's mother that Capt. James "on December 11, married a blond divorcee with a three-year-old kid." Come, James, a brief word from you would be greatly appreciated. After I recovered from this shock I read on in Burr's letter and learned that Jack Zimmer took some shrapnel on Saipan and that Tewks Torian won the Silver Star. Need I say that I would like to receive some elaborating facts on this, personally subscribed ?

Lt. Bob Gorman who has landed his "Clay Pigeon" on Iwo sends word that he met Capt. Bob Carney in the Pacific. Lt. (jg) Lowell Peterson writes that he is now in school in San Diego, that he had lunch with Walt Dagget and Marge a short time ago, and that he has married Catherine Hess Peterson of San Diego, with the assistance of Dick Higgins as best man. Pete has by this union acquired a two-year-old daughter Wendy.

Before I go any farther I think I had better list the '42s that have recently received a pay increase from Uncle Sam, namely: Lt. (jg) John T. Worcester; 2nd Lt. Denman K. Holmes; Capt. Herbert W. Swain; Lt. (jg) Robert B. Dewey; Lt. (jg) William Lowenthal; 2nd Lt. David Lawrence Sills.

To ramble on with the good words, Russ Greer received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree on February 18 at Cornell after a discharge from the Army. Russ, who hopes to interne at Santa Barbara, Calif., and then specialize on small animals, has found himself in a few more Greek letter fraternities by way of his academic achievements, among which is Phi Zeta, the national honorary society for veterinary medicine.

A letter from Bill Miller, who was raised to the rank of first lieutenant QMC on January 16, says that he is commanding a QM Depot in England; Bill relates that Bruce Stephens, a S/Sgt. MC is now in Belgium; that S/Sgt. Bert Anger is with the 2nd Mobile Broadcasting Co. and was in Luxemburg in December; and that Lt. Ed McLaughlin USNR is in Boston. And this item brings me to a letter which is really a portion of the minutes of the Boston Alumni Meeting penned by Ira Burman. Ira starts with a word about Ed McLaughlin who was in attendance. Ed is now stationed at the Boston Dry Dock after many months as a line officer in the Pacific. He is studying law nights and is planning to marry in April. From my own experience I would say that the last two'of the listed activities ought to be enough to make him want to go back. (Of course, I'm only joking as my wife just read this.) Also in attendance were Navy Lt. Charlie Hunt; Lt. (jg) Chuck Herberger of the original Dartmouth Squadron that trained at Squantum who is now stationed at the NAAF, Beverly, Mass.; Frank Stratton; Bob Giles; and Dick Wigginton. Ira also adds that Al Priddy is working for Ginn and Co.; that Niel Benton is now a S/Sgt. AC now in the Pacific; and that after two years in the Army, Ira is discharged and is now working for his father. A last note here says that Lt. (jg) Matt Rapf was home a few days before taking up his duty in the Aleutians on a PC boat.

Irenee du Pont Jr., is on the Tickets Committee for the Alumni Dinner to be given April 26 at the Hotel Pennsylvania.

This is about all that I have now. Besides, my C.O. says that I had better get back to the law and my household duties (K.P. still isn't supposed to be used as a punishment.) So off I go to "Police up" this and that and to hope that I will hear from you soon. Till then, you know it will be one month from now, I remain, Yours Truly.

Acting Secretary, R. D. No. i, Rensselaer, N. Y.

ANNUAL NEW YORK DINNER, APRIL 26 HOTEL PENNSYLVANIA AT 6:30 P.M.