1936
For two days after receiving class dictator Jacko Morrison's wire offering the acting secretary job, I was a proud boy and kept my small stomach pulled high into my huge chest—or vice versa. Then record books, etc., began to arrive from somewhere and I remember the prime requisite of a class secretary—"Someone smart enough to read and write but dumb enough to take the job." Seems to me I should have had it sooner. Next, I checked back in what old copies of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE the boys hadn't eaten and caught the anguished pleadings of previous sees for mail, for news, for anything. So, from the start, let's have one definite policy understood: That I'm in too poor shape to get down on my knees and beg for news letters. Remember, however, we have a certain sec tion to fill in each issue and I'll be damned if we will let '35 or '37 use our space for their propaganda. If news is lacking, my pen will have to run riot, so safeguard your past with news of your present, and insure your future. Sure, that's blackmail, but suing the class is about like a lA civilian suing the Army.
News this month is far flung and represents contacts made last March. Sgt. Dick Spong writes from Germany that he has translated all his old "Jacko" jokes into German and is wowing the locals. If he has any of Klingman's cartoons to use with them, I think he has something more destructive to morale than any secret weapon. Dick Spencer invests in a penny postcard sent free on military frank, with the stamp retained by Spencer, to tell us he is in Indian Ocean waters; has seen John Potter '3B, and is looking ahead to our Tenth.
News of European origin comes through the courtesy of Bob Morris's wife—collaborating with Weecie, a swell looking blonde, is one of the more pleasant aspects of this job and I have wired Jacko at the class's expense for funds to contact other class wives about the country. Bob has seen Capt. Phil Gilbert, ex-barrister of Harvard and New York, who now shares his dago red with classmates; Roger Williams, who is busy in public relations work and knows all and everyone in that area; Major Bob Button, who is as serious as ever; and Capt. Don Erion, who, as Norb told us, was awarded the bronze star and has been in the thick of many battles. Don must make a wonderful captain, and if we have to be led into battle he would be a good one to follow. Bob also reports rumors that Capt. Mort Hair is doctoring close by, and while the boys would like to see him socially, they hope to avoid his professional services. Larry Hull is another Dartmouth nearby, but since he is another '3B we won't mention him.
Local Los Angeles items of 36ers are nil. You fellows either avoid this place or have direct contact with the movie starlets, as I haven't seen a classmate in some time. Cpl.Bill Essex used to be at nearby Camp Haan, where wife Liz and small girl, Lynn, joined him, but he was moved to Memphis and later went on to Officers' Training somewhere. He is the same William, and during their stay here, wine grapes increased from a normal $35 per ton to a record high of $110. In an attempt to pick up a little cash for JackoMorrison's dues and Barry Sullivan's Alumni Fund (Adv.), I caddied on one of the local golf courses recently. Noticed great scoops out of the sod at about ten-foot intervals and at first thought one of those monsters that used to keep us awake in evolution, had popped out of the local oil wells. About the eighth hole, however, the distance between scoops increased to fifteen or twenty yards, and investigation proved.that Capt. Clay Mellor had recently played the course on his way to the Pacific theater where he may run into Lt. Tom Sinding, a bald veteran of five years in the Navy, or Marine Private WheelockHauson. Just returned from the Pacific is Lt.Stan Ogush. As flight surgeon for a Navy Air Group, Stan took part in the Nansei Shoto, Formos, Indo-China and the Philippine Leyte Gulf engagements, where his group destroyed 377 Jap planes and sent over 100,000 tons of enemy shipping to the bottom.
No news of marriages, engagements or other romantic endeavors, and furloughs must have been tight last summer, as there are no births to announce.
In safeguarding your past, please note my address is 1350 not 350 Produce Street. The number 350 is down in the "shady" part of town where Bob Morris used to practice law and politics.
Late Flash ... . Norb Hofman reports from the Italian sea coast, where he is distributing the weekly magazine Yank. Wonder how he yells "extra" in Italian.
ENCOURAGED by Lt. S. Parker Johnston '37 USNR, a photogenic New Guinea boy and a native woman face the camera with varying degrees of interest.
Secretary,c/o Karelsen, Hotel Bradford 210 West 70 St., New York 23, N. Y. Acting Secretary, 1350 Produce St., Los Angeles 21, Calif. Treasurer, _ 494 Spring St., N.W. Atlanta 3, Ga.
