1943
Having lost the last couple of ALUMNIMAGAZINES while moving from Texas, I have no way of knowing exactly how much information has been printed about the class of '43. So please bear with me if some of the news is repetitious. A change of writers inevitably results in a smaller column than usual. In time, with your co-operation, I hope I can give you the news as completely as possible.
ine Medical students seem to De reaping the benefits of four long years of study; at least, for most of them, the end is in sight. From Harvard Med. School Jim Stuart writes that Paul Harvey, Glern Behringer, Ed Porter, Chet Solez and Harry Bishop all graduate in July, and will go to various hospitals as internes. Hugh Lena will be commissioned a first lieutenant in June and reports to a hospital in Ann Arbor (now I know why you built up those shoulders, Hugh; it takes a good deal of muscle to support those silver bars). George Burke and Chris McCord carry on from Ann Arbor next September, WarrenTaylor and Bob Alesbury in June. Dave Hoffman will return to the Mary Hitchcock Hospital in Hanover next July.
From Peru Mel Fenichell writes:
Since last December I've had my own party which includes a chauffeur, a car (which goes with the chauffeur) and several Peruvian assistants. We're working the coastal area between Lima and Arequipa, and the desert is probably very similar to that part <?f Texas Which you .... (censored). Had some luck in "finding some undiscovered fossils, but any guy who doesn't have enough sense to keep out of the afternoon sun is liable to hit anything.
Mel is working for Standard Oil and has been in South America for over a year.
Fritz Geller is somewhere in Germany with the Infantry, living like a king .... so he says! Apparently he has access to plenty of fresh eggs and milk. That" must be the sole' reason for his intense happiness. Or are you a 30year man, Fritz?
Capt. Bob Brown is still with the Di- vision of the sth Army in 1ta1y.... lots of snow, Bob writes, and the only thing that reminds him of Hanover. Jerry Souers ran across Dave Schirmer, Lt. Goss '4l and MajorRobert McKennan (Sociology) in Orlando last winter, but since then Has met no one. George Barlow is a gunnery officer in a torpedo bomber squadron operating in the Pacific. Alan Mcßean is stationed at Camp Rucker, Ala., as a weapons instructor in the Infantry. Dave Whittemore, Camp Crowder, has seen George Tillson lately. Now that I have your address, Dave, I'll send you the $3 I owe you! Warren Preece seems to have led an average life in the Army.... took his training in AA and Infantry and is now in Quartermaster. If you rotate much more, Warren, you automatically become a civilian. That's what happened to me. Tough, I know! .... By now Bill Davies should be commissioned in the Navy Chan Stevens still at Cherry Point, N. C., a pilot in the Marines and expecting to leave shortly for overseas. Warner Wilcox is in the South Pacific with the Coast Guard.
Anybody possessing information on Robert Metcalfe Clark Jr., last seen at Fort Devens 27 months ago, might pass said knowledge on to the secretary. I'm really not interested in what the hell he is doing; all I want to know is how he and Anne are getting along.
Bob McCaw writes that he is working at a job—something to do with Educational- Reconditioning, which consists mainly of counseling men about the continuance of their education. There may be one or two men left in the class of '43 who have yet to know all there is to know. Sgt. Sweeney! Write Sgt. McCaw.
Speaking of Bill Sweeney, he is 'now in China with a Bomber Squadron. Things are evidently going from bad to worse. A photograph of Bill shows him smoking a pipe which automatically indicates a shortage of cigarettes. When he was in India he occasionally bought himself a very good meal for one rupee. But in China he can get a very bad one for 2000 Chinese dollars at any time. Those dollars must be quite worthless because he sent several to me. Ironically, there was a time when he had a "yen" for Chinese food. Carry on, William!
Was fortunate in spending a weekend in Fairfield not so long ago with "Ace" (potential) Fosdick who had just gotten his commission as a B-25 pilot, and Jim Evans. Fuzzy is now back at Macon Field as an instructor .... plans on going overseas shortly. Jim is working for Chevrolet, having been discharged from the Marines following action on Saipan.
I have before me a pamphlet called "The Skipper's Pants"—a story of the valiant battle fought by naval airmen against Nazi U-boats. Mentioned in the article is none other that Lt. (jg) "Szg"Bjorkman who, in brief, sighted and sank, after quite a battle, one whale.... a large, one, too! The one member of the crew.... his name was Jonah .... reputedly went down with his "ship." Anyway, you didn't miss, Sig!
Ens. Ed Lider, a naval aviator flying from an escort carrier, shared with squadron mates in the destruction of two Jap army fighters while flying protective patrols over U. S. Navy and Army forces engaged in fighting at Luzon in the Philippines. Ensign Lider, a fighter pilot, got a "half" over U. S. heavy bombardment ships at Lingjayen Gulf and, while flying direct support of ground troops, joined with others of his squadron in the destruction of a second enemy plane. In previous combat duty he flew from a U. S. escort carrier supporting the invasion of Southern France.
Second Lieutenant ]ohn Danhof is now stationed at the Lubbock Army Air Field, Lubbock, Texas, the AAF instructors.' school for instrument pilots, as an instructor. Before coming to LAAF, Lt. Danhof had been stationed at the Fort Worth AAF for about seven months.
Cpl. Ben Edmonds is revealed to be a prisoner of war in Germany. He was a member of an antiaircraft unit, had been reported missing in action in Italy since November 29. He has been overseas since September 1943, and saw service in North Africa, Sicily, Anzio and Italy. I know we all sincerely hope that Ben has been among those recently released by the Allied push into Germany. , ENGAGEMENTS:—Anne Barbara Joyce to Lt. Johnny Krol, U. S. Army Signal Corps; Ruth Heavener to George Burke last December.
WEDDINGSJean Marion Baird, Y 1/cUSN to Lt. Sidney Hazelton Jr., ASC. PROMOTIONS:—FIight Officer Robert Fosdick, 2nd Lt. John Krol, Lt. (jg) Arthur Clement, and Sgt. William Sweeney.
This is all I will gladly send any address on request; in the meantime, keep me listed where news and items of interest are concerned.
DARTMOUTH GET-TOGETHER AT THE NAVAL AIR STATION, DAYTONA BEACH. The picture includes all but two of the seven men present at the station during the months of February and March, the largest Dartmouth assemblage the station has ever had at one time. From left to right: Lt. (jg) Perry C. Thomas '39, USNR; Lt. Roland A. Hillas Jr. '4O, USNR; Lt. (jg) Henry Garlick '43, USNR; Lt. (jg) Richard D. Higgins '42, USNR; Lt. William P. Hudson '29, USNR. The two men not present were Lt. Richard J. Hefler '36, USNR, and Lt. (jg) Robert F. Kirk '42, USNR. Lts. Hefler and Hudson are attached to the station.
GRADUATES OF THE NAVAL AIR TRAINING STATION at Corpus Christi, Kenneth A. DeGruchy '45 (1), David G. Sawyer '45, and Lemuel H. Arnold '44 (r) have been commissioned ensigns in the Naval Reserve.
Secretary, 49 Countryside Dr., Summit, N. J Treasurer, Shelburne, Vt.
