Navy Commends College

Rear Admiral Gygax Gives Graduation Talk

AT THE Navy Convocation in June, the Commandant of the First Naval District, Rear Admiral Felix Gygax, USN, as guest of honor and principal speaker delivered a tribute to the College and its friendly cooperative relations with the Navy which will please and interest the alumni. In order that they may share the pride that the Admiral's words aroused in the Dartmouth group who heard him speak, the greater part of his address follows herewith:

DOCTOR HOPKINS, CAPTAIN CUMMINGS, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, FACULTY, STUDENT BODY, AND FRIENDS OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE:

AS Commandant of the First Naval District, I am fortunately privileged to represent the Navy at today's Convocation. I assure you this affords me great personal pleasure of which I am deeply apprecia- tive. Personally, although I have never been here before, Dartmouth has always had a special appeal for me. Officially I value Dartmouth as an institution which has played a most important role in the preparation of young American manhood for service with the Navy in time of war. The keen interest and the extremely intelligent cooperation given the Navy V-12 program by the President and Faculty of Dartmouth have impressed me tremendously.

When the Navy Department first announced that a Navy V-12 Unit was to be established at Dartmouth College, President Hopkins and other members of the Dartmouth Faculty came to Boston and held frequent conferences with the Commandant and the Director of Training. In these conferences the Navy received many valuable suggestions as to how the facilities of the College and the needs of the Navy might best be coordinated so as to produce the desired result. Throughout the history of the Navy V-12 program that same spirit of helpfulness has been most generously extended by Dartmouth. For this whole-hearted cooperation the Navy is sincerely grateful.

The selection of Dartmouth as one of the colleges to indoctrinate young men for naval service, was most appropriate. Dartmouth always has been Navy-minded. This fact was recognized early in the war when the Navy Department announced that it would establish at Dartmouth a large indoctrination school for naval officers at which several thousand officer trainees would receive their initial instruction in naval subjects. Later these trainees were transferred to various specialized Navy schools. Thus, with this important indoctrination program already established, Dartmouth had an excellent background for establishing a Navy V-12 Unit. The quota of the original Dartmouth Unit was two thousand trainees, the largest of any of the more than 100 V-12 Units at colleges throughout the nation. The original unit included 1500 trainees for the Navy and 500 for the United States Marine Corps. Dartmouth has the distinction of having the only Marine Corps V-12 Unit in the First Naval District.

In further recognition of the fine academic standing and the excellent physical facilities at Dartmouth, the Navy Department recently announced its selection of Dartmouth as the only additional New England college to conduct a Naval ROTC program. This is a high compliment to Dartmouth when it is realized that only 25 colleges out of more than 200 applicant colleges throughout the country were chosen for the new Naval ROTC units. This will establish Dartmouth's relation with the Navy on a permanent postwar basis.

From the Navy viewpoint, morale at Dartmouth has always been excellent. No doubt these splendid morale accomplishments were due, in no small measure, to the outstandingly friendly campus atmosphere which has prevailed at Dartmouth. Dartmouth College has taken the Navy and its young trainees to its bosom and has made us feel that we are an integral part of this historic educational institution.

I am particularly pleased to observe the course in "officership" established at Dartmouth by Captain Cummings. This course which covers the fundamentals of how to make sound estimates of various situations with which you future officers may later be confronted in actual service should be of inestimable value to you when you are required to make quick and correct decisions in an emergency. There are numerous examples in this war where victory has been won through the ability of our naval leaders to make in a split second, accurate decisions in time of emergency and to give orders accordingly

It is worthy of note that your president, Doctor Hopkins, was selected as chairman of Americans United for World Organization. This organization has for its purpose the preservation of the very peace which naval trainees, many of them from Dartmouth, have been and will be so instrumental in winning. May I also remark with pride and commendation, that Doctor Hopkins sees eye to eye with the Navy and has gone on record as favoring universal postwar military training.

Physical training and enjoyment of the great outdoors have always been emphasized at Dartmouth as proper corollaries to high standards of academic training. The Dartmouth Outing Club is a national pioneer among organizations of its kind. The Navy, too, has always stressed the importance of physical fitness which goes with outdoor living

Dartmouth graduates—and many who are not graduates of that splendid institution—look upon Dartmouth as an ideal American college. Whether or not its undergraduates still meditate and study in its original traditional tranquility is not a point for me to raise here. But, to me, it is significant to observe the extremely active and efficient part which Dartmouth is playing in our naval war effort. Sons of Dartmouth, both civilian and naval, are making outstandingly valuable contribu- to our combat operations. On land, on and under the sea, in the air, and in our industrial plants and elsewhere, in this country and abroad, loyal sons of Dartmouth are carrying on gloriously as true Americans.

It is indeed an honor for me to salute Dartmouth College on this auspicious occasion.

THE GUEST OF HONOR AND OTHER SPEAKERS at the Dartmouth Navy V-12 Convocation in June were (left to right): Rear Admiral Felix, Gygax, USN, Commandant of the First Naval District, who represented the Navy, President Hopkins, and Captain Cummings, Commanding Officer of the Dartmouth V-12 Unit.

THE HIRED HELP for the Fourth of July barbecue at Storrs Pond welcoming the new freshmen to Dartmouth Was a roster of the College's leading administrative and faculty lights. At the top, behind the steak counter, may be seen Dean Strong (left), then Walter Roach' and George Schoenhut of the Players, Tommy Dent of DOC, major domo of the sirloins, and, to the right of the post, Ross McKenney of DOC and "Baptiste" fame, who served as chief cook. Center, Dean Neidlinger makes a dapper and cheerful disher-outer of the salad. Bottom, Don Cobleigh of the Music Department, back from two years' service with the Marines, provides the accompaniment for a practice session on Dartmouth songs for the newly enrolled group.