1917
Although the Big Green has gone forth to battle five times at this writing, reports on the encounters from '17 witnesses, and, particularly, reports of '17 gatherings at the forays, have been slow to reach us. This may be due to the adverse outcomes. The theory is, however, that as one approaches his Thirtieth Reunion the score becomes less important as long as the gang is there. Heinie Wright's letter is as chipper and buoyant as ever, but of the Penn game he says, "We were way off form Fumbles and poor blocking and tackling made us look bad."
After the Brown game, Bunny and Millie Holden, bless their hearts, held open house for the crowd at their home in Providence. Our outstanding regret is that we could not have been present, for we know their genuine hospitality. The fortunate ones were the Duhamels, the Gerrishes, the Holbrooks, and the Stillmans, but Millie neglected to say whether the Hunk or the Karl Stillmans. We hope both. Ted Alger, Jim Montgomery, and Johnny Wheelock were also at the game, but were unfortunate in missing the party. Bunny went to Hanover the following weekend to the Columbia game, but reports only a "wonderful time," without details.
Word of the Yale game, and the gathering at Bob and Anita Scott's afterward, will have to go over until next time. But we do know that Don Brooks was getting a crowd together at the Dartmouth Club in New York the evening before "to break bread" with Bill Eaton and Bill Sewall, the ardent and "inseparable" Big Green rooters.
Although a bit apprehensive about Ted's reactions, we find it impossible to resist showing you the picture of the month, Capt. Ted Lonnquest USN, receiving the Legion of Merit award from Admiral Ramsey, giving you the citation in full, and quoting generously from Marie's letter. To date, we have been unable to elicit a word from modest Ted direct, so we are grateful indeed to Marie. The citation, signed by James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy, for the President of the United States, is as follows:
For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Assistant Director, and later as Director of the Engineering Division, Bureau of Aeronautics from February 1941, to October 1945. Responsible for the engineering of combat aircraft and equipage of constantly improved quality, Captain Lonnquest was instrumental in the revolutionary advances which have made this nation the greatest naval air power in the world. Displaying extraordinary understanding of the problems involved, he supervised the widely divergent programs which provided aircraft with increased firepower, higher performance engines, additional armor protection, new electronic weapons and other improvements resulting in greater combat efficiency and safety in flight. Quick to
recognize that administrative procedures must keep step with expanding Fleet requirements, he encouraged personnel to contribute to the limit of their abilities, giving far-sighted support to new and sometimes" radical ideas which subsequently proved extremely important in naval warfare. Intently following both the improvement of aircraft production and the development of experimental planes, he exerted forceful leadership in correcting defects reported by the fleet, utilizing the newest aeronautical developments whenever practicable and strengthening relations between the Bureau of Aeronautics and aeronautical research organizations. Captain Lonnquest's foresight, sound administrative policies and devotion to duty were major factors in the effective functioning of naval airpower and materially contributed to the successful prosecution of the war.
Marie says:
As your records probably show, Ted has enjoyed the fiction of a Washington address for a considerable period, but it is substantially empty of fact because every time I reach for him to do anything useful around the house, he's on the other side of the world. In previous years there were good excuses, but this year, well, it began in January when he completed a war time tour of duty as Director of Engineering for the Bureau of Aeronautics and was ordered to the staff of Joint Task Force One, as aeronautics representative for Operations Crossroads, the atomic bomb Chautauqua at Bikini, as you know. You will be interested to learn, I'm sure, that just prior to his new assignment, Ted was awarded the Legion of Merit. The enclosed photo shows him receiving the Medal from Admiral Ramsey. The only current news from the Pacific is that recently Ted and Ted, junior, the latter enroute home from Japan, were able to spend three days together in one of those mutual admiration programs for which fathers and sons seem to have a weakness. Young Ted is the one whom circumstances of four years ago directed to the Naval Academy instead of Dartmouth. Graduating in June 1945, he joined the lowa as an ensign in time to see the closing months of the war. Our other pride and joy, daughter Elaine, is a junior at Goucher, newly elected Chairman of the Judicial Board for next year. Ted's present address, should you care to know, is: Staff, Commander Joint Task Force One, U.S.S. Wharton, AP-7, Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, Cal. But don't sympathize with him. He's having fun, persuasive official terminology notwithstanding. I'm the one to whom he has delegated responsibility for accomplishment of those unladylike household tasks which he so successfully avoids, shoveling snow or mowing lawns, according to the season, and the far pleasanter task of cheering on 1917.
It will be of interest to many of you, as it was to us, to know that Sunny Sanborn is an author, and only secondly a life insurance man. Sam MacKillop wrote that a window of the Old Corner Bookstore, Boston, was given over to some of Sunny's first editions of O'Neill and other O'Neilliana, by way of promoting the sale of "The Iceman Cometh." On referring the matter to Sunny, we were advised "that the "story about O'Neill is only fifteen years old," that "in 1931 Random House published a bibliography of O'Neill which I had compiled with casual assistance from a collaborator." So we want you set right in the matter, as we are. But he does add that, "I must say that I haven't done much recent authoring, so I am personally at a loss to describe me myself." He added that he and Ethel planned to "whack off for a few days next week and hie to Hanover" for the Harvard game and the Armistice Day holiday. "However, if this warm summer weather continues, we may change our plans and go swimming instead."
Late summer Hanover visitors at the Inn were the Mil Palins from New Haven, the Em Wards from Waseca, Minn., and Phil Evans from Boston but no direct word from the principals on their good fortune in being there. Sumner Emerson lectured to the Finance class at the Tuck School on the last day of October Bob Boynton and Lt. Col. Harry Fowler have been forced to drop out for the time being because of ill health. Our hope is that they will be good patients and thus be able to pick up and carry on before long. Bob is at home at 180 Grove St., Rutland, Vt., and Harry is at Halloran General Hospital, Staten Island, N. Y. Both will probably welcome word from the gang Address changes indicate a number of moves by the boys, perhaps still the result of the war. Dr. Fat Spears is living at 23 North Washington St., Ypsilanti, Mich. Charlie Hedwall has left his long stand in Minneapolis and is now at 42 Crescent Road, Toronto, Ontario. Chuck Norby is safely back from the wars and reports his address at 528 South Palm Ave., Sarasota, Fla., thereby exciting our envy for the winter months, at least.
The day before we left Chatham for Indiana in mid-October after the house closing program, we were delighted to answer a knock at the door and find Al and Helen Emmons there. Week-ending with friends in Dennisport they were out for a drive and came in to look the place over. Our surprise was therefore mutual, each at finding the other there. Like your favorite brand of coffee, the Emmons' visit made our summer good to the last drop.
There have been a number of letters recently, but, unfortunately, each with little news of the writer. Karl Koeniger, our favorite kampaigner, tells us that his son returned from China in May and is now back in Hanover. Furthermore, Karl has a grandson two years old. Rog Haggerty says, "Since the return of my son, Roger, in May from Europe and his discharge from the army, time has flown." Vin Smith says that he is no longer with The Ohio Electric Manufacturing Co., of Cleveland. From his letterhead we discover that Jack Crenner is now with Kirby Sales and Service Co., Nashua, N. H. He reports hard going just before the war. "Am now starting once more to regain ground lost, only to experience the headaches we are all having from the lag in reconversion." Larry Lockwood returned to inactive duty in the Naval Reserve in October 1945 and has kept busy since then getting back into civilian harness. He is with Baldwin Bros., and Taylor, Inc., general insurance and realtors, in Norfolk, Va., Wes Thompson is vice president of Charlotte (N. C.) Pipe and Foundry Co. Frank Crady is one of the principals in Grady and Wagner Co., advertising, 1790 Broadway, New York, and Willis Thompson appears as a member of the firm of Thompson and Hoague Co., Hardware, Concord, N. H. Walt Walters, Art Stout, Doug Fleming, Duke Howe, and Will Fitch send regards to the gang, and most of the brief notes express hopes of being present in Hanover next June.
The members of the Class of 1917 Fund Committee, headed by Sumner Emerson, are hard at it in the effort to make a really good showing before the campaign closes December 31. This being reunion year and the Fund coming up only every fifth year as it does, you will wish to give ear to Sumner's boys and send your check along before the closing date. It will make you all the happier next June, knowing that yours is in the pot when it is presented to the College.
Our sincere best wishes to each and every '17er for A Merry Christmas and A Prosperous New Year. When it comes to New Year's resolutions, there are only two which are musts. The first is to send us every bit of news of yourself and yours, including snapshots. The second is to be present at our Thirtieth Reunion, June 20, 21, and 22, 1947.
A NEW RESIDENT of St. Louis, and judging from that smile Patsy Donovan '14 must have been listening to the last game of the World Series.
ACCEPTING CONGRATULATIONS from Admiral Ramsey on receipt of the Legion of Merit is Capt. Theodore C. Lonnquest, USN, right, Class of 1917.
Secretary, P. O. Box 533, Huntington, Indiana
Treasurer, 9 Park Terrace, Upper Montclair, N. J.
