1934
All of you will be interested in my most recent bit of fan mail received in the form of a telegram which read, ''WE AS REPRESENTATIVE AND LOYAL MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF '34ARE APPALLED AT THE WISHY-WASHY WAY INWHICH YOU HAVE HANDLED THE REUNION SITUATION STOP OF COURSE WE WANT TO MEET INHANOVER THIS SPRING AND DEMAND THAT YOUTAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AND MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS STOP ADVISE BY WIRE WHATACTION IS BEING TAKEN," Signed DWYER, KNIBBS,MORTON, CALLAWAY, SCHERMAN.
The only reason for having procrastinated up to now has been for want of a group of '34s sufficient upset about the whole affair to be willing to shoulder the responsibility of buying the beer, selecting costumes, putting up tents, writing letters, and the many other details involved in providing the best of all possible Reunions. Such being the case, it took no more than 2 minutes, 13 seconds, to get the return wire under way "HAVEAPPOINTED DWYER AS CHAIRMAN OF REUNIONCOMMITTEE TO BE ASSISTED BY KNIBBS, MORTON,CALLAWAY AND SCHERMAN." So we're under way lads! Remember the dates-JULY 5, 6, and 7. We'll be sharing the campus with 'OB, 'O9, 'lO, '33, '35, and '36. Start making some good snapshots of those kids so you can compare them with mine; approach the boss now and advise him that he'll have to get along without you for those few days; dig out the old Aegis and brush up on some of those names and faces that may fool you, now that the skin is showing through the hair a little more distinctly and bigger belts are in vogue; and it might not hurt to drop in at the "Y" or Athletic Club about three times a week for the next few months, as it's going to take stamina. There'll be lots more details later.
There's no telling .how many great deeds were done by '34s during the war and most of them may never be told. The few that do come our way indicate that there must be many more. Here's a letter from Henry Rosen that tells just such a story:
In reading the last issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE I came across the mention of Major Ken Keeley getting back safe and sound. I'd like his address if possible, and I'll tell you why Perhaps you will put some of this in the 1934 column and give Ken a bit of a pat on the back that he deserves. This is first-hand information from my brother, Major Melvin H. Rosen, Field Artillery, U.S.A., who graduated from West Point in 1940. My brother was in the whole mess in the Philippines and was taken a prisoner of the Japs on Bataan, and Dr. Ken Keeley was with him. He said that Dr. Keeley ought to have the Congressional Medal for the number of our boys he saved from malaria, and his untiring efforts when there was no food nor anything else but guts to go on, kept the boys alive. He can't praise Ken enough, and when he read the mention in the MAGAZINE, he wanted to make sure that Ken had some sort of recognition. On top of everything else my brother said that inspite of everything Ken was keeping records of all the malaria cases, and that someday he would be the leading man in the world in that field. That is pretty high praise from a West Pointer. I'd like the address because I'd like to thank Ken personally for saving my brother's life.
Another one comes from Henry Bryan, who incidentally has recently returned from the Navy to his old law post with Hering, Morris, James and Hitchens in Wilmington, Del. The clipping is so good it shouldn't be touched, but pardon if I edit a bit for brevity's sake: The Navy Cross, highest Navy award, has been presented to Lt. Howell D. Chickering for action at Okinawa on April 16, 1945. He also wears the Presidential Unit citation, presented to the ship and crew for that action. The award was presented in the name of the President of the United States, "for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as the commanding officer of a radar P'cket ship on April 16, 1945, during the assault on Okinawa. After his ship was violently attacked by enemy suicide planes, he, with outstanding leadership and courage, caused his guns to deliver such an accurate and devastating barrage that six or the hostile aircraft were destroyed. Although his ship was seriously damaged, he brought it alongside a damaged and burning destroyer and assisted in extinguishing the fires and in transferring wounded personnel. Through his profound devotion to duty, he proved to be an inspiration to all. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the naval service." Lt. Chickering had been hospitalized with battle fatigue at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and had been expecting orders to return to active duty when the Japanese surrender came. He was released to inactive duty in September. He went on active duty in January 1944 and spent a year in the Pacific battle area. He took part in the battle for Iwo Jima before participating in the Okinawa campaign. Lt. Chickering has returned to his work in the Cellophane Division of the DuPont Company.
We're fast running out of bachelors in our family, as this month adds two more to the list of those having wooed and won. The first is Capt. Henry Necarsulmar, who is to be married to Mrs. Elizabeth Louise Lanway of Colorado Springs. The other, Lt. Karl Weber, who has been busy with the Air Force in China, was married on January sth to Miss Katherine Street of Philadelphia, whom he met while she was serving with the Red Cross in the CBI theatre.
Prominent among the new additions to the medical faculty of Emory University is none other than our own Frank Engle. Another uf our MD's who has recently been elevated to a post of importance is Em Day, who is now medical director for T.W.A. (If I were on my toes I'd have noticed that last item was well covered in a letter from Frank Lepreau):
Bub McAllister has returned from many months of overseas duty with the surgical service of the Presbyterian Hospital (New York) unit. This was the 2nd General Hospital stationed in Northern France. He had a good experience, did much orthopedic work, and married Hee Gee, his anesthetist, just like they do in the movies. Bub is back at Presbyterian in New York. Crandall spent much time in the Mediterranean Theatre doing general and thoracic surgery in an auxiliary surgical unit. He is now attending at Bellevue in the same fields and has a teaching appointment in N.Y.U. Medical School. I saw Emerson Day and family in Washington, D. C., in the Spring of 1945. As you probably know he is medical director for TWA. Homer Gregory is still in Saybrook, Conn., with the Essex Boat Cos. I am still in New Haven practicing and teaching surgery at the Medical School.
Some bits of incidental intelligence include news that Capt. Goose Goss will return home shortly for his discharge papers after doing his part for the Marines at Okinawa and the Marshall Islands. Lt. Phipps Cole has been assigned as an instructor at the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill. George Sayre is expecting to get home any day and isn't even thinking about future plans yet. Major Arnold Golding got out of the Army after four years with the Engineers and was elected to the directorate of the Sterling National Bank of New York.
(Yeh, Widmayer, I know I'm taking up too much space, but there won't be much room for any news but Reunion for the next few months so let me squeeze these in): Here's a note from Line Daniels:
"I finished up with sea duty the end of October reaching the West Coast direct from Japan. Just before Christmas I was released to inactive duty from the Navy. Virginia and I are now in Miami, Florida. We are victims of the housing shortage. While I work at real estate she searches for quarters within our means. My only address is the business one for the present, Harold Davis, Inc."
And Bob Palmer:
"Have only seen about three of our classmates during my period of service in the Navy, John (Clutey) Gilbert in the fall of '44, he was then an ensign in the Coast Guard; Dan Crowther, then an ensign in the Navy, about to start out to the Pacific as Signal Officer aboard the Ancas in December '44; and finally Bob King, Lt. USNR, who was about ready for discharge through Great Lakes when I encountered him a few weeks ago. I am winding this lite up about the 15th of March myself. Came back from Okinawa and Wakayama, Japan, an emergency leave about the middle of November, and have just been serving out my time since then, now located at Naval Air Station, Glenview, 111., as communications officer. We'll be glad to return to the civilian mode of life. Here's hoping for an early whooper-dooper of a Reunion!"
And Bud Yallalee "Back from a six months' stretch in Maine and still have sea spray in my hair. If you know of any bloodhounds (females) would like to put 'em on the trail of Dick Houck. Or maybe he's so saturated with that Chattanooga 'corn' they wouldn't detach him? Anyhow, that should arouse him from his coffin for an explanation (and it better be good)." And a quickie from Bob Goecke "Haven't much news; am a salesman for the National Cash Register Cos., accounting machine division here in Houston. It's so long since I've written I'm not even sure both youngsters have been duly noted, Ann age 7, and John 31/2."
Just time for a few quick quotes: From Bee Kempff, "Peggy and I have a baby boy ten months , old, C. S. Kempff III." From Bob Williamson, "You may drop the 'Lt.' any time now. I am a good civilian now and have even run out of terminal leave. This civilian life is tough because one must work for a living." And from Dick Emerson, "Returned to my three boys (8, 5, 3) and Mary, December 15th, then took a week for skiing before resuming my insurance business in Boston."
In addition to fun at Reunion, there is also business to be done. Now is the time to get rid of your dictators and elect new class officers. To help along this line, our Nominating Committee will be William H. Scherman, Time, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y.; Roald A. Morton, 55 Liberty St., New York 5, N. Y.; David H. Callaway Jr., 1348 Midland Ave., Bronxville, N. Y. They would like your help in getting up a good ticket for the next term of office, so let them have your ideas.
About Reunion, let Marty know how many to expect from your family. Write him at 139 Neptune Ave., New Rochelle, N. Y.
Secretary WILLIAM C. EMBRY General Box Cos. 816 S. 16th St., Louisville 1, Ky.
