1939
We were fortunate enough to latch on to a couple of ducats to the Harvard game just a few days before the weekend of the 23rd. We spent the weekend almost entirely with John Harvards, and what is more, although we rummaged about the Stadium in pursuit of familiar faces, we were amazingly unsuccessful. It was only through previous arrangement that we ended up in the company of Endy and Georgette Smith, and their cute Ill tyke, Susan Dee. Through Endy we learned that we had missed Joe Urban, Kev Fay, FredMowatt, Lou Oldershaw, Moose Wyman,Jack Bates, Bud Griswold, Herb Mattlage,Wolf Naylor, Mert Tarlow, Bob Field, Harrison Jones, and quite a few more whom Endy was sure he had missed. It is a safe bet that all '39ers and their ladies enjoyed the show put on by the Big Green on that day.
We are itching to report the successful gathering at the Yale Bowl just last weekend (at the time of this writing), but we understand that Bert MacMannis will have already scooped us with the details in a projected "Thirty-Nine Out."
HERE & THERE: We have been told that there is an article on Amos (Bud) Little, the Parachute Doctor, in the October Coronet, but we haven't read same as yet GeorgieHanna, our illustrious Treasurer, was reputed by your scribe to have successfully passed the Mass. State Bar Exams some few months ago. We were wrong in this information, and hasten to add that George was admitted instead to the New Hampshire Bar and is now practicing at 30 Main St., Keene, N. H It looks like a couple of old "roomies" had a time at the Hanover Inn not so long ago. Bill Cunningham and ArmandoChardiet were the two guys in point. Armando and his wife were paying a stateside visit from their home in Havana, Cuba. .... On the eve of the great Yale encounter we had a surprise phone call from J. MoreauBrown, who was interviewing a few prospective students for St. Lawrence Univ., at Greenwich High School. Brownie came out and spent a very pleasant evening with us, giving us a good line on how a Director of Admissions operates. Brownie, incidentally, has informed us by mail that he picked up the camera which was left in the Bowl, reputedly belonging to a '39er called "Ted," who has not been further identified. He states that he will be delighted to send the item on to the rightful ,owner, if said owner will get in touch with him. (Director of Admissions, St. Lawrence Univ., Canton, N. Y.).
DOWN THE AISLE: Junie Merriam is rapidly moving out of the bachelor column with the announcement of his engagement to Miss Marjorie Harris of Coatesville, Pa. The announcement was made on or about Sept. 22.
FOLLOWING THE STORK: Bob Elkins wrote us a welcome letter acquainting us with the arrival of Susanne Marie Elkins on August 10. Bob and Myrt managed to line up the bottom half of a two family house just before the little gal arrived, which made things a bit easier. Bob is with Adams & Ruxton Construction Co., in Springfield, Mass. Bob reports that he saw Jim Barr sometime ago, and that Jim was with the Medical Corps of the Army, stationed at Waltham, Mass Jim if Janie Fuller added number three to their growing family. The new addition is a female, by the name of Nina Van Brocklin Fuller, with an arrival date of August 31. Nina joins an older brother Spencer (3) and sister Pam (20 mos.).
WRITER OF THE MONTH: Foster Clippinger, who has a firm grip on our Writer of the Month award, gets the nod again with a very entertaining account of life in Japan. We quote his letter almost in its entirety with the feeling that it will prove ex'tfemely interesting to all hands.
"The Occupation moves along but at a much slower pace than the lives of the Occupationaires. The weeks and months fly past. It seems only recently that I returned from leave in the States, but it has been about a year and a half. The work in Natural Resources Section is interesting and plentiful. After work there are always numerous unusual and fascinating things to do. Current fad is taking rhumba, tango, and samba lessons.
"Last May I was promoted to Executive Officer of Natural Resources Section and the job has proved to be intensely interesting. Get to deal with many of the "big shots" in the Headquarters and with representatives of several of the foreign missions and embassies. Have taken some trips to visit the military government teams—Japan is divided into 46 political areas called prefectures Each prefecture has a military government (civil affairs) team which supervises the Japanese prefectural government and people. One very interesting trip was to Kyushu, the southernmost of the four Japanese home islands. Visited a copper smelter and refinery, a mint where I saw $40 million worth of gold, and a resort town which is the queen of the numerous spas in Japan. We had a private railway car which consisted of staterooms, a lounge, dining room, and kitchen. The car had a crew of three people and we had loaded the kitchen with good food. The travel was really deluxe Flowers on all the tables in the car all the time. When we sidetracked, we had an engine parked with us to supply steam. We passed through Hiroshima It is amazing how the town has been rebuilt. I flew over Hiroshima in late 1945 and there wasn't much left. Now it looks much like any other town in Japan.
"Tokyo was a lively town when Mac Arthur announced he was available for the nomination for President. The Japanese started campaigning with great zeal pamphlets and buttons were passed out on the streets Stores put up banners and painted signs on their buildings. One sign read, "We, the Japanese people, hope to See General Mac Arthur as the president of the United States in order to prevent the annihilation of humanity and for overcoming the world crisis." After the Republican convention many Japanese thought that Mac Arthur should commit "hari-kari." It was an enlightening demonstration for them of democracy at work.
"Mac Arthur is indeed a fabulous character. I pass the Dai Ichi building where he has his offices going to and from work every day. On several occasions we have arrived at the same corner at the same time. The commotion is terrific! When he is about a block away the policemen begin blowing their whistles. All traffic is stopped—cars, streetcars, bicycles, even pedestrians—all directions are halted. Then his long Cadillac, with flashing light and red license plate with circle of 5 stars, arrives followed closely by two jeeps filled with armed Honor Guard. The traffic remains quiet until the Cadillac has stopped in front of the Dai Ichi building a block away and General Mac has alighted, saluted the assembled multitude and entered the building. One dark night I arrived at an intersection where there was no traffic or people except two cars, one of which had just passed and the other of which I thought was far enough away that I could turn in front of it, which I did, and as my headlights swung around to illuminate the 5 star circle on the license plate on the car ahead of me, a siren cut loose behind me and red lights flashed in my rear view mirror. "We drove down the street MacArthur Clippinger then the Honor Guard but not for long I was soon passed on both sides by jeeps with many muzzles showing. Fortunately they didn't stop to talk it all over.
"During the latter part of the war when Japan was running out of resources with which to make munitions, machines, and aircraft, the Japanese were forced to turn in all metal from their buildings and houses. When I first arrived in Tokyo in September of 1945, in front of many of the downtown office buildings there were still stacks of steam radiators waiting to be collected. All the metals were sorted and stockpiled at various collection points. After the war there was no way of determining ownership so the Japanese Government just sold the stuff by the pound. One very interesting pastime has been to dig through the two big brass piles in Tokyo. Everything that was ever made out of brass is there—light switches, chandeliers, door knobs and hinges, lamp stands, vases, candle sticks, mirrors, temple cups and other ornaments, ash trays, curtain rods and holders, statues, bells, lanterns, window latches, locks, ad infinitum. I have collected a rather unusual group of temple dogs and lions.
"We hear much of the high prices in the States and we are surrounded by an ever increasing inflation in the Japanese economy, but until recently we have had an economic Utopia in the American colony in Japan. Now however the horrible monster is showing up—meals have gone from 25 to 40 gasoline from to per gallon cigarettes from to $1 a carton haircuts from 15 $ to orchids-are up to $1. Also to keep pace with Japanese inflation we've had to raise the average tip for services from two to three cigarettes. Other stateside influences have crept in over here also the Collector of Internal Revenue sent blanks and said we had to send them back—there are money raising campaigns—the skirts have gone down now the women are starting to wear hats there are 3 tuxedos in town—the military police are giving parking tickets.
"Time has uncovered quite a group of Dartmouth people in Tokyo. There are four in the Natural Resources Section, others in the various staff sections of General Headquarters, one in the Chinese Mission, some as foreign traders, and several Japanese. We get together every time we can create an occasion. Robert "Believe It Or Not" Ripley, who received an honorary degree from Dartmouth in 1939, came through town a couple of months ago and we had a luncheon for him and his business manager who is also a Dartmouth man. Recently Roger Evans, who was here with a Rockefeller Foundation mission, was the inspiration for a gathering. One night we had a delightful Chinese dinner at the home of Dr. Wen-tsao Wu of the Chinese Mission.
"Time takes care of most everything someday I might even go home to USA-jima."
THE CLEARING HOUSE: AS you are already aware, the Class Dues campaign is under way. If you haven't already complied, and expect to, we're sure that George Hanna will be more than delighted to receive your check, at your earliest convenience.
Well gang, have a Merry Yuletide!! and here's hoping that the year 1949 will be a special bonanza for all you '39ers everywhere.
Secretary,: P. O. Box 953, Round Hill Rd., Greenwich, Conn. Treasurer, Box 398, Keene, N. H.
COME ON ALONG AND BRING THE LITTLE WOMAN
