1951

Just about the time we are ready to hit the production line with another issue of the class notes, Frank Small-wood's mighty gift to modern society arrived in the form of the '51 FACTS, which just about took all the gas out of our sails except for the full drawer of unused briefs in the chest in the attic. So, I have dug out this mighty pile of wondrous information and since I promised more emphasis on the handsome bachelors, we are ready to roll. Much to my amazement, however, most of these handsome bachelors are doing their best to fill up those great, huge Marine uniforms ... or uniforms of other categories.

Off in Civilians

John Bransten, Bill Miller and Jerry Baynton, are amongst the future business tycoons out at Stanford Business School. Igor Medvedev is studying out at University of California way, and writes he has seen JohnnyHatfield, who is also at Cal. Vince Albo certainly writes a nice letter of about five words duration; however, we know Vince is working his cadavers to the bone and burning the midnight puss while in Med training at the University of Pennsylvania. Incidentally, when Vince was in Minneapolis for Walter Bush's wedding, he attempted to take several very nice corpses back to Pittsburgh for experimental purposes. However, much to Vince's dismay, he was stopped at the state line and relieved of his beautiful cargo.

I am not quite sure of his location but presumably furthering his attributes as an artist and aesthete on the European Continent is Pinky Pfaff. A wonderful letter arrived just in time to get the forms from Dick Mason. Dick "says" that he is keeping bachelor's quarters with several other Ivy leaguers in Washington, D. C., and that he has had his share of '51s and other Dartmouth vagabonds visiting him in his apartment. It sounds as though Dick has a wonderful job working for the Army Map Service, which he began sometime in July, and which has given him a deferment until August. From what we gather, Dick is working on reliefs of various types from the masculine to the feminine and neuter. Dick tells us that Bill Halpin and Champ Smith are both in Houston, Tex., attending the Air Cadet school. Mort Briggs blew into Washington recently from his station in Norfolk, Va. Bob Hopkins writes that he has just completed the ordeal of pre-flight school at Pensacola, Fla., and has received a wonderful suntan from it. He is now just starting the first stages of Basic Flight training up at Whiting Field at Milton, Fla., and writes to tell us that the sun is not quite so hot at Milton and that the oranges have lost their juice. Seriously, Bob is very happy to be flying after 16 long weeks of ground training.

Dave Stillman writes that rather than get a job or be drafted, he enlisted in the regular army last July. Dave went through initial processing at Fort Meade, Md., and then was shipped on to Camp Gordon in Georgia for a very relaxed Basic Training program, and is now connected with the Signal Corps. In February, Dave was moved to the Southeastern Signal School, from which he was transferred to Fart Monmouth, N. J., for work in radar repair. Dave says, and we quote, "Believe me, I am grateful for my position, for at last I get a summer on the Jersey shore." Dave, incidentally, is in the fourth student company at Monmouth, so look him up if you are out his way. Sometime back W. C. Batchelder 'l9 sent me some interesting information on several of the guys. He tells me that Ernie Kramer is working in the department of armament in Washington, D. C., and that Bob Meyer is doing newspaper work somewhere in Virginia, but probably by now is in the military service. Also, Al Tarlov is living in the South Norwalk, N. J., area and doing some studying in New York City, along with Bob Williams, who is at the University of New Hampshire doing graduate work in Chemistry.

I have tried to get some information out of the Tuck Terrors of late, but find that the only comment the business thinkers have to make on the present economic situation is that they have been placed in the sorry position of having to wear coats and ties on the school campus. Nice letter in from the Montana Rockies tells of Read Perkins' new experience in the cattle raising business. Read is working at the Hamilton Ranch out of Simms, Mont., and believes there is nothing in all this world quite like cattle ranching, U.S.A. The lariat and the six-shooter will be Read's trademark from here on in. Bill Farnham enlisted in the Air Force back in November and went directly to the Sampson Air Force Base at Geneva, New York. A joyous party at his parents' home in Newton, Mass., was the prelude to Bill's service days.

We're in the Army Now

Ben Hurd was commissioned a and Lieutenant in the Army back in November at Fort Benning, Ga., where he had just completed a 22-week course. After a short leave, Ben was to report to Fort BreGkenridge, Ky., where he was assigned to duty. He certainly has done a fine job in the army. Dick Ellis of Newton Center, Mass., was home for a 13-day holiday over the Christmas season from the Naval Academy. Dick is another of our servicemen tried and true who has done a very admirable job from all reports. We sort of lost our mind as to whether we reported this one or not, but George Southwick is now stationed at Sampson Air Force Base. Sampson certainly has had an overly abundant supply of famed '51's.

To get away from the service angle for a moment, praise can't ring loudly enough for our own Cliff Harrison's display of hockey, teaming up with Arnie Oss, Dick Desmond and others on the 1952 United States Olympic hockey team. Here's hoping that the European malt agreed with Cliff, as it certainly must have from the results of the games written up so widely throughout the country. Also out of the service is Joe Welch who is a group field service representative with the Traveler's Insurance Company in Hartford, Conn. Joe managed to get his picture in the December issue of the Traveler's Beacon, evidently some sort of a company slander sheet. Congratulations, Joe.

Also civilian side is Johmiy Gambling who has further distinguished himself by heading up the 33rd annual Snow Ball of the South Nassau communities of New York. The Snow Ball is apparently a program for the hospitalized of the area and also parallels a fund raising drive.

A nice note just in from Joe Boissy tells us of his work in the office of something or other down Washington, D. C., way. Joe joined the Air Force last November, but not until after he had made his last trip to Hanover for the big house party weekend which, as Joe puts it, "was one last good one." Joe is awaiting his turn to go to the Agents' school in Washington which should be in the very near future. Jim Culbertson, is also in the Agents' school in Baltimore, with John Sutton, Dick Dutton and Bill Leshure. Jim has employed his wifeto-be as a date finder for all the group and from what we can gather, all is a joyous time on the boys' $800.00 per month. Evidently, from what Joe says, Bill Roberts is also working there in Washington.

From what we can gather, Ken Barton and Buck Scott are the only ones lucky enough to have returned to Hanover in the past month or so. Exercise "Snow Fall" and the Army Air Force winter games has Cpl. Jim Saurman well occupied these days. Jim is a member of the nth Airborne Division, 503 Regiment, and is taking part in this operation which is designed to test the winter equipment and to teach techniques of arctic warfare and, incidentally, has brought 300,000 soldiers and airmen to northern New York state for the experiment. The 11th division is operating out of Fort Campbell, Ky., where Jim is a squad leader with Company H. Harry McCaffrey evidently had the longest line in the group as he is now a member of the Long Lines Department, eastern area, of the American Telephone and Telegraph.

It seems this month that we could ramble on almost forever but I guess we should end it all shortly. I promised word from DickPugh last month and to my surprise a fine letter just arrived which says:

"I am enjoying myself at Oxford very much. Everything around here is pretty old and crumbly and sometimes it's easy to imagine you are living back about three centuries. The pubs are great, but the women are a bit baffling. This, combined with the many great friends I have made, tends to distract my attention from the miserable climate and the primitive living conditions. Best of all I like the six-week vacations. One is supposed to work during that period, but most footloose Americans like me find that almost impossible."

Thanks, Dick, and a nice letter. Here's hoping you and WINSTON can discover a little gold over there somewhere.

Before closing I would like to say that April marks the beginning of the Alumni Fund and presents our class with an opportunity to display the responsibility which we, as alumni, must assume if Dartmouth is to remain the kind of institution we have known. Our college has given us half of our education free of charge, and also four of the best years we will ever know. Most of us are beginning to realize this already. Now it's our turn to help Dartmouth. Let's all do our part. We certainly owe a good deal.

Secretary, 500 South 3rd St., Minneapolis 15, Minn. Treasurer,U.S.S. Bache (DDDE 470) F.P.0., N. Y;, N. Y. Class Agent, 203 Woodbury, Hanover, N. H.