1952
The tacts you are about to read are true; even the names haven't been changed.
Time, 9:53 P.M.: I am working out of a beat-up stateroom on the Nasty (and at the present time dirty) Nan. Inspector '52 has just given me a lead on a couple of stories (maybe more).
Time, Sunday, January 31, 5:03 P.M.: Another officer and myself had just been out to the Sewell's Point Golf Club to check on a report that there were a couple of birdies to be had. We tried nine: no luck. Besides it was too cold. We were checking up on a function at the "O" club known to some of the local AAs as "Happy Hour." 5:04: - One martini shot. Bumped into some of the boys from the Force, Randy Wilson and his most attractive spouse. Lt. (jg) as are all the '52s who were ROTC at graduation. Another guy with him, Bill Thomas from Chattanooga. Left the Class before graduation. Flying ADs off the Randolph. One of the boys working out of Precinct 63 (the Mo.) joined the gang. Got a report out of him that a guy named RogPierce was enjoying life out in San Diego. Boyle was his name. Time, 5:25 P.M.: Several martinis, one manhattan, and a rye on the rocks shot to hell. Not all by me. Somebody else was driving.
By 6:00 P.M. we were back at headquarters (Norfolk Navy Shipyard). Checked up on the files and sent out a couple of APDs. Found several letters, upon investigating the Operations Officer's stateroom. Found one postmarked overseas, signed by Terry Malone. Says he's a confirmed bachelor. He's covering the Mediterranean and reports all not so quiet in Barcelona. Claims it's a gay town; may have to be cleaned up. Another's from somebody named Coulter. Something about being back in the states for Christmas. Says he saw Bob Jelly and Dorn McGrath out in California, apparently at school of some sort. May have to call in the Feds to check on that one. Still another from a guy who signs his Whitey Dunlap. Got a record. As I remember, he took a chance at the arena. Hat trick. Used to hang around with a bunch who hung around a white house next to Thayer. Understand from him that Ted Haskell is doing time with his old man in Boston. Says also that Howie Smith's working out of New Haven; no lead on his job now. Whitey claims an all-time record having driven over 2000 miles to catch Dartmouth hockey in Denver. That's from Sherman, Texas. Good alibi. Guess it'll stand up in court unless somebody else can top it. Here's another one from KenGallant. Apparently played the big time in N.Y.C. Some connection with a show called Horses in Midstream, featuring Cedric Hardwicke and Diana Lynn. Turkey. Pulled out for Boston. Understand he's trying to pull a Bob Young at Filenes. Says he and Chris Oilman are still single and the latter is pulling down A's at M.I.T. Understand they do a little undercover work at a few of the local female seminaries in the area as well as in New York though, so all is not lost. And they're not suffering.
Fran Chisdes on Princeton Club stationery (wanted for larceny, obviously) reports a gathering of some fifteen members of the Class at the Dartmouth Club in New York last January 19. Still waiting for communications to bring in the complete list, but first reports show Rollo Glaser, Ken Roman, DickNye, Hank Sperka, and Ed Greenberger were there. No eye-witness report yet. Need one for the case. Fran informs me (signed confession, of course) that he's been at Dix of late. Says Rit Swicker is there, also Harv Kelly. Ned Sullivan is in Germany, courtesy of Uncle Sam, I think, and Andy Stern is in France. Bud Sawyer is also at Dix. Says his efforts for a Ph.D. in the Classics at Columbia were interrupted for the obvious reason. Fort Eustis, Va., and transportation for Fran as of now. Hank is with Guarantee Trust; looks like a case for a job. Rollo is with Gimbels - front man.
Time, 11:05: Took a break for coffee. Checked up on some newspaper clippings. Picked up a few more leads (never clues, always leads). Flash - Bill Bryan, Ens., now serving aboard the Mine Squadron 3 flagship, LST 735, in the Far East. Hal Morse just completed the run 'at Pensacola and was last heard from at Corey Field in the same neighborhood undergoing instruction on instrument flying. Just got a report in on BobMeanix that has been missed heretofore. He's been holding down the right halfback position on the Gator team down at the Amphib Base, as of last fall that is. Zach Boy age, the record shows, can be located for interview as a possible suspect for Marine promotion out in Santa Anna.
The Matrimonial Picture
The following is an up-to-the-minute tally of those about to take the BIG STEP. These men are a menace to all bachelors and the latter group is warned that these men are potentially dangerous. These men impart upon their bachelor counterparts an entirely new conception of freedom which to say the least is infectious and contagious. And being one of them I speak with authority when-I say that this "disease'' is not altogether unpleasant.
Last December Ed Lyon and Gail Maurath announced their engagement. Gail graduated from Wheelock last June. Charlotte Hough and Charlie Keenen announced their engagement last December 28. She graduated from Smith, Class of '42 and Charlie is an Ens. with the Navy (DDR 875, the Henry W. Tucker). Another prospective Ens. (if he isn't one already) is Dick Kezer, whose engagement to Valerie Vreeland was announced December 30. Dick got his Master's from N.Y.U. last spring and Valerie has been on the stall of Life magazine of late. C. Gregory Peterson and Dorothy Potter announced their engagement last month. Carl (or is it Greg) is in his third year at Med School, Yale University, and his fiance; is a senior at Sargent College (that's part, of 8.U.). George Pandelon and Mary Elizabeth Donavan plan a June wedding, as of their recent engagement. George is another Tuck graduate now in the Army, and his bride-to-be is a senior at Smith. FreForni and Mary Louise Rodewald plan nuptials soon. Fred is at Harvard Law and Mary, a Wellesley graduate, now attends the Sim mons College of Social Work. Dort Bigg, 110 at B.U. Law, and Marcia Greenwood plan a tune wedding. Virginia Hoffman and Cliff fiticrerald announced their engagement last January 23. Ginny is Colby Jr. '53 and Cliff's activities have been mentioned before. DanGutterman and Ann Seige announced their engagement last month also. Dan is at Harvard Law and Ann is at Bryn Mawr. Seems to me I mentioned Ray Schumacher's engagement to Suzanne Durstine, but a big spread in the Ohio State Journal prompts me to make note of it again, just to make sure. He's living in Columbus and Suzanne is a Vassal' senior. Dick Swicker and Laura Chase became engaged recently. Laura is a senior at Mt. Holyoke.
What follows hereafter is a partial list of those who have recently actually taken the BIG STEP.
December 20 was the big day for Bill Ford and Pat Stone. Jerry Stone '20, father of the bride, informs me that Dek Davidson, DickDalb'eck and Nels Ehinger were among the ushers. Pat is a graduate of Endicott Jr. and Bill wound up his siege at lowa U. for a tour as an ensign in the U.S.N. He and his bride should be in the Hawaii area as of now, since Bill is based at Pearl. On the 22nd of that month Dick Wilcox and Mary Stone became man and wife. That event occurred in Hartford, and at the moment Lt. Dick is stationed at the James Connally Air Force Base in Waco, Texas. His wife attended the New Rochelle Hospital School for Nursing and graduated from Bay Path Jr. College in Longmeadow, Mass. Up in Hanover about a week later, the 28th to be exact, Hal Morse and Diane Morrell were married. The usher list included Cliff Fitzgerald and Randy Hough. Dinny, as many of you will remember, is a familiar person around Hanover and is no slouch when it comes to the slats on the slopes at Stowe (pardon, English majors, cduldn't resist). They are living in Corpus Christi at the present. Out in Wolf Point, Mont., Erny Stephans and Elaine Luedtke were married during the holidays. The bride attended Valparaiso University arid the couple now make their home in Hardin, Mont. And last but not least, Tom Clapp and Dorothy Reed were married in Wheeling, W. Va., last January 23. Dorothy graduated from Baldwin School and Finch College and Tom is now with the "Department of the Army."
One more item before I close. Bob and LoisHolmes are the proud parents of a boy, Robert Craig, born December 17.
Best to all of you .and a reminder that the Fund Drive is not far away. We're not after your money yet, but I know that Bernie Lewis can use all the help he can get this year. His goal is to make Dave Hilton '51 look like an amateur, which is no easy job. So let Bernie know if you can help. He can be reached at 2111 Robin Crest Lane, Glenview, Ill.
See you next month - without the dragnet influence.
TAKING A DIP: After a year in the Pacific on the destroyer "U.S.S. Colahan," Lt. (jg) Bill Huey '52, USN, enjoys his first leave at Palm Springs, Calif. He is Communications Officer of his ship.
Secretary,USS Nantahala (AO-60) c/o FPO, New York, N. Y.
Treasurer, 151 Sip Ave., Jersey City, N. J.
