1953
The class is greatly saddened by the recent death of Lawrence Conover sometime in January. Please turn to "In Memoriam" for an explanation of his tragic death.
The relative paucity of class news this month gives me an opportunity to discuss with you an organization that I have been directly associated with for the past twenty months and one in which you are indirectly connected with and continually supporting the Seventh United States Army located in Western Germany. I thought, for a few minutes, you might be interested in thinking about this organization that stands between the communist front and our own Eastern shores. My remarks will be as off-the-cuff as possible.
"Born at sea, baptized in blood, and crowned in glory" - these are the words of General George S. Patton, Jr. describing his victorious Seventh Army at the end of the Sicilian Campaign in 1943. Today, fifteen years later, this Army has a much smaller population but has a task equal, if not more complex, than the one it faced before. The task — or mission in Army jargon —is to stand ready with our Nato Allies to defend Western Europe from any form of communist aggression. The Seventh Army is the first Army in our history to be stationed on foreign soil during times of peace. In my humble opinion, it is fully living up to the title of being a "Pyramid of Power."
Today Seventh Army units are located roughly between the Rhine River on the West, Frankfurt on the North, the Czech border on the East, and Munich on the South. Headquarters is in Stuttgart. The Army consists of five Divisions - two Infantry, two Armored, and one Airborne, plus many supporting units both in Germany and France. Commander of Seventh Army, Lt. General Bruce C. Clarke, has a motto that "an organization does well those things that the Boss checks." General Clarke demands efficiency and 100% preparedness from his commanders and men at all times and personally checks to see that he gets it. Rigid and numerous field exercises are organized continually with emphasis at all times on actual combat conditions. Constant training of personnel in the use of conventional and atomic weapons occupies the largest proportion of a Unit's time. Just recently Seventh Army joined in a combined NATO exercise held in Western Germany, in which all Allied Nations either participated or observed. This was the first occasion in which Seventh Army had the opportunity to test its new pentomic organizational structure which is characterized by the ability to be exceedingly mobile, relatively small in size, and yet extremely powerful. Every one of these exercises costs Uncle Sam money and yet once you are involved in one of them, you realize that they are an essential part to the growth and maintenance of a superior armed force.
A second and more delicate problem facing the Seventh Army concerns its association with the people of West Germany. Currently it is absolutely necessary that the Seventh Army establish and maintain friendly relations between the German people and the American soldier. Sometimes it is hard to flip the pages of the book forward so quickly - right past Buchenwald, Casino, Elsie Koch, Goering, Hitler, Dachau, and Amsterdam—and come out 14 or 15 years later with a friendly hand. But progress was never made by disregarding change and the opportunity to build a new future. Seventh Army is not an army of occupation as it was in 1945; rather, it is today a guest of the Federal Republic of Western Germany, and as such it must conduct itself. A great deal of private time, effort, and money is contributed to enriching the relationship between German and American neighbors. There are hundreds of German-American clubs composed of the average GI and local townspeople as well as the highest ranking German and American officials dedicated to the development of a better understanding for one another. This is accomplished through language study, social gatherings, sponsoring orphanage activities, and travelling together to visit places of interest. This program is neither wholly altruistic nor selfish - it is a reasonable combination of both. NATO needs the industrial, technical, and military prowess for which Germany is so famous, and Germany needs NATO to help defend its already encroached upon border. The old adage might be used a little differently in terms of the combined commitment to NATO of Germany and the U.S. - "United we stand, divided we fall."
Seventh Army is to me a "Pyramid of Power," both in terms of military power and Christian power. I am proud to have been associated with it and feel that you can be proud in knowing that it is your best bet for continued security at home.
Lowell Holway and wife, Tom Fowler, Ed Fowler, Fred Walsh, and Bill Friedman were all lucky enough to be in Hanover recently and staying at the Inn.
John Wortley recently completed his military orientation course at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Tex. John is a Captain in the Army Medical Corps. John Kingsland recently joined White, Weld & Co., investment brokers, in their Research Department - Is.this in New York, John?
From the desk of Dr. Nils Y. Wessell, Tufts University President, comes word that John Mitchell has been appointed assistant comptroller for Tufts University in Medford, Mass. After graduation from Tuck in 1954, John served with U.S. Naval Supply Corps, and was attached to the Navy Exchange at the Naval Air Station, Niagara Falls, N.Y. In his new job, John will be engaged in making a series of special financial studies related to university expenditures. In addition, Jean and John are having a "ball" keeping up with their five-month-old son Peter, number one for the Mitch's. Congratulations!
Cheers and let's hear from you!
Secretary, H.Q. 7th Army Finance Section A.P.O. 46, New York, N.Y.
Class Agent, 1551 North Astor, Chicago 10, Ill.
