1941

Juniors! Half over; it will not go on forever. But at least there is the consolation of getting past the sophomore slump. Most of us. Now it's back to the books. Back from fun and games and, for some of us, from military reserve training. The class of 1941's contributions to the Marine Corps, no fewer than 36 PFCs in a platoon leaders class, is mostly back from Quantico, Va., where to the tune of "My Bonnie . . ." the hymn of the route march was: "They said" we would have a vacation, they said we would have a good time, they said we would find recreation, but oh, what a helluva line." That was the first verse. The second was full of bullbleep, ending with: "And bullbleep it turned out to be." For this crew it had been a six-week stint with another to follow in the summer of 1940. A few of our classmates, lest we forget, broke College ranks to serve in the RCAF, the British Eighth Route Army, and elsewhere as the simmering cauldron of warlike ingredients came to a boil in the first month of our junior year, September 1939, 50 years ago. Another memory to be recalled as we celebrate the approaching 50th Reunion of the Class of 1941.

Lives were lost in WW II, as had to be expected, and more of them from ours than any class. So, too, ever since albeit bit by bit in contrast and the class newsletter of June 1989 reported the latest to leave the class forever. For the information of interested others, Ray Hall and Les Overlook have now moved on to the next dimension. Ray was around the corner in South Mass freshman year, rooming with Lou Young, a great place to hang out, and Les, who became a fraternity brother, is warmly to be remembered for his gifted story-telling. In keeping with class policy, the Dartmouth College library will memorialize these departed comrades with designated individual books available for inspection at all times by visiting family members among others.

Class dues underwrite the cost of memorial books, as well as DAM subscriptions, and the latest figures show that 72 percent of us are paying dues. On the subject of you-know-what, 1941's investments in living trusts at the College, under the wing of Steve Winship, are moving up toward half a mil, and Art Hills is nurturing an Early Bird Fund, merrily earning interest, that consists of advance contributions of $1,OOO or more to the class's gift to the College in 1991. The operative dates for the Big One, please be reminded, are June 7-9 with possibilities for extension fore and aft. (This year, sneaking up fast, the mini-reunion dates are October 15—17, and Bob Tepper is your man for arrangements.)

Enough with that kind of green; I have letters. Among others, from Bruce Brown, making a move from San Fran to Seattle; from Dusty Rhodes, who divides his retirement between Michigan and Florida; and from Tim Takaro, M.D. (retired) of Asheville, NC. Tim answered my query about the Dr. Tim Takaro recently returned from 29 months in Nicaragua. Tune in next month for the full story. Shalom.

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