1932

The scene: a freighter in Middle East waters. In the engine room an oil spill results in severe burns for a young Filipino in training as a ship's engineer. Luckily former Lt. Col. Jo Ann Swenson of the Army Nurse Corps happens to be a passenger aboard. She administers first aid, and later the young man, writing from a hospital in Cyprus, praises the Lord for his blessing. "I extend my grateful thanks to everyone, especially to our captain and Mr. and Mrs. Swenson." This news item came courtesy of Bob Marr '30, who as class secretary knows how we cherish any news of classmates. Bob lives in Green Valley, Ariz., as do Jo and John. He says he sees Chuck Adkins occasionally. Chuck lives in La Posada, the same retirement community as the Swensons.

Dorothy Burch, incidentally, is another '32 bride who saw service in World War II. An arresting picture-article on Dorothy comes from Whip Walser. Back in the forties she was chosen as a photogenic subject for a story on WAACs and their training. Dorothy wrote on her application for officer's candidate school: "If I were a man, I would have enlisted in the Army after the tragedy at Pearl Harbor. When... the victory is ours, I want to feel that I have helped to the best of my ability." I have to wonder whether other '32 wives were in the armed services. It would be a pleasure to record their service in this column.

Dick Merrill writes from Greenfield, N.H., that he had intended to visit Dick Statham in Estes Park but his doctor had forbidden the trip. So "Dick came on and spent a marvelous few days with me. He is in great shape and doing more things than I can keep track of. He took some New England lobsters back with him and sent me a picture of them cooking and his lovely lady friend." Ahhh one more '32 with great taste.

Grantham, NH 03753-0286