1940

In case you are afraid that the literary prowess of your classmates may be starting to slip, not to worry! In addition to publications by Page Smith, Bob Graham,Jonathan Ingersoll, and Chap Wentworth recently described in this column, we now have two more. George Mills was awarded the Samuel French Morse Poetry Prize for his collection of poems, The House Sails Out of Sightof Home, published by the Northeastern University Press. Bill Chapin's new book, MilkRun, tells of his post-Dartmouth life, with detailed recollections of being a B-24 bomber pilot, shot down on his 24th mission and shuffled from one grimy prison hospital to another in Yugoslavia and Austria, often the only American among the other casualties of many nationalities. He was finally freed by the Russians after VE-Day. He was almost always dirty, underfed, underclothed, and uncertain of the outcome, and his travails make a fascinating story.

June and Bob Austin, former residents of St. Croix, are returning to the Caribbean for a winter trip. They will be acting as volunteer tour guides for Tweedy and Ted Miller, who have never been in that region. The warm Caribbean waters will probably seem like a hot-tub to the Millers, who are used to the icy Maine waters.

The medical profession is getting lots of business these days from the 1940 class. LloydBlanchard has had some ankle bones fused so that they will quit jerking around painfully. Gordy Wentworth has finally obtained some relief from the excruciating pains in his right calf through surgical enhancement of the blood flow. Bill Pellington has had a lens implanted and a hernia repaired. All of them are doing well according to recent reports. Bud Hewitt has been in and out of the hospital for treatment of ulcers, shingles, and heart irregularities. In spite of those difficulties, Bud has kept up his practice of making a gift to a charity or to the Dartmouth Alumni Fund in memory of each classmate who falls by the wayside.

Last October, Governor Brereton Jones of Kentucky presented Les Nichols with Kentucky's highest award in tourism. This is just one of several accolades Les has received for his civic contributions.

P.O. Box 10, South Orleans, MA 02662

Bill Chapin's new book, Milk Run, tells of his being a B-24 bomber pilot shot down on his 24th mission. CHET BERRY '40