1941

Our class has had its share of men who achieved fame and fortune, and the rest of us aren't exactly chopped liver either. But '41's greatest gift to the nation was its sacrifice of 36 bright young men in the country's struggle against Japanese and German aggression. This month, and in succeeding columns, we propose to honor these classmates who were deprived of their chance to achieve success in a peacetime setting.

Adrian "Skip" Beck was a Vermont high-school valedictorian, senior fellow, and Class of 1926 Fellowship scholar who worked in Washington his senior year. He was a man on the road to greatness. Skip volunteered for combat as a marine lieutenant and was cut down by machine gun fire at the Guam landing.

Nick Blood was known by his classmates for his ready wit, expansive smile, and story-telling ability. This most happy fella became an instructor pilot in the Army Air Corps and was killed when his plane crashed in Waco, Texas, on a routine training flight.

Bill Bailey was a proud member of the Dartmouth marching band. He enlisted in the Navy Air Corps and won his wings in March 1942. Assigned to a fighter squadron in the Southwest Pacific and promoted to lieutenant, he was killed in action in March 1943.

Jack Blister was truly a man for all seasons. He was literary editor of the "Pictorial," won the contest for original plays, and made the class address at the Old Pine. Jack, an idealist, enlisted in the King's Royal Rifle Corps (with Chuck Bolte and Bill Durkee). He saw action in North Africa, was wounded three times, and in May 1943, as a lieutenant, was killed by enemy fire.

Bill Canniff was an outstanding distance runner and a most likable guy. Enlisting in the army in March 1942, he met his death in May 1945 when the P47 Thunderbolt he was piloting crashed in Delaware Bay.

Clark Collins joined the Army Air Corps in March 1942, was trained as a P47 pilot, and flew combat missions out of England in 1943, earning the Air Medal. Clark was shot down on November 5 over the North Sea while guarding a bomber returning from a raid on Muenster, Germany.

John Mado Crafts of Manchester, N.H., left Hanover to finish college at UNH with his brother, a year younger. They were both active in dramatics and ROTC. Mado was trained in tank warfare and went overseas as a captain and company commander. His brief life came to an end while fighting with his armored infantry unit in France on August 10, 1944.

And so the list goes on. Bill Dorney Marine Lt. Frank Dressner Lindol Graham, Pidge Hughes, Wally Jones, Reed King, Dave Gratz Dick Howard, Fred Howland George Ladd, Johnny Lendo, Bert Mauro, Dick Messinger, soccer Ail-American John Monroe, Bob Nichols, Jim O'Hearn, Jack Orr, Bruce Pelto, Ralph Shanesy, Jackman Shattuck, Phil Shribman, Phil Sleadd, George Taylor, Joe Taylor, Gene Valentine, Dick Van Divort, Bill Werner, Warren Zeller, and Jim Young. We survivors must remember and salute these brave young men who died that we might live.

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