1941

The month of May should spell RELIEF to those classmates who endured earthquakes, mudslides, icy roads, flooded basements, and leaky roofs during the winter. Here in Florida some '41s had nicer things to do, such as the February dedication of a new baseball complex at Northwood University named for our own Gus Broberg. As a tribute to Gus for his 40 years of work in youth sports in Palm Beach County, his friends secretly raised $100,000 for the six-acre complex. Don Stillman gave an address at the dedication, which was also attended by SnuffySmith and John Everett. Though Gus was surprised and embarrassed by the honor, we all know that it was well deserved and couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Not so fortunate was Ira Skutch whose California home of 21 years was reduced to rubble by the Northrid'ge earthquake. In a newspaper article that pictured Ira sitting on the remains of his fieldstone fireplace, he philosophically reflected that his insurance would cover his investment in the home, if not the replacement cost.

More now on classmates who gave their lives in World War II Handsome Bill Dorney perished on a navy air patrol over the Atlantic, and quiet but determined Frank Dressner was killed as a marine lieutenant on Guadalcanal. Ironically, Frank died on Armistice Day in 1942, the first member of our class to be killed in action.

Lindol Graham was a quiet fellow at Dartmouth, but as a P-83 pilot he shot down six planes and won the Distinguished Flying Cross before his untimely end over Ulm, Germany. Pidge Hughes had a rollicking sense of humor and was a great baseball and hockey player before he lost his life as a navy pilot in the Pacific. Wally Jones was another navy pilot lost in the Pacific. An "old man" of 25, he had left Dartmouth in his senior year to start his flight training.

Albert Reed King won his freshman numerals in football. He left school early and later joined the Army Air Corps only to meet his untimely end in a training flight crash. Dave Gratz was bright, enthusiastic, and tough a great boxer at Dartmouth. As an army captain he was killed in action in 1945 in Italy. Dick Howard, captain of the track team, was lost at sea when the tanker on which he commanded a navy gun crew was torpedoed.

Fred Howland knew about adversity. He had to leave high school to work for five years after his father died. Entering Dartmouth later at age 23, he worked his way through college, but found time to lead a Boy Scout troop in Lebanon. A training crash of his navy plane ended his too-short life in 1942.

Mild-mannered George Ladd gave his all for the war effort. Rejected for service by the armed forces, he volunteered for American Field Service in India and worked in hospitals there for a year. Hospitalized himself, George died of heart failure and was buried near Calcutta. Johnny Lendo, star pitcher for the Indians, was a navy lieutenant in the Pacific when he was reported missing in action in 1945. He left a wife and a son whom he probably never saw.

Smiling Bert Mauro was head cheerleader and a member of the gym team. He was a navypilot when his plane crashed at sea, only a year after graduation.

John Monroe, soccer all-American, was awarded the Silver Star medal posthumously for gallantry in action when, as an infantry captain, he led his company through heavy fighting in Germany. Ernie Pyle should have written his story of bravery.

May all these fine young men rest in peace and not be forgotten.

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