1944

We got a real scoop on Don and Maryann Pfeifle's 50th wedding anniversary shindig, held July 22 at their former ski lodge, the Sugarloaf Inn, in Maine. Some 80 people gathered to wine, dine, and dance the night away, including all 20, count 'em, 20, of the Pfeifles: the honored couple, four sons (including Peter '68 and John 71) and their wives, and 10 grandchildren. Also on hand were such non-wallflowers as Mike Costa, Bill and Liz Craig, Bill and Bernice Barrett, and Stan Barr and Betty, along with Dick and Barbara Hinman '45, Ted Stafford '45, and Charles and Amanda Murray '56.

A couple of other late flashes: Fritz and Jamie Witzel had back and eye surgery, respectively, and have been happily on the go again, with a highlight trip to Egypt and Jerusalem. Dick and Barbara Paul are in Destin, Fla., with Dick still "gainfully employed" teaching Spanish to air force personnel at nearby Hurlburt Field. "A pleasure to have motivated, adult classes," he says.

Sherm Davis says he and Sally are traveling a good deal and playing golf four to five times a week (handicap still 17, however). They've been wintering in Florida and summering on Cape Cod, but will probably make a permanent move to Florida one day soon.

Steve and Joey Tate moved in August 75 yards down the road in Westport, Conn. They are occupying a former guest house and have turned their place over to their son and his family. Gordic and Darla Ross came north from Fort Myers, Fla., for a summer in Hancock, N.H., and Gordie's watercolor paintings were on display in nearby Jaffrey; and Merle and Emmy Lou Hagen, Melbourne, Fla., spent the summer in their old stamping grounds, Henniker, N.H.

Then, we continue the VJ-Day "war stories": Dave Patterson and his Coast Guard LST were on the west coast of Okinawa, having just returned from Ie Shima, where Ernie Pyle was killed. "Every gun in the fleet was firing (stupidly) salute after salute." Dick Ranger, a B-25 pilot, was at Ie Shima, having just finished his combat tours over Japan. "I was due for shipment home," he says, "and my orders came on August 27, a pretty nice present because that just happened to be my birthday.

Marine 2nd Lt. Brad Grinnell was in a replacement battalion on Guam on VE Day (where he subsequently ran into John Beckwith, a navy pharmacist, and Fred Campbell and Ted Brush, marines back from Iwo Jima); and on Aug. 14 he was in Saipan, preparing for the invasion of Japan, scheduled for Nov. 1.

Finally, we thought we'd check on the what and whereabouts of some of the young '44 wives on VJ Day, 1945. Bucky Brandt was on a sub-chaser between Guam and Saipan, preparing for the invasion of Japan, and wife Jackie was with their infant son at her parent's home in Poultney, Vt. "That day, VJ Day, was the best day of one's life," said Jackie.

Bob Kaatz, an army Ist lieutenant, was in Manila, and he teamed up with Harry Davidson watching the fireworks and celebrating on "half the boats in the harbor." Wife Pat was back home with her parents in Minneapolis and just "...thrilled at the thought of Bob coming home and returning to a normal life."

Jolin Cordell was flying C-47 cargo planes in the Dutch East Indies, "Just waiting for another mission," on August 14, while wife Pat was home in Tulsa with their sevenmonth-old son. When she heard of the war's end, she yelled: "Oh, boy, John is on the way home."

Buss Benner was on an escort carrier, sailing toward Japan, and a pregnant Barbara was in Laguna Beach with her sister-in-law wondering, "How soon will they be home?" Walter Burke was on an LST in Okinawa harbor and wife Connie was "Waiting for Walter" with her baby at her parent's home in Larchmont.

Edward Crawford Hills died in August. Our sympathies. That's it. Blessings.

Box 24, Lovejoy Hill, Cornish Flat, NH 03746