1948

In the February 7 New York Times "Escapes" section Jason Tanz wrote a nostalgic piece about Dartmouth Winter Carnival when it used to be the premier college social attraction of the winter.An invitation was worth many points and even West Coast coeds found time to appear. The mind's eye recalls that huge campus snow sculpture, often with a mug in hand, and ski jumps that soared from fraternity-house balconies. Every house and dormitory had some kind of slush-created monument to the winter gods. The winter of '47-48 was particularly productive, with lots of snow and sustained cold temperatures, not unlike '03. They still celebrate the weekend but not many people come.There is no doubt that we had the best of times!

The DAM March/April cover article on the Korean "police action" is another memory-jogger for us old guys. Many of us mustered out from WW II in 1946 and headed back to school. It was not unusual for considerable pressure to be applied for us to sign over into the reserves for four years as our discharge papers hung before us just beyond our reach. If memory serves, all reservists were frozen on July 31,1950, and many were recalled to active duty in Korea or other Cold War theaters. The NROTC undergrads were well represented there, too. Dartmouth has always contributed generously when called to action.

There is still time to join us on campus June 9-11 for a memory-filled opportunity to renew auld acquaintance. Quarters are at Tuck School, well away from the noisy revelers of earlier classes who have not yet switched to white wine and designer beer. Join your classmates and their brides. No need to feel self conscious about bringing that life-preserving handful of pills, capsules and potions to breakfast to knockdown with your OJ. Inhalers are "in" and canes acceptable. For the regulars, be sure to bring those hats, sweaters and jackets from other reunions so we can confuse the other classes and administration. After all, this is a party, not a wake and we should set our minds accordingly.

You may be sure that Ray Richard & Co. have planned long and hard to make it worth your effort to come back to what is still one of the most beautiful campuses anywhere. Baker Tower still dominates the Green commons and Dartmouth Row winks at it from its east side hillock as the bells chime the hour. It is rumored that Rollins Chapel, where the Glee Club rehearsed, will be the site of our gathering to remember fallen friends. Those who spent time in Wheeler and Richardson will feel right at home in that neighborhood. Probably the most changed thing you will find in Hanover and the environs is that there are some really good places to eat these days. So come early and stay late for our 55th. Who would have thought that people in their 70s could be so young?! See you there.

6442 Cardeno Drive, La Jolla, CA92037-6929; (619) 459-5133; bobherrick@aol.com

REUNION June 9-11 2003