1977

By the time this column goes to print, the class of 1977 will have returned from our 30th reunion. There will be so many stories to tell in the next column and class newsletter!

Carol Muller, Frank Long and Susan Dentzer have planned a classmates panel for Saturday morning of our 30th reunion on a not-exactlyhappy topic—but a relevant one to many of us: dealing with death or catastrophic illness. The panel is meant to capture some of the realities many of us are already feeling or will face, with respect to death or catastrophic illness of parents, spouses, children, close friends or other loved ones.They have lined up a superlative Dartmouth expert in palliative health care, Dr. Ira Byock of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, to speak. Should be a great topic and panel.

Steve White is the executive producer of a documentary film The 761st. The film was shown at Loew Auditorium on the Dartmouth campus on May 4 at 7 p.m. The U.S. Army did not officially desegregate until after World War II. But in April 1942 the 761st Tank Battalion (an all-black unit) was activated in Louisiana. Landing at Omaha Beach in October 1944, they engaged in continuous fighting for 183 days, including action in the Battle of the Bulge. These Black Panthers (named after their shoulder sleeve insignia) became the first African-American armored unit to enter combat. With the motto "Come Out Fighting!" they faced death overseas in a war for many freedoms they did not enjoy in America and racism at home i. This is their story. Director Pete Chatmon and producer Steve White introduced the film and conducted a Q&A after the show. Congratulations to Steve on this successful project!

Received a letter from Ricky Jamerson '75 who is a cancer survivor; during his recovery he received mental and moral encouragement from Dorian J. Wilson, M.D., who resides in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

Maxwell Anderson is the director and CEO of the Indianapolis Museum and was featured in the local newspaper regarding new exhibits. According to Maxwell, "Like many encyclopedic museums today, the Indianapolis Museum of Ait wants to enhance its contemporary-art collections and programs. Now it has received some help: a $2.5 million endowment grant toward the commissioning of site-specific installationsforits new entry pavilion. Every six months a different artist is to create a work for the pavilion. The first piece, to be installed this spring, will be by the New York sculptor Tony Feher."

Have a great summer!

2112 New Hampshire Ave., N.W.,Washington, DC 20009-6559; michael.a.carter@alum.dartmouth.org