1943

First of all I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fellows who sent up Christmas cards during the past holiday season. The spirit of Xmas on the home front was definitely dampened by the surprized German counter offense in Belgium this year. The spirit will never be different, however, until this thing is over with. May those lights go on again another Christmas.

The news is very limited for this issue as the mail only seems to trickle in now and then.

Sgt. Bill Whitmarsh writes by way of V- Mail from Somewhere in Germany—

We are a part of the 9th Army and if you know of any '43's or Dartmouth men in the 9th let me know. So far I've not met up with any friends of civilian day's over here, but expect to any day. Right.now two of my friends and I are shacked up in a partially demolished German house. We have salvaged one room which has two beds and a dandy little coal and wood burning stove. Just recently our latest "home improvement" has been electricity, with juice borrowed from a neighboring outfit. Frankly we wouldn't mind making this our winter headquarters but that isn't getting the war won. God knows it's plenty rough on the doughboys and they're the ones that, so far, have really been doing the fighting. I am interested to know what you hear from some of the other '43's namely Schirmes, Hooker, Haskell, Burr, Gordon, etc. (not much, Bill, but this might start something). Before coming to Germany we had several fine days in Holland where we were treated royally. The people felt hurt if you didn't accept their hospitality and they couldn't seem to do enough for us.

Off hand, I would say that Bill is perhapsby now a little under pressure.

Mrs. Charles O'Connor writes that son Okie is still in the Pacific operating mainly from Pearl Harbor. Jug ran into Paul Hanlon at the latter base and while the two were worrying about the accident that befell Dick Kimmel's ship, Dick was on a furlough getting married (this should interest all men who were commissioned at Notre Dame) to Jane Ann Livingood. The date—November 4, 1944 at South Bend. Lt. and Mrs. Richard Kimmel may be found at 708 Avenue A, Coranado, California, for awhile as Dick's ship is being repaired.

Andy Caffrey was in the Philippine inva- sions and by now a real veteran at the game while Snooky Hughes '44 is somewhere in Germany. Lt. Russ Sherburne is now back in this country flying gunners in B-224's and touring targets in B-26's at Buckingham Field, Fort Myers, Fla. Before returning to the U. S. A. Russ left the European area for England where he met Bill Stein and Dick Bachus '44. They all came back together but Stein's whereabouts is now unknown. Russ saw a lot of Fred Carey for awhile also. He states that Jim Mullins got himself married on May 17, 1944. All Russ can remember is the fact that her name is Mary. Cpl. Bill Sweeney now in India writes that the food is at least cheap in that area. He purchased a steak (and a good one) for one rupee (30c) in a good Chinese restaurant.

Lt. (jg) Jim Gilfillan, who received his commission at Notre Dame, has seen action in both the Atlantic and the Pacific waters. He is now in the latter area, Navy 131 Receiving Station, c/o F. P. O. San Francisco, Calif. Ens. Spic Waterbury seems to say a lot about a 30-foot bar and all the fixings somewhere in the Pacific. I believe him, as his letter is very convincing, but you gentlemen probably think he is delirious. At this same base Spic has seen Lt. (j.g.) Ernie Ball who is waiting around for orders from Washington since his ship sank while he was waiting for its arrival and Lt. (j.g.) Ted Driscoll whom Spic says is a big shot in that area. "Tell the boys," writes Spic, "to drop in on him with a good sugar (?) and maybe they'll get that extra star on their shoulder boards that they have been waiting for." He's at Navy 3205 if that means anything to you old salts. Spic himself is getting ready to go to Com. 7th Fleet at some advanced base. He has traveled from North Ireland to the South Pacific in the last six months and speaks well (?) of the latest grad from Northampton. Rumor has it that George Munroe is now out in the Pacific Area. Jim Mulligan '42 is another Dartmouth man that Spic has run into.

After spending 9 months in the Mediterranean area, John Altorfer returned home to marry Miss Harriett Pearson on Nov. 17, 1944. Mrs. Altorfer was graduated from Stephens and Northwestern University.

Engagement: June 14—Miss Natalie F. Smith to Walter K. Chisholm.

CONGRATS AND BRAVO:

At a Leyte Air Base, Nov. 1, .. . . Although they weren't looking for a fight, crewmen in a bomber piloted by Lt. (jg) Neal Tyler of Wyo., found a rugged one.

The plane, sent out on a search mission, suddenly encountered a Japanese convoy of seve freighters and three destroyers heading north in the western Philippines. Enemy ack-ack blackened the air, injuring two men.

Lieutenant Tyler steadied the craft to lay the eggs and a direct hit was scored on a 5,000-ton freighter and another vessel was left burning from a strafing attack.

The bomber reached home with one engine shot and another "out of. order." Just as Tyler landed, another engine caught fire. It was doused just in time to prevent an explosion.

For outstanding achievement in the China- Burma-India Theatre of Operations the veteran Troop Carrier Group, to which Capt. Joseph E. Rhodes is assigned, has been cited by the 12th Air Force. Capt. Rhodes is now entitled to wear the Distinguished Unit Badge. For his meritorious performance of duties as a Pilot aboard the Group's planes, during his stay in India, he has also been awarded the coveted Distinguished Flying Cross. Last April his Troop Carrier Group, stationed in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations, was suddenly ordered to fly to the support of Allied Forces battling the Japanese in the Imphal Valley, India, and the Myitkyina area, Burma. Seven days later the big twinengined C-47 transport planes of his group were delivering the needed supplies where they would do the most good. The unit continued to support the Allied armies for two and a half months, and is now back in the Mediterranean Theater, starting its 27th month overseas. .During the 75- day emergency the Troop Carrier Group delivered troops, tons of food, equipment, etc. The unit was cited because of the proficiency and heroic self-sacrifice on the part of each member of the expedition in accomplishing almost impossible feats under the most hazardous conditions.

Second Lieutenant Alden M. Taylor, now in England undergoing a pre-combat training period of ten days with the 493 rd Bomb. Group, is preparing to take part in Eighth Air Force bombing attacks over Germany as pilot in a B-17 Flying Fortress. Already highly trained by the AAF in pilot training at Stuttgart, Ark., Lt. Taylor is now getting the benefit of the combat experience of veteran flyers. His course of instruction, conducted by men who have flown from five to seven months against the Germans, includes advice on how to conduct himself if he becomes a prisoner of war, how to administer first aid to the wounded comrades at high altitudes, how to contact Air-Sea Rescue service on his radio and what to do if his bomber crashes into the sea. The Fortress Group to which Lt. Taylor has been assigned is a unit of the Third Bombardment Division, the division which was cited by the President for its now historic England-Africa shuttle bombing of Messerschmitt aircraft plants at Regensburg, Germany, in August 1943.

ESSENTIAL WORKER WANTEDDRAFT DEFERRED

With the Fund Campaign coming up in the near future it looks as if yours truly is going to need a little help in writing a few articles. I have taken over Ed Bock's duties as secretary, but I have been advised that it isn't such a good idea to do both. First, the class gets a little more variety in literary fare, second, in the names that are mentioned, and third, it will give me more time to put in the newsletter which some boys have expressed their sorrow in not getting recently. Ed has given me some names to check on and if there are any more possible candidates, let me know. That is for the Duration Class Secretary.

SERVICE PROMOTIONS

Lieutenant (jg)—Charles W. Holsworth, Edwin L. Adams Jr., Roy H. Kirch Jr., Robert A. Williams, Thomas B. Morgan Jr., C. Carleton Coffin Jr., John L. Hutchinson Jr., Donald E. Clark, Thomas E. Redstone, Donald L. Miller, John W. O'Connor, Conrad S. Young. Second Lieutenant—James T. Heenehan Jr., Walter Powers Jr., David A. Schirmer. Captain—Joseph E. Rhodes. Ensign Jeremy Blanchet. Major Cyrus C. Brown Jr.

The night I was writing the article for the December issue I discovered that it was the eve before the birth of a Koslowski heiress. In remaining silent I had hopes to spring the news to you about those twin boys which are now the hope for some '43 since. Ensign and Mrs. Bob Pelren have taken the honors for the first twin girls. The young lady, Judith Ellen, saw the first light of day on December 18. (The Headmaster of Governor Dummer says that his only regret is that she won't make Dartmouth but at least he is sure that she has the Wah-Hoo-Wah Cry.)

BETTE DAVIS AUTOGRAPHS CAST of Pvt. Donold W. Kingsley '43, paratrooper, who has been recovering from a fractured spine sustained on his fourth training jump. He is at the Fort Benning Regional Hospital, Atlanta, Ga., where the film star made the "award."

RISING SUN is in eclipse on the captured Jap plane beside which Lt. John H. Clark '43 stands somewhere in the Southwest Pacific.

Secretary, Governor Dummer Academy S. Byfield, Mass.

Treasurer, Shelburne, Vt.