Class Note 1942
Issue
Sept - Oct 2019
It would be hard to start this column without mentioning the moving ceremonies at the 75th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944, in Normandy. Makes you pause to reflect on the class of ’42 entering the war in December 7, 1941. The class lost 34 out of the 669 matriculated students. Seems a small, albeit tragic number when you reflect on the crosses at Normandy. Some classmates went on to serve in Korea and Vietnam.
I was pleased to receive a newsy Green Card from Barbara Newell, widow of Gus Newell. Her note congratulates Irenee DuPont on celebrating his 74th anniversary and about to celebrate his 75th. She writes that she and Gus made it to 74-plus years. They both live at Heatherwood in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, with Doris and Bob Keeler. Barbara reports it is a great place to live for widows in addition to couples. Please send more Green Cards.
Some time ago I asked Bob Gale to help me make some links between the classes of 1911 and 1942—WW I vs. WW II. The reason I focused on 1911 was because a small group of ’42s had fathers in 1911. My exploration may have been a stretch. Why were the 1911s concerned about WW I even though it did not start until 1914? Rather, Bob told me what his father thought about the coming of WW II. He said his father encouraged Bob’s older brother to join the Iowa National Guard to “stay safer.” When Pearl Harbor was bombed the Iowa National Guard was federalized and Bob’s brother, age 24, went with the 34th Division aboard the Queen Mary to Belfast. He hurt his back permanently on maneuvers and was returned to Wisconsin for limited duty. When the Battle of the Bulge started, his brother was sent overseas again, to Manheim, Germany, but limited duty kept him from danger. Bob served in WW II, and I refer you to his memoir in Dartmouth at War.
I just spoke with Jon Mendes, who continues his 40-minute walks each morning and reports good health.
I send a new plea for Green Cards and stories to pass on to you all.
—Joanna Caproni, 370 East 76 St., Apt. A 406, New York, NY 10021; caproni@aol.com
I was pleased to receive a newsy Green Card from Barbara Newell, widow of Gus Newell. Her note congratulates Irenee DuPont on celebrating his 74th anniversary and about to celebrate his 75th. She writes that she and Gus made it to 74-plus years. They both live at Heatherwood in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, with Doris and Bob Keeler. Barbara reports it is a great place to live for widows in addition to couples. Please send more Green Cards.
Some time ago I asked Bob Gale to help me make some links between the classes of 1911 and 1942—WW I vs. WW II. The reason I focused on 1911 was because a small group of ’42s had fathers in 1911. My exploration may have been a stretch. Why were the 1911s concerned about WW I even though it did not start until 1914? Rather, Bob told me what his father thought about the coming of WW II. He said his father encouraged Bob’s older brother to join the Iowa National Guard to “stay safer.” When Pearl Harbor was bombed the Iowa National Guard was federalized and Bob’s brother, age 24, went with the 34th Division aboard the Queen Mary to Belfast. He hurt his back permanently on maneuvers and was returned to Wisconsin for limited duty. When the Battle of the Bulge started, his brother was sent overseas again, to Manheim, Germany, but limited duty kept him from danger. Bob served in WW II, and I refer you to his memoir in Dartmouth at War.
I just spoke with Jon Mendes, who continues his 40-minute walks each morning and reports good health.
I send a new plea for Green Cards and stories to pass on to you all.
—Joanna Caproni, 370 East 76 St., Apt. A 406, New York, NY 10021; caproni@aol.com