Just two classmates made it to Hanover to set a dubious record for all-time low attendance for a 75th class reunion. I was not one of them! Well, two is better than one, and far better than zero. They were Ed Bock of Syracuse, New York, and Bob Lappin of Swamscott, Massachusetts.

Ed was editor-in-chief of The Dartmouth during our final days on campus. Both were members of Palaeopitus.

And many thanks to the class of 1948 for welcoming Ed and Bob and their families to their two dinner receptions. It was much appreciated.

Imagine—75 years ago our Commencement date was listed as January 1, 1943. Our “last supper” date was actually December 12, 1942. It was in Thayer Hall’s main dining room. President Hopkins and Arthur Hayes Sulzberger, president and publisher of The New York Times, were the keynote speakers. No pomp, no valedictorian, no Bema, no honorary degrees, no cap and gown, no family. The dinner ended with hugs and teary eyes. We scattered in different directions the next morning. We were facing World War II in its darkest moments.

Ninety-one percent of the class was headed for the armed forces. The other 9 percent went to medical school, dental college, or divinity school or were unable to serve. I was in the U.S. Army three days later. I enlisted on December 15, 1942, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. The Army had recruited me in April 1942 to attend its military intelligence service language school (for Japanese language instruction). Three days later I was at Camp Savage, Minnesota, where non-stop education in Japanese language, military terms, and customs were drummed into about 200 niseis.

Would we see each other ever again? We lost 23 classmates in WW II. Our class was destined early on to travel, courtesy of Uncle Sam, over the girdled earth. WW II ended on September 3, 1945.

—George Shimizu, 2642 Saklan Indian Drive, Apt. 2, Walnut Creek, CA 94595-3052; (925) 937-2504; marymariko@comcast.net