Christmas 1945: We were on the high seas, en route to San Francisco, more than 4,000 happy and giddy GIs, all survivors of months and months in the Southwest theater of operations. I had been discharged (finally) earlier in the month from the 42nd Army General Hospital on Leyte. I returned to my outfit and didn’t recognize anyone except my captain and a first lieutenant; all my buddies had long gone. Several days later I was at the replacement depot and lo and behold, the USS President Monroe arrived in Leyte Gulf. We boarded immediately and left—the last time I would see any part of the Philippines. I spent four Christmases in the U.S. Army. The best Christmas of all was on the President Monroe. World War II had ended on August 15, 1945. We were headed for home. We were on the winning side. No more nightmares about the invasion of Japan, rumored to have been set for October 1, 1945. No more zigzagging across the Pacific Ocean. No more blackouts at night. California is our destination—full speed ahead. We were all counting our blessings. Life was good.

Special notice: Waldo “Doc” Fielding hits the century mark! (Did you know Doc was ping pong champion during his campus days?) A heads-up email from Dick Fleming ’53 alerted me to send a nice happy 100th birthday greeting from his buddies in the ’43 family. Doc’s wife, Anita Mackinnon, engineered a surprise gala celebration. More than 100 guests turned out on July 25 and enthusiastically sang “As the backs go tearing by….” The get-together was held at Linden Palms Retirement Center in Hingham, Massachusetts, where Doc and Anita live. As usual, Doc delivered. A huge wah-hoo-wah to all!

A hearty farewell to secretary Jean Francis, widow of Richard Francis ’38. I read her sentimental swan song in the July/August DAM. I always enjoyed her column from afar—and her Richard was one lucky fellow. Jean, take care and stay safe.

—George Shimizu, 2140 Sepulvida Ave., Milpitas, CA 94595; (408) 930-2488; marymariko@comcast.net