As we returned to Hanover for the winter term with attention still focused on the residual effects of the Cuban Missile Crisis, The Daily D reported that the first large engagement involving U.S. Army advisors had taken place on January 2, 1963, near the small village of Ap Bac, just southwest of Saigon. A large force of South Vietnamese troops and their advisors, using American armored personnel carriers and assisted by helicopters flown by American pilots, attacked a Viet Cong communications post. Having underestimated the enemy strength and willingness to fight, the South Vietnamese walked into an ambush. Three Americans were killed and eight more wounded in the engagement in which five helicopters were shot down and several more damaged. The Battle of Ap Bac signaled a new phase in the Vietnam conflict that would affect so many of our classmates. 


Domestically, many of the issues that still confront us were apparent. On January 8 President and Jackie Kennedy attended the opening of the exhibition of daVinci’s Mona Lisa at Washington’s National Gallery, continuing their effort to promote cultural events. At the other extreme, on January 14 George Wallace was sworn in as governor of Alabama, promising “segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever.” The next day the president, in his State of the Union address, asked Congress to lower income taxes, particularly for the lowest brackets, to stimulate the economy. On a purely local note The D announced that Jens Sorensen had won the $50 prize for his design of “Fang,” chosen for the Winter Carnival sculpture, embodying the theme of “The Ice Menagerie.” Jens was quoted as saying he had submitted the drawing of his pet so he could “get him out of his room during Carnival,” a sentiment we could all embrace.


Congratulations to Jim Aiken, who received a 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Vermont College of Medicine. The award recognized Jim’s extraordinary career as a research scientist and educator.


Twenty ’65s and their families enjoyed a very special mini-reunion in Hanover in October. French and Bob McConnaughey hosted a reception at their newly restored historic home in Thetford, Vermont. Everyone enjoyed this year’s spectacular fall foliage. The next morning the setting moved to the Nugget for a private preview of Steve Waterhouse’sfeature documentary film, Passion for Snow, toward which our class has worked. The movie is based on the book Passion for Skiing, which features segments by Steve, Roger Hansen, Dick Durrance, Stu Keiller,the late Doug Leitch, Roger Urban and other classmates. After a successful tailgate, organized by Jane and George Wittreich, everyone gathered at Pierce’s Inn for dinner, followed by an impromptu session of singing around the fireplace, accompanied by Jim Griffiths on piano and John Rogers and Rick Leach on guitar. It brought back lots of memories of the best days in Hanover. Steve Fowler’s presentation about the planning for our 50th Reunion, scheduled for June 11-16, 2015, engendered excited discussion. Save the dates now and plan to attend!


Please send me a note about what you have been doing.


—Tom Long, 1056 Leigh Mill Road, Great Falls, VA 22066; (703) 759-4255; tomlong@erols.com