Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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0N From Lt. Bannie LaFon Stewart AS, instructor in the Naval train ing school at Noroton Heights, Conn.: "Guess the war situation is sort of scattering good Carolina men over the face of the earth. With this war now going on one never knows where or when his assign ment will be changed. I am very glad that our ring is distinctive, as it is easy to recognize a Carolina man who wears one and that means something when you are far away from home. a "I am receiving the mailings from a the Alumni office, and really it " doeo my heart good to read of the ' happenings there at the old school. P The names of the faculty, such as pi A Is It Worthwhile? ci BY RALPH LEWIS Alumni notes in this issue are yl devoted to quotations from Caro- b lina men in various branches of ti military service who are trying to N think through-and fight through- f< the problems of war and peace, of life and death, of Carolina. b< Prom the literally thousands of t responses received by the Alumni s< , Office, it is obvious that Carolina "I men in uniform want news of the fi University and their fellow alumni. ai Our boys like to receive mail, and al they like to write. Correspondence with men in the service has increased by leaps and bounds. The Alumni Office writes more personal letters, and sends copies of The Gamecock, news let ters, leaflets, other publications, al clippings, stickers-anything to k maintain close relationship with our P boys who wear the uniforms. L Our mailing list of men in the service is growing rapidly; and as men-and women--of Carolina be come more widely scattered * throughout al of the continents and ali of the seas, alumni publications, and particularly alumni records (ours are still far from adequate) become more important in creating t and holding good will; our alumni a cannot be reached now through 0 state newspapers. E Is it worth while to keep in touch with the former students? Does M the continuing interest of Alma Mater contribute anything at all to the morale of our men in the ser vice? Would a concentrated, ade- 0 quate alumni effort help to hold - alumni interest and understanding t for the days immediately ahead, or t for those that lie beyond? In this issue a few of the alumni t in the armed forces write their own editorials. V McKissick, Baker, Bradley, Jack son, Coker, Chase, etc., strike a most responsive note with me. a Often I wish I could drop in and have a chat with my many friends. h "In my capacity as officer-in- t charge of the Reserve Officer school 1 for communications I have had sev 'eral hundred young officers underV instruction and supervision. Among ~ them have been several Carolina men. I am very glad to say that Carolina men usually stand out v among those officers sent here for I instruction. At present there are three here, Ensign Clyde Elton ni * Pugh (A'41). Ensign John Matthew g Turner (A'39, L'41), and Ensign c Carlton Whitely Hartnes., (A'40." k4 (Alumni office note: Hartness is c e now more than 3000 miles from b here). Cpl. Christopher (Kit) Fitz- ' Simons, III, C'40, G'41, school of commerce instructor first semester v of this session, and ubiquitous man ager of sports in general while a a student at the university, writes t from Florida: t "Just a note to say hello. As you I know, I'm in the army now, quarter-- C master detachment, Drew field, b Tampa, Fla. I'm working in the pur chasing and contracting office. f< Haven't run across anything hard d yet, but I can't quite get used to 11 army hours. I'm about to fall e asleep now and it's only 10:30. c a "Do me a favor and tell every- t< body hello. Also please try to let tl me in on most of the news about ni good ole U. S. C. It's still the best a 'I place in the world in my estimation v and always will be." f A/C 'Olin Kenneth McDonald, A'41, twice Southern Conference I boxing champion while a Carolina v student, visited the campus recently fi before reporting to the Air Corps advanced flying school at Midland, fi Texas. He was formerly stationed is __ at Maxwell field, Alabama. Cadet 'I j McDonald writes to the Alumni of- p flce about every ten days. His last letter states: i "Our class will finish here and I get urcommissions sometime with- t In the next seven weeks. We're a studying the construction of the c bomb sight and automatic pilot, and r xraduation Moved 1p; Alumni Day Is dso Held Earlier Monday, May 25, Is Set For Gathering Of Grads At A Reunion Luncheon Commencement and Alumni Day tve been moved up this year in line ith the University's war program, i4 to allow more time for the grad iting seniors who are going into -med forces to spend with their irents at home. The baccalaureate sermon is to be -eached on Sunday, May 24, and lumni Day and the graduation exer ses will fall on Monday, May 25. The reunion classes (those of !ars ending in two and seven) are -ing encouraged to sit together at e General Reunion Luncheon on [onday, May 25, and then meet in >rmally in the afternoon. Details of the alumni program will announced within a few days. "In e meantime," added Ralph Lewis, cretary of the Alumni Association, tlan now to attend this never-to-be )rgotten reunion of your University id learn of Carolina's war program id the distribution of the alumni." iawkins Promoted kt Army Air Field William B. Hawkins, son of Mr. id Mrs. W. B. Hawkins, c/o Flaw ins & Bethea, Dillon, S. C., has been romoted from the rank of Second icutenant to First Lieutenant, it as announced today by his com anding officer at Gunter Field, [ontgomery, Ala. Lieutenant Hawkins joined the Air orps in March, 1941 and helps keep m flying now as Director of Ground raining, Trial Judge Advocate, and te Officer in charge of instruction : Gunter Field, a basis flying school F the vast Southeast Air Corps raining Center, where American and ritish aviation cadets win their ings. Lieutenant Hawkins was graduated om Davidson College, Davidson, orth Carolina, and the University F South Carolina, Columbia. racticing bombing. We are sworn 3 be very secretive about our ac lal work, and there are plenty of 3-Men' in the neighboring towns 3 see that we don't talk. So there's ot much I can tell you about our rork." Lt. John Mayer (Jack) Hendley, '42. writes that he and Bob Clarke, oth recent draftees, are stationed tbasic school, Marine Barracks, [avy Yard, in Philadelphia. "Now eing classified as alumni rather ian student, we would like to join te Alumni association and are for rarding you three dollars each on ur first pay day," writes Alumnus [endley. Lt. Jack Orris Brown, A'40, rrote the Alumni office from father field, Sacramento, Calif.: "Thank you for your recent com iunication. It would give me a reat deal of pleasure to act as your ontact man for every alumnus I now about in the service. Hope I an make the class reunion in June, ut heaven only knows where I'll e stationed then I" Lt. Brown is ow at Hendricks field, Florida. Pvt. Frank Antony Blasi, A'31, rrites from Fort Bragg: "I have met some Carolina boys t points where I have been sta oned, and they showed me a swell me--among them Jimmy Porter, fyrtle Beach; Dr. John Assey, 'f ~eorgetown; also one of the Correll rothers from Columbia." And from former engineering pro ~ssor Thomas Fauntleroy Ball, 15, who is engaged in instructing iidshipmen in the fundamentals of lectrical engineering at Annapolis, omes word that he won't be aible > make Alumni Day this year but iat "there is nothing I should like tore than to be able to drop in nd pow-wow with you. Give my rarm regards to all my friends and rmer colleagues at Carolina." Pvt. Stanley Edward (Jeen) rose, A'43, of New York city, now pith military intelligence, writes ~om somewhere in the war theatre: "Rising senior when drafted-will nish up at Carolina when all this over, no matter how long it takes. 'hangs a million for keeping me osted." From Mrs. G. F. Roberts, of Lex 1gton, mother of Lt. George Franklin Roberts, A'39, comes word hat her son and our alumnus "was t Hickman field on the morning f the attack", and that "he enjoys eadingr the Carolina papers." Seniors Heads( Above art the three seniors who are Bill Bray, chairman for the boy Taylor, general chairman. Train Of Strani Letter From Al Form letters usually get sterio typed results. But one recently turned out by the Alumni office of the Ui versity of South Carolina brought an innovation that is being enjoyed half way around the world. One of the original letters was ad dressed to a graduate who is now "sway out West". Besides calling for the routine alumni membership re newal, the letter suggested that each member contact two grads not on the active list and give them the two ex tra forms enclosed, to be returned to the Alumni office for active member ship in the association. The western alumnus realized that, living so far from his university, he was not likely to chance upon a Caro linian, or, that if he did, he would have to travel many miles to do so. But he also remembered vividly shirt tail parades and bon-fires, of waiting "till next year" after the Carolina Clemson classic, of wading over to chapel before Dr. Babcock's initials Tracey Carlisle Johnson, A'41, U.S. Navy, writes from somewhere in the war zone that "it is surprising to me to see the number of alumni in the service on the West Coast, in Panama and the Islands." From Lt. Col. Edward Perry Passailaigue, L'15, of Sweetwater, Tenn., conmes the observation that "whether run by Demogats or Re publicans, our country is the best place in the world in which to live. May wve be eternally vigilant and unremitting in Our chULet opc vent the spread of every 'ism' ex cept true Americanism, to the end that the United States will be even a still better place for those who will follow us." And from Pvt. Henry Dumas Turner, A'41, G'42, who was drafted from the student body a few weeks ago conmes this message: "It is absolutely impossible to express the extreme feeling of pleas ure I enjoyed when the Gamecock arrived at Baer field yesterday. I felt as if a huge package of all the better things had arrived. I read all the articles over and over again for in them I found peace in rem iniscing. There is no letter that can express the full story of the univer sity as the Gamecock does. I did not know, for instance, that we were state champions in basketball until the Gamecock arrived. I do love Carolina dearly and thrilled alwvays to get news from there. There are so many pleasant thoughts in my mind now as I think over the editorials and all of the alumni notes. They do mean so much to us here away from our family environment. "There is no place where they have anywhere near the democratic ideals that we have there at the university. Carolina is the finest example of what we're fighting for, The work is good because it is here that I feel able to do the most in times like these. The people here are nice to us, but I do get lone some for 'you all' and 'over yonder.' "I am sending you $1.00 to help the Alumni association. It isn't a drop in the bucket, but it helps to express my appreciation. You will see, too, of course, that that amount from twenty-one dollars a month is quite a bit. "Thanks lots for your thoughtful ness. I shall always remember it with deep gratitude. Alumni news will make many a day more enjoy able. Keep Carolina moving and krcep the gonrd news comingal" To Ge )f Senior Fund Coi are heading the drive for a senio ' committee, Marie Montague foi :e Events Begi umni Office A were made into immortal mortar, and frnally of walking up for his diploma that hot June day, wearing an exag gerated form of black kimona, try ing to look sophisticated though "bored with it all" and feeling wist ful and slightly nervous about what was to conic next. So in his return envelope he simply enclosed a check for two extra mem berships and a note suggesting'that they be dealt out to "alumni who pos sibly cannot afford to buy their own memberships." "They might well be two non-com missioned men recently called to ac tive duty," the alumni secretary sug gested. "That's perfect," replied the alum nius. The note touched a Lewisonian chord that soon set the alumni office vibrating. Files were checked, a pri vate and a seaman now stationed at listant posts, but within mailing reach, were chosen, and letters went out tell Benjamin Martin Polayes, A'39, now in Australia well remembered as the Gamecock handiman on Wednesday nights, writc-: "I am indeed happy to hear from my ahna niate. One finds it quite hard to get along on thirty dollars a month, but I cannot think of a better way to put money to better use than to join the Alumni associ ation. I like to keep in contact wvith the University and hope you will help me to do so." Alumnus I Admiral W. H. Allen Ensign Orin Lang Hogon, Jr., A'89, L'41, in a letter passed by naval censor, wvrites: "I think it is swell of you and the Alumni association to send the school publication to the Carolina boys who are in the service. Some times the copies get to me rather late, but I enjoy them just as much as I used to when I picked up my copy in the canteen. "I certainly miss being away from Carolina this year after spending six and a half wonderful years there. Thanks again for the papers; they certainly mean a lot to me. Best personal regards to you and my friends at Carolina." Pvt. William DavId Dworkln, '40, writes that he is now "engaged in preserving democracy for posterity" and that he would like to be kept posted on UTniversity affair. 1NI t Memt mittee fund, and alumni members. They the girls' committee, and Walter in By A Form : University ing the two that they had again been selected by a group of their friends and neighbors, but this time for mem bership in their Alumni association to fight in "the battle of Carolina." The response was grateful. One letter said in part: "Your letter and The Gamecock arrived by dog-team mail last night after twenty-seven days' journey. Nothing could give me so much pleasure as news of the University and my alumni friends plus the knowledge that I am on the active alumni list. I know you must have thousands of letters to write and it is gratifying to know that you can still find the time to write me a gen uinely personal letter. "I'm sending, in care of the Alumni office. a letter to (the alujimnu who provided the extra memberships, but prefer that his name not be men tioned), and, since I don't know his address, I wish you would forward it for me. I hope that some clay I can meet and talk with , for I Pvt. Isaac Franklin Redwine, A'40, in chemical warfare service, writes: J U L w I i l L U p a y My 1 C b C 'Sy c L u the faculty and to officers and mem bers of the Alumni association, and to say that this is not such a bad war after all, and that we boys hope to finish things up and be home shortly." Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Earl Bolt, A'15, now in Berkeley, Calif., writes: "Human nature has changed lit ile in twenty-five years, but the world seems so much smaller now that I have spent many years of nomadic life in the navy rambling over oceans, visiting foreign coun tries and islands of the seas. Despite all the wvars and man-made troubles that fall upon the earth, I have not lost hope that somehow, sometime, in the not distant future, humanity will pull itself up out of the slough of inhumanity that has bogged it down since time immemorial." Pvt. Otto Frederic Hogan, Jr., A'41, writes from Scott field, Ill.: "I have only four more months to go now, and I'll graduate from this 'radio operator' course. After graduation I'll probably he stationed on a bomber as a radio operator. I am looking forward, with eager ness, to the time the pilot wvill ask for bearings from me." Pvt. Dove Henry Pate, C'30, writes from Fort Warren, Wyo.: "Am studying here a course in quartermaster work and if I conm plete the course, will be commis sioned a secondl lieutenant. "Awfully sorry to be forced to be away from Carolina during grad uation of the 1042 class but wish for each of the graduates of the class much success in his life after school." From Midshipman James Middle ton (Jim) Ravenel, at the U. S. Naval Academy, comes this news that will startle many at Carolina: "Since September I've taken trig (plane and spherical), algebra, plane and solid analytical geometry, descriptive geometry, mechanical drawing, equivalent of one year of chemistry, English composition and literature, and Spanish, and at pres ent we're taking calculus, physics, metallurgy, English, Spanish, be sides drills in ordnance, seamanship, navigation, physical training and in fantry. "Since the four-year course has been shortened to three years, by June I shall have taken an equiva FRC )erships New Price Of $1 Is Offered '42 Class Ralph Lewis, executive secretary of he Alumni Association has announced that all seniors are to be offered free membership in the alumni association for one year. Lewis and Walter Taylor, president f the senior class, worked out a plan providing the seniors with member ;hip upon contributing one dollar to a .lass fund. The fund will be used to )urchase some gift for the University, :>r as a class fund to help finance its 7irst reunion. Bill Bray is chairman for the boys, and Marie Montague is chairman for the girls in the drive for a senior fund. Taylor is general chairman. Membership in the association, which ordinarily costs three dollars, provides for the alumni mailings of rhe Gamecock, the Alumni News, the University News Letter, and other mailings of interest to former stu dents. The association also aids alumni in finding positions. As members in the association, sen iors will, upon graduatign. have an or ganization serving as I link between them and Carolina. Membership reached a new high this year. am very grateful. I'm sending you an American dollar to express my ap preciation to the Alumni association. The amount is so small only because I'm still getting only twenty-one dol lars a month, but I hope it will help send alumni news to someone else as it was sent to me. And maybe I can do more for Carolina after we return from Berlin !" Upon receiving the "thank you" let ter which was forwarded by the cen tral alumni office, the civilian grad uate wrote: "I have just received from - a letter that I am enclos ing to you, for you should know how much happiness we have caused this alumnus. Please return the lettei to me. because I want to keep it. "I think it is a fine idea and when the next membership fees are due, I shall be happy to again provide Alum ni memberships for as many as I can afford." lent of two years in any university. So you can see that they're really rushing us through and giving us In a newsy letter Alumnus Rav enel writes also: "You can rest assured that you have, at all times, my wholehearted support, even though I'm not a pay ing mernber-for only one reason, and that is that our cash allowance is so small that we just do get by without any added outside expenses. "I wouldn't take anything for the twvo years I spent at Carolina. I guca8s they were the two happiest years of my life." From Cpl. James Robert Dickie (Dick) Anderson, A'42, young alum nuis who left school soon after the att:rck on Pearl Harbor and volun teered his services because he thought "My old uncle is in a tough fight and needs me at Tokyo," comes this typical note: "Hi, Ralph. This army is O.K. Only marking time until I hit the Pacific!,' Ensign Joseph Davis Miot, Jr., A'34, thinks it is "a great idea and a great service to the boys in the armed forces" to send them news of Carolina and their alumni friends. (Alumnus Miot is to be married to Miss Edwina Fitler, of Rosemiont, Conn., on June (6. Confidentially, the Alumni office has learned from Michael L. (Mike) Browne, C'S3, of Haverford, Pa. that Miss Fitler is "a very charming Yankee"). Pvt. Robert Franklin (Cotton) Lindsay, A'38, now stationed at Scott field, Ill., writes: "Since I enlisted in December, I've movedl rather fast--Fort Mc Pherson, Shepherd field (Texas), and then here to radio school. Army life has been very nice. I don't knowv where I'm going from here, but here's hoping that it's where I can do the most good and may I get where there's plenty of action." And from Mrs. Bruce Hiers, mother of Pfc. Thornwood Duncan (Poss) Hiers, A'37, of Walterboro, comes word that Alumnus Hiers "is overseas in Great Britain" and that news from Carolina "is appre ciated each week." A/C Jasper Cox Moore, A'39, stationed at Bennettsville, sends the news that he knows many Carolina friends in military service, "but so many have been moved so rapidly that I don't know any of their ad dresses at present." (Alumni office note: We estiate tat befrthisn )NT week's alumni notes reach Cadet Moore addresses of more than 300 former students will have changed). A/C William Godfrey (Dick) Hyrne, Jr., C'44, writes from U. S. naval air station, Jacksonville, Fla.: "It means a lot to get that Game :ock each week. We also need more Carolina men in this branch of the service; so you might send some of them along while you're at it." Seaman Clay D. (Bud) Alex ander, A'36, U. S. N., writes from Norfolk, Va.: "It's tough as Hell, and it takes a Gamecock to stand it-but I haven't been seasick yet; so, let the Gamecock crow!" Mrs. Philip H. Arrowsmith, of Florence, writes: "I am mailing news of Carolina to my son, En sign Philip Heller Arrowsmith, L'41, in the naval reserve stationed at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and I know lie will be most happy to re ceive it and be able to keep up with is classmates. He finds the weather very warni, but likes South America and his work tremendously." From Pvt. Fred Morse Weiss nan, A'36, of Philadelphia, comes: "I appreciate and enjoy reading ilumni news that you have been sending me; it brings back precious memories. "Since I left Carolina I had been ttending medical school at the Uni versity of Edinburgh in Scotland. I iad been coming back each summer For my vacation, and when I re turned to the states in June, 1939, 1 was unable to get my passport vali lated to return in the fall,Odue to the outbreak of war in Europe. "I was inducted into the army on April 11, 1942, and am taking my basic training at Camp Lee, Va." From Ensign Carroll Marion Crouch, A'40, clo Postmaster, New York, comes: "I appreciate the Gamecock very much. It certainly keeps me in formed." Brig. Gen. Emile Phillips Moses, A'00, U. S. Marine Corps, Parris Island, writes to express appreci ation for the University autq-nobile plate which he likes very mudn, and to state: "My cup of happiness was full when we beat Clemson and over flowing after the Furman victory." From Lt. Stanley Bear Morse, E'40, now at Camp Gordon, Ga., comes a good newsy letter and as surance that "I plan to be an active member from now on out and will cooperate with you to the best of my ability in aiding Carolina". From Rear Admiral William Henry Allen, A'98, Honorary LL.D. '41, Commandant of the sixth naval district, Navy Yard, Charleston, S. C., have come many expressions of interest and the assurance that 'i at any time I can be of assistance to you or to the Alumni association I shall gladly do whatever I can to help out." Despite his heavy duties in the war effort, Admiral Allen follows carefully not only the activities of the Naval R.O.T.C. unit, in which lie is vitally interested, but all other activities of the University and of the Alumni association.-He wrote the Alumni office some months ago: "As an alumnus of the University, it is most gratifying to me to see this interest (to recruit young alum nii for the proposed 'University of South Carolina Flying Gamecocks' naval aviation unit) being taken in furthering naval aviation and the honorable record of the University of South Carolina. I am sincerely interested in your effort. "As you know, it is the purpose of the Navy department to recruit these young men as a unit and train them as a unit, and wherever practical, after they go into service, keep them together. The name 'flying Gamecocks' seems to be very appropriate and I sincerely hope that it will create an interest in the unit which will enhance its efficiency. "I shall, of course, do everything possible to assist the Alumni as sociation in this endeavor." From Lt. Ira Farnum (Dutch) Willard, A'88, of Union, now at Camp Lee, Va., comes a request for "names and addresses, if you have any, of Carolina men at Camp Lee." A brief communication from En sign George Herman Dieter, Jr., A'41, active member of the Associ ation, indicates that he, Lt. James Gooding Thomas, A'88, L'40; En sign Lee Jacob Baker, A'40; and Ensign Dan Pendaruis, C'S7, get to gether occasionally in the Canal Zone to hold a Carolina reunion and discus, news of the university and their alumni friends.