NEWS LETTER NO. 19
Dear Guys:
V-J Day has come and gone and it is hard to realize that after six years of war, peace has come at long last.
Many questions have been asked as to what the AFS is going to do now. The biggest job at the present time is to get all the men back from India. For this purpose, 60 Beaver Street will continue to function a long as the landlord will allow us to stay in this location. Should he decide that with the war over, he no longer wanted to donate this space, we will move to another office and carry on. An Association will then be formed with all members--- those of World War I and those of World War II paying dues. The attorneys are working on getting a Congressional Charter for the new organization, which will give it standing. It is hoped that a permanent Club can be established in New York, which will afford a meeting place for members of the organization throughout the coming years. Plans at the moment are in a sort of nebulous stage, but they are being worked on and as soon as a definite program has been formulated, all members will be notified. The main point we want to put across at this time is that the AFS is not going to "fold its tents like the Arabs and silently steal away." We will be doing business at the same old stand and will act as a clearing house to help with your post war problems.
Another question which seems to be foremost in the minds of all is "what ribbons is the AFS entitled to wear." We have been awarded the 1939-45 Star, the Italy Star, and the France-Germany Star and the Burma Star, and word has just been received that the men in the India Command have been awarded the Indian Defense Medal. Ridabock & Company, 420 Madison Avenue has a supply of the 1939-45 Star and the Burma Star ribbons. The Italy Star and the France Germany Star ribbons have been ordered, but have not, as yet come in. Ridabock will have them as soon as the manufacturer produces them. There will also be some available at Beaver Street if it ever arrives from London. It was sent quite awhile ago, but hasn't come as yet.
On May 18th, the War Department issued directive AG 33O.2 under the "Readjustment Regulations 1-1 War Department", which states that former AFS men now in the Armed Forces may count their time overseas with the AFS in the calculation of points for discharge from the Army. The Navy Department has also issued a directive stating that service in the AFS will count in figuring out points for discharge from the Navy. Selective Service has recently issued the following directive in regard to members of the AFS being classified 1-G (discharge from an Allied Army):
"Section 622.17 Class 1-G
Registrants who are members of, or are honorably separated from land or naval forces of co-belligerent nations; or registrants separated from American Field Service.
"Sub-paragraph (c)
In Class 1-G may be placed any registrant who, on or after September 16, 1940, has been separated from active duty with the American Field Service by a release indicating completion of satisfactory service, provided it is found that such a registrant should be relieved from any future consideration for classification into a class available for service because the registrant has already made a sufficient contribution to the war effort through his activity in the American Field Service."
The following letter has just been received:
"HEADQUARTERS U. S. MARINE CORPS
WashingtonSep 12 1945
Dear Sir:
The US Marine Corps recognizes, and counts in computation of points towards mobilization service in the American Field Service.
While the Marine Corps has never had direct contact with your splendid organizations the importance of your work is fully appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
(sgd) A.A. Vandegrift
General, U.S.M.C.
Commandant of the Marine Corps.Mr. Stephen Galatti, Director General,
American Field Service,
60 Beaver Street, N.Y. 4, N.Y."
John Harmon was inducted in the Army shortly after his return from overseas. He was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey, where he showed his service record to the O.C. who felt that John had already done his job. They held him at Dix for about ten days, and then released him. He is not entering Princeton where he and Mrs Harmon will make their home until John finishes College.
Those who have arrived since July 25th are as follows:
From 567 --- Coy Dick Barrett, Fred Chapman, Bob Kennedy, Ted LeBoutillier, John Harmon, Tom Barbour, Bob Barrel, Whit Bell, Arthur Ecclestone, Manning Field, Chan Keller, Norm Kunkel, Arthur Leahy, Bill Middleton, Steve Rowan, Richard Workman, Arnold Motz, George Carson, Neilson Bridger, Hoppe de la Plante, Dick Dickson, Charlie McCauley, Bert Payne, Lew Allen, Tim Briggs, Fred Hoeing, Brendon Jones, and Howard Terrell.
From Italy --- Hugh Lamberton, Howie Wells, Dan Adams, Wilbur Bernardi, Charlie Farnham, Arthur Beulen, Laurence Garland, John Ellinwood, George Barker, Roger Bardwell, William Berge; Âl Emmert, Sandy Eschweiler, David Fisher, Clifford Graves, Tom Henshaw, George Leins, Dana Richmond, Charlie Satterthwait, Joseph Schicker, Ronald Thorp, Russell Ashmun, Raymond Breit, Bob Coleman, Tom Dorrian, Prentiss Drew, Torn Ebener, Charlie (Fox) Edwards, Ed Ernest, Philip Gault, Jack Hobbs, Davy Hodgdon, Gordon Ingraham, Chan Ives, Bob Jones, Jack Leonard, Charles Lipsky, John Livermore, Norman MacDonald, Stuart McNabb, Paul Martin, Bill Merrill, Mike Moran, John North, George Pfau, Charlie Pratt, Harold Pummell, Bob Sullivan, Bill Thaw, Arthur Wheeler, Charlie White, Theodore Wood, Bill Phillips, Dick Ritter, Bob Simpson, Ralph Chandler, William Cantrall, Arthur Jeffress, Fred Meyers, Bill Perry and Dirck Roosevelt.
From France came Henry Fenwick, Day Brixey, Jim SaIinas, Henry Coster, Bill Simpson, Tom Greenough and Bev Chaney.
The Indians who arrived were Dinwiddie Smith, Fred Staples, Bob Dodds and George Cutaiar.
Bob Wadsworth was released to United Press, and Arthur Bolte has gone to UNNRRA
Everyone is now home from Europe with the exception of a few who stayed behind for other jobs with other organizations, or those who are winding up the AFS affairs. John Upson has remained overseas to compile data for the AFS History and Bill Phillips is doing the job at this end. If transportation can be secured, he will got to India and dig through the records of that theatre. John Nettleton, after four years overseas is at last on his way back to the States. He should arrive at any moment.
William B. Leeds, who was in charge of delivering 15 ambulances to the British troops in Kenya in 1940, and who generously supported the AFS when the Middle East Units were formed, has just been appointed Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur by the French Government, and was presented with the Croix de Lorraine by General deGaulle.
Jim Ullman's book, "The White Tower" which heads the Book of the Month Club for September is now on sale, It can be purchased through the AFS and on all copies we sell, the Service benefits in a monetary way,.The profit we make on the book, will be held for the new association.
Doings of other AFSers. Charlie Shoneman is the first AFS veteran to obtain a release from the Army because of points accumulated while in the AFS. Carl Curtis stops in GHQNY enroute to Tahiti; Ed Pattullo is now a Lieutenant in the 13 F.F. Rifles in India. Thane Riney a Lieutenant in U.S. Army assigned to the Transportation Division; Ed Zittell, Corporal in a Medical Detachment somewhere overseas; Bill Callahan in U.S. Army, 10th Army Headquarters; Fred Rath in Aiborne group just back from overseas now at Camp Campbell, Kentucky. Conrad Brown, also in Airborne group just returned from overseas stops in at Headquarters enroute to a Camp in Colorado; Jim Kirkaldy in ARC, Ship's Service Division. May meet some of you returning AFSers on the dock when you get back. Bob Herbert at Williams College. Rinky Mann going to Yale; Bill Edwards, John Horton Mark Ethridge John Mounts, Fred Fenhagen, Bob Campbell, and Bob Dodds all at Princeton; Hugh Crumpler, War Correspondent somewhere in the Pacific; Ed Railsback, in PWB, now back in the States; Joel Melcher, working for J.W. Robinson Co. in California expects to be married sometime this fall; Buz Shaw, at Bronson Field, Pensacola, Florida; Jerry Scott at Harvard; Charlie MacDonald in Army Air Force, now at Lowry Field, Denver, Colorado; Ed Libber working in Teheran, Persia. Lindsay Baldwin, in U.S. Army as an M.P. in charge of the Calcutta jail. Some job, Lindsay!! Hope you'll take care of any AFSers if they stray your way. Lewis Brandt, Private in U.S. Army somewhere in the Pacific; Jim Doubleday to be ordained a minister of the Episcopalian Church at Salem, Massachusetts, sometime this month; Dave Emery working in the Psychology Department of M.I.T. Harry Donner at Harvard. Harry was recently married and is living at Cambridge, as is Dave Emery. Bill Gordon working for the Harvard Underwater Sound Laboratory; Jim Newton, working at one of the war laboratories at M.I.T.; Ed Munce with the I. S.B., at present in Saltzburg; John Huntington teaching at Milton Academy.
The American Veterans Committee has issued an open invitation for everyone in the AFS to join this organization. If you are at all interested, you may write to the Headquarters of the American Veterans Committee, 554 Madison Avenue, New York 22, N.Y.
When the baggage room in Naples was cleared out, there was a watch found. It bears the inscription "W.H.C.". I have contacted the men in the ÂFS with those initials, but to date have not found the owner. Will someone please step forward and claim this piece of jewelry, before it gets lost again.
Hotie Metcalf and Bill Middleton are hard at work in AFSGHQNY compiling a roster of the AFS membership. As it requires a good deal of "digging", it will take time to get it out. However, as soon as it is completed, it will be sent to all members, so you can keep in touch with each other.
Recent AFS weddings are Paul Rodgers and Marjorie Welter on August 3rd; Bill Stump middle-aisled it with Joyce Morrill on July 24th; Ruth Heyann became Mrs. Donald Fruchey on July 22nd. Bill Drew and Irene Rosta were married on July 30th. Doug Allen and Nancy Stevens were married on August 25th with Pat Harrington as best man, and Fred Finkenstaedt and the Allen Brothers acting as ushers. From all accounts it was a real AFS wedding. Bill Browning was married on August 16th in Rome to Jordice Gigstad of the American Red Cross. Elizabeth Miller will become Mrs. Charles Loiseaux on September 29th. Mason Bowen recently announced his engagement to Jean Gurney, as has Jay Guenther to May Ferry in the financial department.
The baggage room in Naples has been cleared out and tons of baggage is now on its way to the States. Jay Guenther is handling it here in Headquarters until the end of September, and will let you know just as soon as any word about your gear comes in. It takes about a month to turn up some place in the U.S. and another two weeks to get from the port of embarkation to your homes, so all you need is patience.
Other AFSers working in Headquarters are Joe Latham in the Public Relations Department and Arnold Motz in Finance. Arnold leaves for his home tomorrow, but he has been invaluable help to us during the past six weeks.
Many of you will remember Harry Laiser, who was with the AFS in the Middle East. A short time ago he died very suddenly and leaves a widow and a step-son, Bill Randall who also served in the Field Service.
We are having quite a bit of trouble reaching some of you. When you move to a new location, will you be good enough to send us your address, so that our records may be correct at all times.
This month marks the Sixth Anniversary of the American Field Service in this War. The Headquarters Staff is giving a party for members of the AFS at the Clubhouse on 51st Street on the evening of September 29th. It is just for members of this war who are in and around New York. At a later date, there will be a reunion of all AFS members both of this war and those of World War I. We are sending invitations only to those who are in the Metropolitan District but if any of you should be in New York on Saturday, September 29th, do drop in for a drink.
On September 10th, President Truman wrote to Mr. Galatti as follows:
"The impressive record of the American Field Service in the saving of thousands of lives both in this war and in World War I has won the admiration of everyone who has seen this organization in action.
"From 1914 until the end of the first World War the members of the American Field Service serving voluntarily and largely at their own expense, made an enviable name for themselves because of their loyal devotion to duty and their valorous conduct under fire.
"Reorganized September 29, 1939, the American Field Service again resumed its task of rescuing the wounded on the battlefields of Africa, Italy and France. The many decorations awarded its members and the high casualty rate incurred are eloquent evidence that the organization has lived up to the high traditions it established in the last war.
"On the occasion of your sixth anniversary in this war, I voice the gratitude of the nation for the outstanding contribution the American Field Service has made in aiding the wounded soldiers who fought for our Allied Victory."
This seems to be all the griff from this part of the world at the moment. Do keep in touch with us and we'll do our best to keep you informed of all the news and doings of the AFS.
Everyone here sends you his best.
Sincerely yours,
Lilian A. Gordon