Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

Page 32 text:

7 WAR History of the Class of 1945 It was May, 1943, when brother rats parted two years too early. Following the fare- wells were a hectic two weeks of trying to get everything civilian life had to offer before climbing into a G. I. uniform, instead of grays. Most of us did just that, but fourteen of us miraculously found our way back to the Institute when it opened June 9, or soon thereafter. Talk about change! Regular G. I. suntans instead of blouses and ducks; rats and upper- classmen at a ratio of four to one; rooming on the first stoop a year early; every brother rat a sergeant; barracks overflowing with A. S. T. cadets; parade once a week; full first-class privileges including one week-end a month; more dykes per room than were needed or even wanted. That ' s the way matters stood. Later in the summer another Forty-Fiver came rolling back to barracks from the Army: he was followed at length by another. Then in the fall a couple of the brothers came back in the guise of A. S. T. cadets. Most of the Class of ' 45 still at the Institute are Pre-]Meds; eleven to be exact. Of the others there are four Civils, one Electrical, and no regular Chemists. The Pre-Meds became cross-eyed from looking through microscopes so constantly, and developed a haunted look from finning out in the Chemistry Building. The Civils and the Electricals had troubles all their own since they went to class with the A. S. T. The main result of such classes was the limiting of their Christmas furlough to three days. The entire class comprised the Second Class Finance Committee. It was a lot of work but a lot of fun, too. We undertook some mighty enterprises, little caring how much like warehouses our rooms looked. In December our all-officer class reverted to the old tried and true system of haves and have-nots. We are again at a crossroads; a repetition in miniature of May, 1943, in that more mem- bers of our class are leaving the Institute for armed service, while still fewer than now will remain to represent us. We laughed when Colonel Couper told us to look at the man on our right and on our left, since they wouldn ' t be there at the class graduation. It ' s a good thing a few of the fellows sat by themselves at that moment, so that they can carry on for ' 45.

Page 31 text:

BOMB Morton Collowhill Wilhelm HOANOKE, VIRGINIA Pre-Medical Cavalry Corporal (3); Sergeant (i); Second Lieutenant (1); Wrestling (4); Track (■ , 3, 2); Second Class Finance Committee (i); Hop Committee (1); Virginia Academy of Science (1); Monogram Clul) (2, 1); Baptist Club (1). A serious-minded Pre-Med, M. C. has shown himself a good business man in his careful handling of the Hop Committee funds this year. An ardent track man, he won the Cross-Country intra- mural run, and continually helped B Company in the other intramurals. His diligent work and serious attitude are admired by all those who know him.

Page 33 text:

BOMB THE SECOND CLASS OFFICERS Tracy H. McCarlet President Charles E. McKay Vice President John C. Wilkinson Historian