Bloomington High School - Gothic Yearbook (Bloomington, IN)

Page 10 text:

LT. COLONEL DONALD L. SIMON Lt. Colonel Donald L. Simon, principal of Bloom- ington High School, was called to active duty in the Army Air Corps July 1942. We give you his personal Message to the Students written after a surprise visit to the school on Sunday morning, April 2. A MESSAGE TO THE STUDENTS Recently I visited the Bloomington High School. You were not there, as it was Sunday morning. M1'. Binford accompanied me on a tour through the buildings. How pleased I was to see the progress you have made! I longed to be back in the principal's office-to share again with you the pride that comes from feeling that THIS IS MY SCHOOL! During the two years I have been on active duty with the Army Air Forces, you have modernized the office, established a Little Theatre, expanded the library facilities, and installed additional machinery in the shops-to mention only a few improvements in physical equipment. An examination of the program of studies reveals that revisions have been instituted to keep the curriculum in step with trends influenced by the war. From reports in the newspapers I am aware of your activities in support of community projects, such as the purchase of War Bonds and Stamps and over-subscribing to the Red Cross. I am happy in the realiza- tion that the students of the Bloomington High School are making a worthy contribution to the war effort. To the Seniors, I extend congratulations. As the day of graduation approaches your minds turn to the question: What can we do to serve? In spite of your enthusiasm I sincerely hope this war will be over before you have had a chance to make the supreme sacrifice. Young men and women, just like the 1944 graduates of B. H. S-., will be needed in the years ahead to help our communities adjust to peacetime living and to see that those graduates and former students who have given their lives shall not have died for a lost cause. I pray that you may know happiness, DONALD L. SIMON Lt. Colonel, AC tPrincipal on Leave? prosperity, and peace.

Page 9 text:

MMM ,Q ivy MMM if gf cw NLM B W9 ' J S fwy JWiffwyi6U?QNff I fwdfg QJQNNJU Wd M W Nye? aff ' Qofllic of 1944 EDITO IN'-CHIEF I K9 HIL DUNCAN Assoo1A TE EDITOR TV IM GRIFFITH , BUSINESS MANAGER WILMA JEAN .5110 M V

Page 11 text:

- The type of American boy Gerry Kisters is, un- ,Et getty rfcisfefzs The Senior Class of 1944 pays tribute to a gallant member of the Class of '37, Lieutenant Gerry Kisters. Lieutenant Kisters is the first soldier in World War II to receive both the Distinguished Service Cross and the Congressional Medal of Honor. He also is the recipient of the Purple Heart. During action in the Tunisian campaign, Kisters annihilated an 88- caliber field piece that was directing murderous fire at Allied troops. He escaped unscathed and later participated in the Sicilian campaign. In Sicily, single-handed, he wiped out two German machine gun nests with grenades, killed three Nazis, captured four more and caused one to flee in terror. It was during this attack that he was injured. Seven German bullets entered his body-five of them inflicting serious wounds. Lieutenant Kisters, who has been called the Sergeant York of World War II, attended high school at Houghton Lake, Michigan, for three years and then came to Bloom- ington where he graduated with the Class of '37, changed by his citations, honors and notoriety, was sin- cerely portrayed in his simple statement concerning his own post-war plans: After this war, I'm coming back to Bloomington to take over the fur business so that my dad can retire. He deserves it.