Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery - Dental Columbian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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Back Ron; left to right: A. Kirven Gilbert. Jr., Jerome H. Perry, Edward P. Kessler Front Row, left to right: Stephen R. Berber, Gunnar E. E. Svdow, Robert B. Finder Back Row, left to right: Richard Gliedman. Leonard J. L. Lai, Carmine M. Fasano Front Row, left to right: Monroe M. Gliedman, Mat- thew G. Guido. Carmine A. Carucci Back Row, left to right: Thomas E. Samuels, Joseph C. De Lisi, David N. Mason. Jr. Front Row, left to right: Louis V. De Francesco, Morvia T. Helmer. Alfred B. Moglia Back Ron: left to right: Robert H. Van Buren. Norman C. Falevitch. Daniel Glass Front Row, left to right: Marvin Firdman. Norman H. Leefer. Harry S. Kessler

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Classes

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Class History •FROM HERE TO ETERNITY A NOVEL IN FOUR PARTS Part I This is a war story, the story of a platoon — thirty men thrown together by chance from all four corners of the globe, a story that strips bare the emotions of man. It all began on a quiet September morning in 1948 when we reported for duty on the seventh floor of the Vanderbilt Clinic wing. After filling out the usual pile of forms we reported to the supply sergeant and were is- sued our kits — each kit containing the basic essentials for survival — a vise, root canal files, one empty bottle, and a nail brush. From there we proceeded to the briefing room where General Ike gave us a few words of encourage- ment: Boys, D(entistry) day isn ' t far off. You are now entering a period of intensive basic training. From here on you will eat, sleep and breathe dentistry. You all have been carefully selected for this mission. Good luck and good hunting. As we marched out of the room we were all tense with emotion. Did we have what it takes? Would we falter under fire? Only time would tell. As we passed by upperclassmen, we couldn ' t help but admire those combat-seasoned veterans, old for their years with that quiet look of courage about their eyes. They knew what it was like up front — in the clinic. So we began our year of training — Anat- omy, Histology, Physiology. They called them the basic sciences. We learned how to take apart a kymograph blindfolded. Intensive study of maps was undertaken in Neuro- anatomy. We were able to locate the vital centers in the dark. We learned amphibious tactics in Embrvology, and secret weapons like salamanders with feet grow ing out of their heads. Poisonous gases were manufactured in Biochemistry, and in Anatomy we became adept at handling a knife. Our first tactical problem came at the end of the year with Dental Anatomy. Part II Our year of Basic was over, and we moved on to advanced training. It ' s true that we were still in a rear area, but we were near enough to the front to hear the distant rumble of gums. And they used live ammunition too. In short, the sophomore year was one big obstacle course — typodonts, full dentures, jigs, Phar- macology, Pathology, amalgam dies, plaster teeth, bite blocks and more bite blocks. We were introduced to two new weapons — the hand piece and the flame thrower, and also to the concepts of bacteriological warfare. At the end of the sophomore year we were moved up to the Repo Depo. The High Command de- cided to give us our first taste of blood. And that they did. Our job consisted of cleaning out small pockets of resistance in a brief en- counter known as the Battle of Alveolar Ridge. Part III The beginning of the junior year found us still in the replacement depot. For a while we were in the quartermaster ' s section learn- ing the problems of commissary and clothing — biscuit baking and jacket manufacturing. Then they shipped us to the engineers where we were taught the elements of long span an- terior bridge construction and rubber dam technique. Then a couple of weeks of pre- comhat training — plaster impressions, and we were readv for action. 27