Cornell University - Cornellian Yearbook (Ithaca, NY)

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The Story of a War Class-1919 BY ALPHEUS YVALDO SMITH, ,IQ VVar's destroying hand laid heavily upon the ambitious crowd of freshman youngsters who brought the Class of IQIQ into existence in the Fall of 1915. It was the misfortune of the Class to be born in prosperity, and to live three fourths of its life in abnormal, trying times. No Cornell class suffered as many sorrows and underwent as many sacrifices as the Class of 1919. These trials and tribula- tions resulted in the almost total annihilation of the Class of 1919 as a definite organization. Today, hundreds of the original Nineteen Nineteen folk are aca- demically juniors and sophomores, because of war service, war calls abruptly terminated the education of many for good and all, death in the service robbed the Class and Alma hlater of far too many sons, and early graduation earned through intensive work further depleted the Class. As an entity, the Class of 1919 existed only during its freshman year. But the spirit of the Class still lives, and to that spirit of the college year 1915-1916, this review of the years which should have been those of 1919, are dedicated. 1919 entered Cornell when Cornell was speeding along the high road to top notch success along all lines. The Class has witnessed the replacement of the successful, glorious pre-war Cornell by disorganized war-time Cornell, bearing none of the earmarks of yesterday. The Class has seen its members wander away first by hundreds, and then by tens, until the personnel of the Class became but a ghost of its former self. The sad but glorious news of death in the nation's service of classmates and friends has been often the lot of the Class. The Class has witnessed Cornell's tumble from the peak of startling success to the depths of despair and desolation when all that was finest and best in Alma Nlater were gone to fight the greatest battle of all. In Regrets crowd easily into prominence. It is far too easy to spill tears over the handicaps and troubles which war brought to thexClass,-war which cut in two the happiest years of life. It is easy to ponder why fate should have chosen IQIQ as the victim of so many sacrifices of joys and pleasures of college days upon the altar of war. But these many regrets and recollec- tions effect no cures. And Nineteen Nineteen may find abundant solace in the thought that Nineteen Nineteen, like all the world, paid its fullest measure of devotion to the world, the nation, and Alma Mater by serving the greatest cause of all. Service, after all, is the test of greatness. And true service demands unselfish sacrifice after sacrifice. So in retrospect, .the Class of IQIQ may discreetly shed a tear in private over blasted college years, while appearing proud and happy in public over the war record of the Class. . 549

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No account of the Class of 1919 can be complete without a tribute to the boys who went XVest to help win salvation for the world. At once sad and proud, the Class of IQIQ records the glorious ultimate sacrifice of classmates Charlie Beck, Nlack Carmack, RedH Case, Allen Honeywell, 4'AleX', Matthews, Fin O'Connor, Thaddeus Phelon, Ain Porter, 'fEv Pratt, .Lowell Riley, VVinfield Wheadrick, and Charles Zischkau. The memory and friendship of these classmates of yesterday is a sacred thing, and the Class of 1919 will ever treasure the recollection of these comradeships terminated far too soon. On the other side of the ledger must be entered the names of the members of the Class of IQIQ decorated for bravery in action. To Lieutenant Cactus7' Conroy, France awarded two Croix de Guerre, with numerous palms for numerous citations. Sergeant UAV' Eggers won America's greatest tribute, the Congressional hledal of Honor, in addition to the Distinguished Service Cross. Captain 'cWild- eye Emerson's conspicuous bravery under fire brought to him the award of the Distinguished Service Cross. France's decoration, the Croix de Guerre, also went to Brad Fairchild. The Class of IQIQ enjoyed only one year of real Cornell life, its freshman year of 1915-1916. Cornell was fighting at top-notch during that happy year. But 1919 folk were only freshmen, and the historical inability of the freshmen to get in tune with things resulted in the loss upon IQIQ of many of the beneflts and pleasures and interests of that year. War was still far in the future, and the Class ploughed on carelessly and haphazardly, asleep to many opportunities, and not knowing of the wreck awaiting the remaining years of the life of the Class. But even heedless freshman 1919 gloried in the wonderful successes of the 1915 Varsity football team. Decisive victories over Michigan and Penn, and the never- to-be-forgotten licking administered to Harvard will ever remain bright spots of the sport schedules of the Fall of 1915. And when athletic critics gathered up the loose ends of the football season, Cornell was at the top of the heap for the first time in history,-football champions of the East. It must be confessed that IQIQ appropriated a very considerable share in the glory and joy of that accomplish- ment, although as freshmen, the Class was not represented on the team. But the Class,s cup of joy was full to overflowing when 191978 own teams won Eastern freshman championships in football and cross country. Here indeed were wondrous works wholly the chattels and property of 1919. The Class was further delighted over the championships won by the Red and White Varsity teams in track, wrestling, lacrosse, and debate. Surely never was such an Alma Mater! As innocent, blind freshmen, the members of 1919 witnessed the impressive dedication and opening of beautiful Schoellkopf Memorial, the inauguration of the great Cornell dormi- tory system made possible by the work A 1 of George F. Baker, the disastrous hlorse Hall fire in which S325,000 of Cornell property went up in smoke in a spectacular fire. The victory of the University of Maine in the Intercollegiate Cross Country championships was painful. But the news that Alma lVIater's wizard Jack Nfoakley had signed a ten-year contract with Cornell, softened defeat, promisedf' complete revenge in the future. The Class learned to know and admire and love Cornell's fine friend, Bill'7 Taft, who afforded one of the big bright spots 550