Marquette University NROTC - Porthole Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

Page 15 text:

PIIBTHLE Whenever C1 group of men are brought to- gether in the semblance of a unit, sooner or later is expressed the desire for some means of producing and expanding the common CIS- sociations and experiences within the group. It was in order to meet such c1 demand that the PORTHOLE was established US a unit gradua- tion publication, to be produced once each semester. For some time the PORTHOLE made its Cip- pearance GS CI mimeogrctphed pamphlet; but With the inception of the WGr-tirne program, the PORTHOLE blossomed out and under the capable leadership of Iohn Reuternan, Iohn Haferneister, Jack Matthews, Van Hooper, Jr., and others, beccxrne c1 beautiful issue which all unit members could proudly display. Since Iuly 1, 1943, the PORTHOLE has ap- peared six times. All editions have been pub- lished by NROTC students working in their spare time. Editors in past semesters were Reuternan, William Glyle, Arthur Pollasky, Joseph Perry, Francis Mucklin, and Charles Hanson. Each edition has contained many excellent features and has always highlighted pictures and stories of the individuals com- prising the graduating classes. In addition, it has been the policy of the PORTHOLE, by the use of candids, features, poems, etc., to present as clearly and as humorously as possible, life in the Marquette Unit, bringing close to each member the Navy and accompanying features of its unique lite. In order to publish the PORTHOLE it has always been necessary to solicit advertising from Milwaukee tirrns. PORTHOLE business managers in past semesters were Hatemeister, Leander Foley, Hooper, Charles Esau, Philip Mork and Willie Medearis. Departing this semester from the traditional NROTC publication, the PORTHOLE has changed its uniform and now as the spokes- rrr n at the entire unit, in its last. appearance C18 a wartime publication, bears proudly a lecther-bcund uniform. It is fitting that With the ending of the war-tirne program, the PORTHOLE should bow out at the peak of -,+ L 1 CW - Fr: n; 'JCCQDD'J a 13 :54 mm- dg: .'. t ' I553.- .

Page 14 text:

I '''''''''''' .42 3.0? Oh $1 .134 7:31; 23 y I NAVAL IIHIIII i all the organizations formed by Blue and Gold complement on the Hilltop campus, probably none attained rnore fame for the Unit and the University than the NROTC Choir which for one year under the direction of Paul Whear, enhanced its name at many city- wide functions and appeared on many radio broadcasts. Paul Whear aided by Walt Johnson organ- ized the choir in March 1945. Ed Brown and A1 Michenfelder were later elected Business Manager and Librarian, respectively. In the beginning, Hal Worth was choir soloist and later, upon Worth's graduation, Johnny Harris, a Lawrence College transfer, became the No. 1 man. Whear composed and arranged most of the music used by the choir and in December 1945 collaborated With John Dvorak to produce the HSong of the NROTC , a composition which at this time is under consideration as a Na- tional N ROTC song. In addition to almost ten radio appearances during the one year span, the choir sang at Lawrence College, at two Navy Medley per- formances assisted by Dave McDermand and his Navy Dance Orchestra, at bond-selling conferences, at an American Legion banquet honoring Admiral Marc Mitscher and at numer- ous church services and other gatherings throughout Milwaukee. As a fitting climax to its year of work the choir presented a Winning performance at the Marquette Varsity Varieties Show February 12, 1946. Music for the show was written by Whear and continuity by Charles Hanson. Strangely enough, the biggest laugh oi the year at the expense of the choir, was unwit- ting1y offered by Calvary Presbyterian Church. Prior to the appearance of the choir at their Sunday morning service, the announcement board proclaimed the sermon subject as HWhat We Mean by HellH-eand in smaller letterseNROTC Choir! This semester, With the graduation of key men and the turnover of personnel, the choir was not reorganized. Another impressive musical organization was Dave McDerrnand's Navy Dance Orches- tra which likewise was not reorganized this semester due to the loss of key men.

Page 16 text:

'.'- ..... ........ isx V i I ,-; '. flex? 5 e H; x95 1, t 1's. ' 'ii-v ., - t . 7' . ' . ' Z i f , I; 3 t 'r 1 9' 2 i I $' 3 :2 3 t . , T. ' '1' T, .' .gll' - 9;. -'-x Iv , l, . ., .--4w.---v wwv Vasmh-rvts'm . H l EIMMISSIINS The commissioning of 65 new Ensigns at the close of the present term will swell to 695 the number of Marquette graduates sent to navai duty direct from this command. This number L 1 In addition to this impressive total, many other $va V-12 students were sent from Marquette to Midshipman schools where they later received their halt-inch of gold. Although the unit came into existence in 1940, it was not until May 30, 1943 that a class was graduated. The first class consisted of 12 NROTC students and was commissioned under the peace-tirne NROTC program. July 1, 1943 saw the inauguration of the war-tirne V-12 and NROTC program, and 794 new students reported for training. The largest class graduated in March 1944, when 87 men received their certificate of com- pletion from Captain Robert A. Dawes. This class expansion was brought about through the commissioning of 6th term Tuniors tNROTCl. Among these young Ensigns was Robert Blanz of Milwaukee who later was ki1led in action at Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines. He thus became the first unit graduate to lose his life in World War 11. A June 1945 gradu- ate, Dona1d Iaehnke, became the second, be- ing killed on the Japanese mainland severa1 months after V-l Day. It was not until the latter part of 1945 that any V-12 engineering students were commis- sioned at Marquette, and since the adoption of this practice, 85 men have received their corn- missions in this manner. Now, with the graduating of 65 men lune 27, the war-time V-12 and NROTC program will be brought to a close, and along with 51 other colleges and universities throughout the country, Marquette and the Naval Unit return to the peace-tirne NROTC set-up which will be re-inaugurated within the next few months. Whether the program will return to its pre- war status or something new will be incul- cated, remains a matter of conjecture.