Pembroke Academy - Academian Yearbook (Pembroke, NH)

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l g 1:-ue gcAosMgAN U. S. O. F 0 R V I C T O R Y Norma Cleveland In my opinion, the U. S. O. as seen and understood by the average American, is one of the most out- standing organizations of our coun- try for the men and boys in cur armed forces. These letters, U.S. O. make up the abbreviation for the United Service Organization, and are known country-wide. In nearly every city of moderate size and population, and in some towns, there is a U. S. O. building where our soldiers, sailors, and marines may go for entertainment, rest, and aid. They provide good times and comfort for those far and near, who have spare time and wish to spend it at these places. Every U. S. O. has countless games and sports, also a lounging room where the fellows may rest or write let- ters. The stationery is also pro- vided, There is usually a large dancing room at which a dance is also distributed, and such conven- iences are absolutely free for the service men. The fellows who are regular U.S.O. members are allowed to bring friends in with them. A visiting civilian must be eighteen years of age to enter the U.S.O. Girls may become members or hostesses. Throughout the middle western states where U.S.O.'s are prevalent, groups of members of this organiza- tion go to the railroad stations, eager to direct the fellows. Also, for those boys remaining on trains, there are U. S. O. girls who board the trains with coffee and dough- nuts for the boys. This organization is sponsored by the American people as a whole who want to help the boys. It has been a success thus far, and will doubtless continue as such, So all you Americans--give to the U. S- O. for Victory! ..g...-1i.-.---.- held at least weekly. Food is W E ' R E N O Betty Ann The largest and most powerful enemy of the Allies is the confi- dence of the American people. We have no fear of losing this war. The fact that the Axis might win has never entered out minds: if it has, it has been a thought that has just come and gone. Us thought about it as one remembers a night- mare, something horrible, but still nothing that touches our little smug world of reality. Ue're not afraid. because we haven't felt the forces of Germany and Japan. we haven't, but Our soldiers, sailors, and marines have felt them, At Pearl Harbor, at Bataan, at Gorregidor, in the Sol- omons, our boys hove felt them, T A F R A I D Douillette What have we Joy-loving and care free Americans at home felt? Per- that we'l like coffee when we the most we've when the Japs if we had had haps we have felt some steak, sugar or couldn't get it. At never been at Bataan came, knowing that guns and ammunition to give them hell, Bataan never would have fal- len. We Americans have got to real- ize that this is everyone's war, not one belonging to the armed forces. We've got to get into it, every one 'of us. We've got to start being afraid: being afraid that if we do not buy a war stamp with that change from the eggs, our future may be a future of night- mares.

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..lJdJE L A S T I N G P E A C E t . Helen Muller He was that sort of guyz Happy because there never was an thing in his life to have made him unhappy. So happy, in fact, that sometimes he'd forget other's sorrows. He'd never thought much about sorrow anyway. He didn't have time. His spare moments were usually taken up with having a good time. It didn't matter much to him, either, who he was with. Then came the war and then his draft papers. Now that he had more time to think and reflect over his past experiences, he didn't quite know how to take it. Here he was standing dog-watch-alone and lone- lyg and to his utter exasperation, found himself thinking of Mary. He sort of didn't want to think of any one girl--he'd heard that girls Just tied a fellow down and caused trouble when a guy wanted to have a good time. Funny how Mary con- stantly occupied his thoughts! She had always been nice to him, but it was impossible that she'd ever fall for a guy like him. nBut then,u said Dave, nwhat was it that she said the day I left? Something about making her mad. I wonder---U Just then the sirens walled and Dave knew that this was it! His first week in the hell-hole! No peace out here. Men were sent here to work and lose their lives! Well Dave wasn't going to sit back--this was it, and this was the time for him to get busy. Already the Ihukers were above and drooping their deadly missile. One almost got the mess-hall that time! No time for that though! Dave landed into the foxehole on his knees and grabbed the trigger of the Tommy-gun. ,A red spurt of fire and then silence. Uwhat is this?W cried Dave as he saw confusion arising. 'Come on! Get to your posts! Get going you guys--whst're you waiting for, your grandmother?W Once again, a spurt of fireg then again, silence. Then, up there it seemed as though the Heav- ens exploded when one of the bomb- ers caught and started on its last journey. For minutes that seemed like hours, the plane dove, and Dave couldn't tear his eyes from it. At last it crashed to the earth with a grinding, deafening sound that must have shaken the whole countryside. Dave handed the gun over to John- ny and ran off towards the p1ane.If he could save the poor devil inside, he wasn't going to let him die. WIf only the tank doesn't blowln Just as Dave got within ten yards of the ship, the tank, with a blinding flash and roar, went up in flame. A week went by and then another without Dave's regaining conscious- ness. Then, on Tuesday of the third week, Dave painfully opened his eyes. 'Where am I? What am I doing here?n He tried to raise himself on his elbow and suddenly realized that he was powerless. Dave sank back on his pillow with a long, drawn-out sigh like one who has given up hope. WHel1o' soldier, how do you feel? Dave looked up into the eyes of a beautiful girl with a smile as bright as the word 'peace.' Dave lay there speechless and gazed at her. nwhat are you doing in this hot hell-hole?W Dave asked wearily, WTaking care of you.n she smiled. With that, the nurse left him to his own thoughts. Out of the black- ness of his mind came the memory of Mary. In a weakening voice Dave said, WMary darling, I realize now that it is you that I'm out here to save. To save the peace-so that we can be together again.H With that Dave slipped into eter- nal peace. s s x

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-assi' f: rx- ' ,,,:- , 'rf' e', -011 Life Compared to an Airplane Frederick Mindt '43 Life is like an airplane ride on a windy day. You choose first the destination you wish to reach. Then you lay out your course to get there. Finally you head your plane in that direction and keep flying. But sometimes the wind is blowing. Per- haps one time it is blowing direct- ly toward your destination. In this case you' might get there ahead of schedule. Another time it might be blowing against you. Then you would arrive at your destination, but you would be longer getting there. The wind sometimes blows from the right or left and blows you off your course. Then the chances of reach- ing your destination are very slim. Probably you would end up somewhere quite a distance from the original plan. Whether or not you reach your destination depends upon your skill as a pilot and upon the weather which you encounter on your 'flight of life.n .1---11 Life is Like a Book Madeleine Richard '43 Life is like a book-a book which contains, all types of literature. Some of the passages depict humor, tragedy, love, beauty, hate, greed, and despair, The first few pages contain the alphabet and the fundae mentals which will enable you to read the book. Once you have taken up the book of life you can neither lay it aside, turn back the pages, nor read ahead. It must be read, page by page. Your success in life depends on how well you interpret each passage, because each passage contains a lesson or a thought which will make the succeeding pages easier to read and understand. Life Compared to a Tree Phyllis Handy '43 Life is like a tree. When the tree first appears above the ground, it is frail, delicate, and sensi- tive to injury. This can be compared to our bnbye hood. As the tree grows older, its environment begins to determine how it is going to be shaped in future years. In the same way our envir- onment often determines which road we are going to take in life. Then comes the time when the tree map tures and begins to bear fruit. As we mature we, too, begin to take our places in the world, sometimes failing--just as the tree may fail in bearing fruit, and sometimes succeeding. At this time, -many diseases may hit the roots and go up through all the treeg so it is in life. If the tree is strong enough, it can fight these obstacles off. As the tree feels the effects of old age, it begins to deterior- ate and go back to its Creator, just as we, at the end of life, re- turn to our Creator. Edie is Like a Merry-Go-Rcund Elizabeth Silks '43 Life is like a merry-go-round. lt's full of up's and down's, stops and go's. From the minute we are born, we are placed on this merry- go-round, and until the day that we die we never get off. Just as the gsily painted animals go up and down, so do we. As we go up in the world we must realize that perhaps at some time we must go down even if it's only for a short period of time. Life keeps rushing on, round and round, trying to make us fall off, but many of us keep striving our hardest to get somewhere and succeed. Many times in our lives we almost topple from our individ- ual porches, but we cling on stead- fast and ride through safe and sound