Scituate High School - Chimes Yearbook (Scituate, MA)

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21 hills. Wlion it had fioiic all aioiitul ihr room and hack to lOm. liir hag was overflowing. What a wonderful send-off. ' thought ' lOni standing tiien He was as lia| |) as anyone could e eT ' liope to he. Someone dro|)|)e(l a nickel into the juke ho and the last song of the evening began. Would ou like to dance, Sail) ? asked 1 om softly. Yes, Tom. I would. They drifted out among the others, lost in their thoughts of each other and of the days to come. A BOAT NEARS PORT Donald Kennedy, 47 Ten miles out in the dull wartime Atlantic! Ten miles from the nearest port and safety from the packs of angry, stalking suhs. The captain wasn ' t very cheerful for he knew a lot could happen just ten miles out. The messboy was whistling a doleful tune, and most of the crew were going about their work like parts of a machine. They were serious fellows who had turned from carefree boys to hardened men in two months of service. This was no game; this was grim reality. Suddenlv. out of the gray clouds ahead, came a lumbering rubber cow. The lookout re- ported, Blimp! Dead ahead! A shout rose from the weary men as they gazed at the faithful guardian of the coast soaring overhead. It had been a week since the fateful foggy day that they had lost the convoy. Now they were secure under the watchful blimp. No ship had ever been sunk while being escorted by a silver queen of the sky. They knew they were safe. The blimp was circling now , scaiming the bleak empty water for a telltale shadow or a periscope cutting like a knife through the billowing waves. Now the forward lookout could see the low gray outline of land. Soon a destroyer appeared. It circled twice, then headed back toward the harbor. The ship followed it slowly through the treacherous mine fields into the inner harbor. All tension aboard ship relaxed as the boat touched the massive dock and the gang plank was lowered. The ship, her crew, and her cargo had all arrived safely. They were in port again after ten grueling days on the high seas. GROAN MORE IN ' 44 Donald Mcl ' lieison. ' 46 As summer draws closer, it turns the mind of the garden lover toward planning his sum- mer ' s project. This year when 1 hear the slogans, Produce for Victor). Food I ' ights f(»r Free- dom. and (irow More in 44, 1 am reminded of the experiences I liad last year. I started off on my venture without a care in the world. Thank goodness 1 didn ' t know what would befall me or I jjiobahl) never would have started. The first problem occurred in the very early spring. The frost was barely out of the ground when I could be seen out in my prospective garden, bundled up in furs and boots, yardstick in hand, measuring the land. Well, I thought, this ought to keep me fairly busy. Little did I know how busy I would be. My problem, Mr. Anthony, was to get a plough. There were no ploughs to be had; so I bought a spade instead. My second problem occurred about the first of April. I had shed a few furs and got out my new spade. Everything went fine, and about the first of August I was ready to plant my seeds. Then the problem was what seeds to get. My friends, some of whom aren ' t my friends now, had great ideas for mv garden ai.d recommended unusual vegetables, such as rutabagas, which gives me indigestion; brussels sprouts, which I can ' t stand; and a variety of unhtard-of herbs. I finally planted a few rows of carrots, beans, corn, tomatoes and other ple- bian fruit. Time was growing short, and the plants were growing well. Also, the bugs were growing fat at my expense. I invested fistfuls of money on insecticides which only made the bugs bigger. This constituted my third problem. I was losing weight and my mind besides; I was also losing ground to the bugs. It looked hopeless but I kept up the fight until finally I found a tomato that hadn ' t been touched! No one has ever been prouder over his achievements than I was of that tomato. It is now hanging on my wall — stuffed, one of the greatest achieve- ments of man. It was now getting on into December. The snow killed all the weeds and saved me the trou- ble. I guessed the carrots weren ' t going to come up after all. All m) tomato (singular) were harvested so 1 decided to call it a year and retire. 1 am now planning for next summer ' s victory garden, if I can last that long.

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20 A REAL SEND-OFF Emily Whittaker, ' 45 IN small towns all over the United States there are boys, and girls too, entering the armed forces every day. The story of Tom, as told below, is typical of the experience of many American boys today. The bell had rung for everybod) to be in class. It was the last day of school before the spring vacation. Every boy in the senior class was restless, especially Tom Ryan, who was plan- ning to enlist in the Navy the following week. He hadn ' t told his classmates, but he had talked with his parents and he was going to enlist the Wednesday of vacation. He had thought a lot about the Navy and decided that it was the right branch of service for him. He hated to leave school where he had had so much fun playing football, baseball, and basketball. He would miss the school dances every Friday night, too, and walking home from school with Sally Evans. The class seemed very boring as Tom sat thinking, but it was soon over and he was walk- ing home with Sally. Sally, Tom started, would you miss me if I went away? Of course I would. Tom. Are you and your famil) thinking of moving? Well — not exactly. I am. You mean vou are going to leave Center- ville? Yes, Sail). I ni going to enlist in the Navy next week. Oh — 1 knew ou would, sooner or later, but I thought you would wail until graduation was over. Well — this is how I figure it. The third semester is now over and I have good grades. I will be able to get my diploma. I want to get into the Navy, and if I enlist now. I will have a better chance of getting into radio as there is a demand for boys in this field. I understand, Tom. Will you write to me ever day. Sally? Of course I will, Tom. ' The following Wednesday Tom went to Boston. He met other fellows he knew and didn ' t feel too bad about joining. He passed all his tests ex- tremely well, and was sworn in. He had two weeks before he woidd repoit to Sampson, New York. B Saturday everyone knew that Tom was going in the Navy and he was receiving con- gratulations from many envious boys. One night when the gang were all down to Jack ' s, a meeting place of students, someone said, Why not give Tom a going-away party here, and invite all the kids he knows? ' Tom was very popular and everyone was whole-heartedly for the idea. The girls were elected to take charge of the whole affair. At one of the committee meetings, someone decided they should give Tom some kind of present. Thev asked e eryone for money and finalh . after a great deal of deliberation brought him a kit bag. In it they put shaving cream, razor blades, a razor, tooth brush, tooth paste, and everything they could think of that he would need. The two weeks went very fast and the night of the party rolled around. Jack ' s was packed with intimate friends, school chums, and rela- tives. Everyone was there at 7 o ' clock sharp and when Sally suggested that she and Tom go in for a soda, he was very much surprised at the sight that confronted him. In one corner of the store a juke box was playing and couples began to dance. Sally and Tom were shown io the head table, which was prettily decorated and heaped with food. As Tom sat there looking around, he noticed the soda fountain all lighted up. Two of . e girls in his class had taken over the fountain and there was old Jack sitting bach l-king it easy. Tom smiled to himself and beg ' n io realize how much he was going ti miss ( ' enler ille and a ll his friends, y nien the music -topn ' f ' . there was entertaimnent. The ' Hovenok Twin ' performed. The were the comedians of Ton; , class. Then there was Chuck Jones, who • the best jitterbug in town. The evening passed ver) quickly and il .- ion came time to present the gift. It was just befoi- the last dance of the evening. The presentation was made by Sally. Tom, we all want )ou to know I ' lat e arc- j,oiiig to miss )ou. We hope it won t be long before you will be back in Centerville. right here in this store, drinking sodas with all of u . and especially with me. she whispered sollh. a? sl e leaned forward to hand him the gift. Tom was overcome when he saw the kit bag with all the articles in it. Some of the students hadn ' t seen the gift. As they came forward to look at it. someone said, The only thing he hasn t got in there is mone for cigarettes. What do you sa , gang, let ' s do something about il. The kit bag was passed around the group and ever) bod) dropped in dimes, quarters, and even

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CONFIDENTIAL — SECRET MISSION A True Story William Vining, ' 46 0 large ships were lying at anchor, riding the small waves made by the many ships either headed toward or returning from different missions. The crew of both ships worked, with- out a lost movement, in regular navy precision. The Statue of Liberty looked on, and it is be- lieved observers could see a faint glitter in her eyes, in appreciation of the boys ' high morale. The captains returned in a motor whaleboat about nineteen hundred I naw time), with sealed orders. They both reported on board the U. S. S. (censored) which was to act as the flag ship. It was not long before the captain of the I . S. S. I censored I returned on board his ship, the deck hands taking time off to render a military salute. Eager eyes followed him to his cabin. Every- one was anxious to hear the time of getting un- derway. All hands were called to quarters and the address was given by the Executive Officer. All men and officers were to have the ship ready in every respect for getting underway at twenty- three hundred. In the meantime there would be no liberty : all hands not actually on watch would be required to get the ship ready. There would be last minute drills for fire, abandon ship, battle, collision, and the use of the life belt. At twenty-two thirty, word was passed for all heads of departments to report that they were ready for getting underway. At twenty-three hundred, word was passed, All hands, man your piloting detail. There was an added excite- ment that night when the men reported to the bridge that their stations were manned. It was noted, too. that the stations were manned more quickly than during the previous weeks ' maneu- vers. The yeoman shouted with delight when he reported to the Executive Officer the conditions of the chain. The Jack was lowered on the first blast of the whistle, and Old Glory took her proud position on the main mast, following the actions of the flagship. The signal bridge was manned and the signalman ' s attention was at- tracted by the blinking lights of nearby destroyers on either side. The flagship flashed orders that the ships would form a column with the de- stroyers leading out of the harbor into tiie night. The con o routine followed after they passed through the gales and into the blue. The de- stroyers each took a side of the convoy and proceeded to their mission. The course was not known to the enthusiastic sailors, as the zig-zag method was used. They were steaming for days, and none of them knew where they were headed. Many didn ' t care, not even getting a thrill from the fl ing fish, and the deep blue of the Gulf Stream. The roll of their ships seemed to dis- agree with their steak dinner. On the sixth day out, early in the afternoon, general quarters was sounded, and everyone rushed to his particular station. Guns were manned in half the usual time, and everyone scanned the waters for that deadly fish. How- ever, the convoy was so well organized that the Huns decided to devour smaller ships, and to everyone s disappointment, no sub was sighted. This happened several times, and it was amaz- ing to see the high morale of the ship during such circumstances. On the fifteenth da out. it was reported that land was sighted, and this time the officers and enlisted men were sure of it. On two previous occasions reports had been made from the crow ' s nest that land was in sight, but another mile ' s difference would show an iceberg. The men had to stay at their stations at all times now. as the were approaching the harbor and many ships had recently been torpedoed. One destroyer went ahead, the other bringing up the rear of the convo). A small power launch came out to the harbor entrance, and the gates opened. The convoy steamed in. and the men were relieved after standing watch, without sleep, for twenty- four hours. As they approached the docks, hun- dreds of women were seen gathered just behind the high fences which prevented them from com- ing onto the docks. The next day when the bo s delivered their cargo to the storehouses, they observed the look of relief upon the faces of the natives. A voung piiest of American origin called all hands that could be relieved into a huge building and told them what their mission had been. These women had had er little food since they had sent their lo ed ones off to war for their mother countr . The were struggling along on the faith thai this priest had instilled in them. The ships had brought in enough stores to keep these people for six months. The ships returned to America untouched (ex- cept for a hurricane which look the ship the U. S. S. (censored) into a 45° angle for four days).