University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

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last and only Spaghetti Bowl game in Florence, Italy. Lieut. Colonel Al Gricius ' 37 has served, on special assignment, in almost every theatre of operations throughout the world. Now, in China, he has written, I ' ve gone to several Chinese parties and am quite an expert in my manipulation of chop sticks. I have only fifty grease spots on the front of my blouse from food that didn ' t stick to the sticks. Lieut, (j.g.) Herbie Click ' 39, USNR (son of Professor Click), wrote from an island in the Pacific, I wish you could have been here on Christmas Eve (1944). You would have seen Massachusetts State men assemble: Lieut, (j.g.) Herbie Howes ' 39, Ensign Johnny Bemben ' 39, and Lieut, (j.g.) Frank Stanne w ' 40. We had a grand old time talking of college days. Lieut. Bob Allen ' 35 is in France. At Thanksgiving time (1944) he and his men invited all the kids in their village to share Thanksgiving dinner with them. Each youngster had all he could eat of turkey, and a candy bar to carry home. Bob thought it was a wonderful Thanks- giving. T Sgt. Dick Smith ' 45 is overseas. His father, Dr. C. A. Smith ' 11, has written that Doric Alviani would get a kick out of learning that Dick was a member of an Army choir and glee club organized from the personnel within his particular outfit. Major Al Irzyk ' 40 received a battle- field promotion to a lieutenant colonelcy early in 1945. Al ' s justified pleasure in the promotion was completely overshadowed by his joy when on the very day of the promotion his younger brother, Lieut. Arthur Irzyk w ' 44, was assigned to his Al ' s, outfit. The brothers had not seen each other for nearly two years. Lieut. Nancy Luce ' 40, WAC, has been overseas for more than year — on opera- tional assignment in the Army Air Corps. She has written, I don ' t believe I will ever forget the day of our Men ' s first trip to the big ' B ' — none other than Berlin, nor the day they flew the ' double- header, ' the occasion when our bombers went over enemy territory, dropped their loads, returned to the base, reloaded and were off again on their second mission of the day. Lieut. Gil Santin ' 43 who was co- captain elect of the football team at College before he left State to join the Marine Air Corps has flown more than 90 missions against the Japanese. He is a member of what has been called a very hot Marine squadron, the famed Fight- ing Corsairs. 23

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Al umni In January, 1945, records in the Alumni Office showed the names of 2004 Alumni and undergraduates on the service roster. Of this number, 51 were women. These men and women were — and are — dispersed literally all over the world. Some, of course, are still at training camps at various points within the United States, many are at the very front in every theatre of action. Many wear the Purple Heart. There have been 38 known fatal casualties. Wherever these men and women are stationed — either sweating out a train- ing period or official assignment at a post within the United States, or in the midst of combat — on land, on sea, or in the air — they carry on valiantly — to the great honor of their country, their College, and themselves. Hundreds of letters come to the Alumni Office from these men and women with the United States armed forces. Notes based on typical letters are these. Pfc. Edward Oppenheim ' 40 wrote from Italy, When two Massachusetts State Alumni meet over here, it ' s quite an event. Imagine how surprised I was to meet Captain Lou Bush ' 34 in Florence on New Year ' s Day! Lou ' s coaching pro- duced results, and the Fifth Army team was victorious. Lou was my basketball and football coach back in the ' 36 season, and just watching him talking to his Fifth Army Official Photograph Capt. Lou Bush ' 34, coaches the Fifth Army football team players sure brought back fond mem- ories. When Captain Bush was an under- graduate at the College, he made an out- standing record as an athlete — in football, basketball, baseball. In the fall of 1932 he was the Nation ' s leading football scorer. After graduation, Lou continued in athletics both as player and as coach. When war broke out, he entered the Army. At the time of the Allies ' invasion of Africa he was in command of an armored unit, spear-heading an Allied attack against the Germans. Lou fought through- out the African-Tunisian campaign on up into Sicily and Italy. After his unit had landed in Italy, Bush was assigned to a special service outfit; he served as coach of the Fifth Army ' s celebrated Kraut Clouters football team which, on New Year ' s Day, 1945, won the first.

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»ummer Sch ool The purpose of the 1944 summer session was to provide opportunity for some students to accelerate their college pro- gram, and for others to prepare for en- trance into professional school and spe- cialized work. This session consisted of two six-week terms, from June 5 to August 26. One hundred and seventy- two students were enrolled, including an entering class of thirty -five freshmen. Of this number, one hundred and sixteen students returned for the fall semester. Under this two-semester plan, a student could enroll for one or both semesters, and was expected to carry six semester credits during each term. Each three semester credit course met for double periods five times weekly. Most labora- tory periods were scheduled in the after- noon. The curriculum was diversified and inclusive, offering specialized courses in eight major fields. The faculty consisted of the regular college staff. Students were housed in college dor- mitories, the women living in the Abbey and the men in North College. The Dra- per Hall cafeteria was used by all stu- dents. On July 5, a group of three hundred and thirty-three ASTRP students entered Mass. State, and a second group of fifty- four, on August 2. They were housed in Lewis and Thatcher Halls. A wide range of social activities was promoted by a student-faculty com- mittee composed of Mr. Larry Briggs and Miss Jean McNamara representing the faculty, and Pat Jennings ' 45, Joanne Freelander ' 46, Swiftie Johnston ' 45, Janet Bemis ' 46, George Gray ' 48, and Arnold Murray ' 46 representing the students. Among the highlights were Softball and tennis tournaments; vie parties; a picnic; a chimes concert; a hay ride and corn roast, held at the rifle range, at which the male members of the faculty cooked, while the students enjoyed a swimming party; a pops con- cert on the Abbey lawn; and Hale Wood- ruff at Social Union, speaking on Art in a Democracy. On weekends, the students and cadets frequented ye olde swimming hole (popular name for the ice pond). Early in the morning, they packed picnic lunches and bicycled to North Amherst, getting cokes and candy at the corner store. After swimming and diving for some time, everyone was ready for lunch. After- wards, the campers often lent their canoes; and though some were always tipped, everyone reached shore safely and pedalled back to campus to arrive in time for supper. The attitude of the students was ex- cellent, and scholastic achievements were very satisfactory. Because of the con- centrated plan of study, there was less opportunity for distraction than during the winter semester, and a more thorough working knowledge of subjects was at- tained. 24