Western Military Academy - Recall Yearbook (Alton, IL)

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WAR CLASS OF SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS Boltom row — Barker, president; Block, vice-president; Albiez, secretary. Top row — Raith, treasurer; Giloson, historian; Dahlin, sergeant-at-arms. We of the Class of 1943 have been presented with a challenge — a challenge of WAR. As we leave the familiar Western campus, the scene of our triumphs, our struggles, our friendships, our character development, our training, we cannot count on choosing the usual career in college, in business, or in the professions which so many graduates before us have followed. When farewells are spoken at the Memorial Gate on Commencement Day, we know that the next meeting of comrades may be in Alas- ka, in the Pacific Islands, in Africa, or in Europe. Some of us are stepping from prep school life directly into the service of our country. Today, when every agency of our govern- ment and industry is bending every sinew to- ward the common goal of winning the war, it was fitting and necessary that we prepare at Western for the great responsibilities ahead of us after graduation. We are a ware that there lies underneath this so-called practical world still deeper and more fundamental truths. There must be knowledge of all kinds, and courage, and character, and faith in God in order to achieve the highest, common good. Those things are worth preserving, worth fighting for. Western has given us this preparation. War correspondents call it morale. We call it edu- 19 4 3 cation — learning to be kind, good, alert, pre- pared, strong, and DETERMINED. It has often been said that the youth of America is its oldest tradition. Youth and young ideas constitute today, as never before, the strength and hope of this great nation, of which we are so much a part. But the youth of America is an asset only if it is trained to take part and play the role well. We, as Seniors, stepping into tomorrow, pledge ourselves to carry the torch and pass on its light and fire to succeeding generations. Our way of life must be preserved. We who have been trained here at Western will help preserve it. We are the War Class of 1943 so that other classes which follow us may belong to an era of peace, free to plan and live their lives unhampered by the outlaw dictatorships who seek to enslave the world. G.J. M„ II. — 19 —

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Keyhole Inspection Sleep Is So Much Sweeter During Class Hours at once, as all cadets try to look wise. In Capt. Schrantz ' s laboratory, we encounter a medley of smells, and we hear his interesting discussion, with friendly banter mixed in with the chemical fumes. That barbarous chant, like some pagan ceremonial, is Capt. Buck and his class, intoning the Latin con- jugations, while Capt. Gage echoes from his room in liquid rhythmic Spanish. Capt. Marchand ' s eyes twinkle behind his shiny glasses as he probes the mysteries of higher mathe- matics, while Capt. Geddes saws away at history, past and present. Major Suhre keeps a watchful eye over the top of his spectacles upon his busy typists, while from the English building comes the polished phrases and cultured tones of Capt. Nel- son pounding away on grammar and speech. Classes change, cadets swarm the campus like bees, and then the school settles down again as Capt. Savage, Capt. Green, Capt. Alter, and Lieut. Schubert snatch the scholastic baton and carry on the academic relay throughout the busy class day. One should not leave academics without men- tioning Maj. Persing, Headmaster and nerve cen- ter of the teaching system. He sits in his office, checks reports, keeps tab on progress, confers with instructors and students, cocks one ear at the study hall, slants one eye out on tho campus to observe any lates, and is as busy as a one-man orchestra with twenty-five instruments. He keeps things hum- ming in Western ' s important activity — education. Western ' s grade system requires each cadet to reach his P. A. (po- tential average). He has a stand- ard to meet in keeping with his ability, and if he falls below, he will lose privileges and find him- self in the study hall, a condition not to be envied. A cadet mak- ing a perfect 4.00 average is eli- gible for the Club 400 or the Na- tional Honor Society. An average of 3.00 ( G ' s in all subjects) is sufficient for the honor roll. This year Western ' s curriculum was broadened to meet war-time demands. Special classes are of- fered in war-time mathematics, war-time science. Credit toward graduation is given in these classes. They fill a real need and are an indication that Western ' s academic program is meeting the challenge of the day. This year, too, an unusually large number of Seniors prepared for the College Board examinations and the en- trance exams to West Point and Annapolis. Ladees and Gentlemen! Allen, Conley, and Laux, in Parliamentary Pose — 18 —

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Honor Graduate, Ccdet Major, Salutatorian Crouch Valedictorian Heiser First Alternate Honor Graduate RUDOLPH First Alternate Valedictorian HONOR MEN OF CLASS OF 43 ROBERT NEWELL BARKER Bob s excellent record in every phase of school life made him top man in the Senior Class. He was honored with the positions of Cadet Major, salu- totorian, and honor graduate. It is unusual for one cadet to accumulate all these honors, especial- ly when there were so many outstanding cadets in the class. The Class of ' 43 probably had a dozen men, who, under ordinary circumstances were cap- able of leading any class. Bob showed his true ability in publications, athletics, academics, and military work. He was a leader in the class and was well liked by everyone. His graduation will leave a gap in the Western corps that will be hard to fill. ALLEN LEE CROUCH, III Each year, when academic averages were com- piled, one cadet ' s grades led all the rest. This year, on the basis of a three-year record, Pat Crouch was awarded the highest scholastic honor given by the school, that of valedictorian. In ad- dition to his regular course, he studied college German and captured a scholarship to Harvard University. Pat was not only a superior student, but he also distinguished himself on the SHRAPNEL and RECALL staffs, on the chess club, as a member of the Senior Play cast, in military work. He was an ideal cadet who made a friend of everyone whom he met. ROLLAND VALENTINE HEISER Rolland Heiser was only a fraction behind the leading men in the class for all the honors this year. Less than one-half a point separated Ronny and Barker in academic averages. Heiser ' s mili- tary record and leadership made him a close runner-up for the position of Cadet Major. The task of choosing the honor graduate was difficult because of Ronny ' s outstanding record. He was prominent in RECALL work, military work, athletics, academics, and social life. His brilliant career, his loyalty, his energy, and flashing smile will be re- membered by all his classmates. ROBERT MORRIS RUDOLPH Bob Rudolph was the school ' s outstanding, two- year man. His academic record, unsurpassed for that time, gave him honorable mention for scho- lastic honors. His journalistic abilities made him invaluable to school publications, and he was known as one of the .most reliable men on the RE- CALL and SHRAPNEL staffs. He was also a star athlete, winning basketball and tennis prep letters during his Senior year. He was always ready to give his time and energy to any Western project. He was a real all-round cadet and leader. — 20 —