V1944-03CN.DOC

Engineering Cadet School Yale University, New Haven CN  1944

            We marched from the train station in New Haven Connecticut to what was known as the Old Quad at Yale University. From there we were assigned quarters in Silliman Hall.

            The Old Quad   Yale University is an old school. Inside the Old Quad is a statue of Nathan Hale the Revolutionary War hero located near one of the oldest buildings. The Old Quad is a large rectangular area, like a fort, the size of a city block with grassy interior surrounded by multiple story buildings with steeply pitched roofs. The Old Quad was built or perhaps one should say rebuilt with John D. Rockefeller money. It's almost white marble stairways were half worn through from years of daily use. These features in no way distracted from the basic elegance and inspiring lines of the buildings. They included Ivy Towers but this term does not convey the impression of antiquity as does it's fortress like lines or the durability of its slate roofs.  None of the other quads instilled a sense of the past like the Old Quad.

Entrance to the Old Quad

 

Partial view of Old Quad interior

The Guard Room   A small room to the right of the Old Quad main entrance was used as a Guard Room. Commissioned officers did tours of duty as Officers of the Guard but delegated duties to cadet officers.  I was on duty in the near by Communication Room when one of the Officers demonstrated the Manual of Arms with a 45 caliber pistol. He startled himself and others when it went off, depositing a slug in a large overhead beam.  That slug is probably still there hidden and unknown to present occupants. 

  

    Sterling Hall interior            Silliman Hall interior,  Binstock    Landau                           Neudorpher  Kendall

            Silliman Hall    Yale has been generously supported since its beginning by wealthy families. There were several quads of modern design as Sterling and Sheffield.   Silliman, where we were quartered, had beautiful hardwood floors and brass fixtures which we proceeded to ruin with our military cleanliness. Wet mops on hardwood floors in lieu of wax and polish soon ruined the wood. The repeated polishing of brass ruined antique brass finish and when unattended left finger prints etched on its surface.

            Upper and Lower Green   The Old Quads archway entrance was at the center of the block long structure facing the Upper and Lower Greens. The name Upper Green applied to the  adjacent sloping grassy area with some trees. It was the same length as the Quad and half a block wide. The Lower Green was flat, grassy, treeless and used for our parades. The Lower Green was as long but wider than the Upper Green, and bordered on the other three sides by New Haven businesses.

            Sunday Parades   Several times a week we practiced drilling on these greens and on Sundays put on a full dress parade.  When we arrived at Yale, cadet population was at it’s peek, they could barely fit all on the lower green for parades.  When we graduated 6 months later the ranks were down to fraction of their former size due to wash outs and phasing out of the program – ours was the last class to graduate.

            Top Cadet Officers   By the end of the first month, cadet officers from our pre-Yale squadron were assigned as cadet officers for the entire cadet corp.  Ned Kendall was first in command, Ken Neudorfer second in command I the third in command served as Adjutant.  These three cadet officers faced the other cadets from across the field.  Parade protocol, subsequently described, was in accordance with Army training manuals.

            Glenn Miller Band   A main attraction had been the Glenn Miller Air Force Band who served as the Military Band for the Engineering Cadet Program.  Glenn and key members of his band were sent to England before we got there.  Paul Whiteman, well known for his long standing radio program and assistance to big band leaders, gave a concerts after one of our parades – drawing huge crowds.

            Upper Green    To begin a parade all cadets formed up on the upper green under trees, a process that went like clockwork due to practice.  The military band would form on the far right of the cadet formation.

            Lower Green   Exactly on time the drums would beat a cadence and all troops advanced across the street from the Upper Green to the Lower Green.  Flights 12 wide and 20 deep extended along the long edge.

Visitors    Civilians would gather on the other three sides of the lower green, often six deep from far and wide.

Photo by Peggy

            Parade begins with “Report”    Without moving from a stance of attention the First in Commanded would say Report to the Second in Command. The Second in Command would move in straight lines to front and center facing the troops and yell Report and then return to his former position.

            Adjutants walk  This was my cue to “perform” the Adjutants walk from the right front of the assembled troops, in a beeline toward the Commander center far side facing the assembled troops.  The “adjutants walk”, defined by drill manuals, is a rapid, stiff legged, stiff armed walk that was difficult to do and comical to observe. I have no idea of the origin of this half run half walk but we were perpetuating a tradition. For all I know it could go back to the Romans and Greeks as it's purpose was lost in antiquity.  I would halt in front of the first in command, give him a sharp salute, do an about face and again yell Report this time loud enough for all cadets to hear.  Report had now been requested in triplicate!

 

Room Mates: Ned Kendall 1st , Ken Neudorpher 2nd , Dick Brown, Darrell Landau 3rd Adjutant

            All present and accounted for   The Commander of each Flight would each in turn yell All present and accounted for Sir and salute. The Adjutant would snappily return his salute and the next group would report. This was repeated for each of the Flights and was always stated the same at every parade even if they didn't know where some of the troops were. The Adjutant would then turn to the First in Command, salute and repeat All present and accounted for Sir as if he hadn't heard. The First in Command would return the Adjutants salute and say Sound off.

            Sound off    The Adjutant would about face and yell Sound off. The Adjutant didn't need to be smart, just loud. As the Adjutant assumed a position behind and to the left of the First in Command, the band would strike up and play while marching past the three reviewing cadet officers to the far end of the field, reverse march and return to their original position. Some of the marches were military classics and some were popular songs converted to marches by arrangers for the Glenn Miller Band.  This cadet scene with Glenn Millers marching band  was often filmed and shown on News Reels. The most popular was his rendition of St Louis Blues march,  seen and known all over the world.

            About Face   The First in command would then say give the Orders of the Day. There upon the Adjutant would again do snappy right and left turn footwork to his position front center.  However before giving the orders of the day, the cadets were ordered to “do something”. If you’ve stood at attention for long periods of time you're grateful for the opportunity to bend your knees, shift the hang of your shorts or just move in some way. The Adjutant would yell About  Face. The first time I did this it startled me!  I'd never seen an entire sea of figures move as if wired to the sound of my voice!   I concentrated, applying the right inflection and intonation in my voice and maintain a loud but deep resonant command.  (Commands are issued in two parts, the instruction command followed by execute command as  Attennn_Tion  a sustained instruction then a sharp do it). This mass motion gave all a sense of union & power,  I felt very much at one with the fellows, we were performing, playing our parts. The mass execution sometimes effected the civilian audience, I could hear persons behind me gasp to see all those men move as one. 

            Orders of the Day   After some left face, right face and about faces to again face the front it was time for the Orders of the Day. The Adjutant yelled so all could hear, including the civilians and observing commissioned officers: Attention to Orders, Officer of the Day, Lt. so and so. Cadet Officer of the Guard, Cadet such and such, etc, etc,. These momentous announcements, as if they were the reason for this formal occasion, were authenticated by yelling By Order Of Colonel Wise. After this I'd about face, pop my heels and salute. Heel popping had to be done just right so that it didn't sound like heel clicking. That would be emulating the Nazi's and they were the enemy.

            Pass in Review   Upon completion of the Orders of the Day, the Adjutant would yell Pass in Review and return to his position. The band would play and lead the way as the cadets marched past. As each Flight passed the Flight Commander would give the command Eyes Right, look our way and salute – we three returned his salute. The procedure continued until all had followed the band back through the Old Quad archway. From there the cadets dispersed – and when permitted would reemerge.

            Excellent quarters    We had two bedrooms with double deck bunks, and a study area with an adjacent storage room.  The bedrooms included multiple drawer dressers in which we placed our cloths – very neatly folded and arranged – drawers were pulled out during inspection of quarters and us.  There was real elegance to those rooms which in our case looked over an interior area via French windows.

            Basement quarters   To beat the system we kept barracks bags of cloths in the basement, old in one and clean in the other, this area was not subject to inspection so we could hurriedly change there and not disturb our room subject to inspection.  It was all part of how to game the system and worked very well. 

            Surrounded by New Haven   School, housing and business areas were almost interwoven.  We could walk from school-quarters on to the “greens” where we marched and from there to multiple civilian meeting places – which were often a lounge setting where food and drink was sold as well as a place to visit.  These filled fast during our two hours free time following Sunday parades – in our case a mix of cadets and young ladies.

            Private Time   We were deliberately kept constantly on the go, our only private time was laying in our bunks following lights out – before sleep took over.  For some reason awakening, hurried shave, dress and hustle to dining room back and off to class did not lodge in my long term memory. The beginning of each day was routine.

            Nathan Hale   Shortly after we settled in we gathered to practice drilling for parades, I was reinstated as a cadet officer and told to lead part of the squadron for practice drills within the confines of the Old Quad.  We’d been marching in an area near the original school building, preserved like a museum within the old quad.  After marching for quite a while I called a Halt and At Ease rest.  I stepped to the side of the mowed lawn near the original building, and became aware I was not alone.  I looked and saw Nathan Hale standing about six feet to my right,  I was startled as he’d been partially hidden by near by bushes near the old building.  I found myself saying, “Nathan!  You startled me, I didn’t know you were there – your shorter than I thought.”   Feeling a bit silly talking to a statue I looked toward the troops and saw the tac officer had come up to my left and giving me an odd look.  I gave him a smile and said “Nathan startled me, I didn’t know he was there.”  The tac officer said nothing, so before he did I called Attennnn_tion and marched some more. 

            Your to be the Adjutant  At an early practice in the Old Quad I recognized one of the Bottle Cap cadet officers from Seymour Johnson field, an upper classman, whom I logged as the “movie star” due to his body language flair.  I didn’t know him, but we waved signs of recognition during a pause.  I saw that he was walking my way as if to speak, so I moved toward him – when close enough he called out, “your to be the Adjutant”, smiled and returned.  I wondered, how in the hell would he know, he didn’t know me except by sight?  I asked Kendall, and he knew nothing about this – then a week later we were told, Kendall, Newdorpher and I were to be the top three cadets for the parades?  At the time it made no sense – we were Tail end Charles among cadet pecking order.  How did that guy know?  Later it made sense, ours was the last class, something we were not aware as we were always in the midst of a large number of cadets.  Using us avoided turn over and relieved Tac Officers pending reassignment. 

Sunday Mingle   Sundays we were allowed a two hour period after parades to mingle with civilians – girls in abundance were attracted to these affairs and were dressed in their most attractive attire. Cadets and girls would visit in clusters, often at a near by lounge before the cadets returned to quarters. It was a timid cadet who didn't have the name, address and phone number of more than one attractive young lady – I do not recall a timid cadet.  There were very strict rules regarding public conduct, any slip in maintaining a military bearing and obeying codes of public conduct were grounds for dismissal.  The wash out rate would exceed 25%, even after all the prior culling process, no cadet knowingly took any chances.

 

Dinning Hall, band played at far end              Glenn Miller doing CBS broadcast from Yale

            Dinning Hall   The Glenn Miller Air Force band played music at evening meals from a balcony of a large cafeteria where we ate. Glenn himself and part of his band had already moved to England, but those left behind were still called the Glenn Miller AF Band. They were all excellent musicians and it was a delight and honor to hear them play. Sometimes I felt like pinching myself to see if it was real.

Street Car Rides     Some girls rode streetcar for over a half hour each way just to walk and talk with a cadet from the cafeteria to their quarters.   We were allotted one hour for meals and did well to extract 15 minutes for a walk with a young lady.  These ladies watched our parades, often introducing themselves by providing photos they’d taken of the parade and us.  They went out of their way to be helpful and considerate, and received very little in return for the effort they expended.  Dick and Norma are the only ones I knew of who made a life time commitment after meeting there.

   

Norma, Dick                       Helen            Peggy

            Dick meets Norma   A group of us were together at a restaurant-lounge when Dick and Norma met. Norma was with other girls and she and Dick hit it off from the beginning.  Dick Brown and Norma were later married in Oberlin Kansas, my home town, when he was stationed in McCook Nebraska. Norma wrote in 1972 that Dick died of cancer, they had three  kids.

            Peabody Museum   To have a date was a misnomer. With a special pass you could stay out till 10:00 p.m. Sunday evenings. This left little time to go anywhere and get back, especially without a car. One of my dates and I would walk about then sit on the steps to doorways to a then vacant building. The entrance to the Peabody Museum provided a haven from the cold. We startled two professors coming to enter the building by moving out of their way. We heard them coming but they almost touched us before they were aware of our presence. I've often wondered if the author of my book on Archeology by a professor from Peabody Museum was one of them.

            Leap of Faith   One evening I walked with a girl from the dinning hall and lingered too long. I ran for the gate, seeing it close ahead of me. This was serious and could lead to dismissal. I ran to go around the block to another entrance – there was an officer coming toward me from the other gate.  I had to get inside, before the officer could recognize me.  Adrenalin surged, I was the hunted. Silliman Hall like the Old Quad was a city block surrounded by buildings with open space interior and buildings forming the perimeter.  Silliman was surrounded by a wall extending about 4 feet above the peripheral sidewalk. The buildings were set back to allow light to enter windows on the lower floors. The gap was about 5 feet from wall to building and about 10 feet deep from the top of wall to interior ground level. The buildings had narrow French windows with no screens – in my desperation I saw one was open.   I had no time to plan and barely time to act! It was growing dusk, the officer hadn’t recognize me yet, but soon could.  I jumped up on the wall, took aim at the open window and jumped – grabbing hold of the window frame. I barely managed to reach and grab hold of the top – I could hear the officer running and yelling “stop”,  This induced the strength necessary to lift myself up into and through the window – whew, I didn’t have time to marvel at my success. 

            I had entered a storage room, just like ours – a cadet, with his back to me, was at a desk near the storage room door – I knew where the hall door would be.  I briskly walked past, behind him into the hall way, and zig zagged my way to my quarters.  I hurriedly changed to informal attire and joined my room mates, then settling in for the study period.  I said nothing to them and listened carefully – I could hear sounds of an officer in the other section asking questions, he could only identify the act not the cadet. I wondered what that startled cadet thought as someone suddenly emerged from the empty storage room, I never looked him up to find out.  I’ve since wished I could go back and take a look at that wall and window – I’m almost certain that part remains as it was then.   It was a good thing I was in excellent physical condition and size to quickly go through that window without a struggle.

            Pizza   I was introduced to Pizza by a couple of girls following a parade.  The girls asked if I’d like “a pizza”, to which I answered I’ve never eaten “Apizza”. They told me it was an Italian delicacy, so I agreed that would be nice. We were seated at a table and when the waiter arrived I said "we want Apizza". With pad and pencil in hand he asked as he wrote "you each want Apizza?" We had a good laugh when the girls explained it was Pizza, not Apizza. 

            Raviolis   Four of us room mates managed a Sunday dinner at a fine Italian restaurant. Some ordered Spaghetti and Meat Balls. I wanted to try something new to me so I ordered Raviolis. They were excellent and contained a real meat interior. To me anything with meat called for catsup. I'd always loved catsup on almost every thing except chicken. The male waiter was taken aback but smiled and brought a bottle of catsup.  My buddies, more knowledgeable of good taste when dining out, explained it was considered an insult to the chef to ruin his sauce with catsup. The meal was excellent including the chefs sauce. The waiter enjoyed the ribbing I took..

            New Topic each Week  Our technical training was broken in weekly segments as brakes, carburetors, propellers, hydraulics, instruments, etc.

            Technical Orders   Our study material was Technical Orders. These were documents prepared by the manufacturers for the military covering the maintenance of their equipment. They were written against a given piece of equipment as a Hamilton Hydromantic Propeller mechanism. The subject would be treated in general terms, then in detail with schematics of the hydraulic system, pictures of parts and sub assemblies, assembly specifications and settings followed by trouble shooting symptoms, problems and solutions.  These were very well done.

10 Question Daily Test – before instruction   Each morning we were given a ten question quiz on what we were to be taught that day. This is the reverse of normal procedure but I can assure you it's a most effective way of stimulating intense study habits.  To fail was to wash out – the reduction in cadet ranks was a reminder.

            Miss two question flunk day  We could miss one of ten questions each morning and pass the day. Miss two and you flunked the day. You could fail one day and pass the week.  I remember a question I missed, what’s the gear ratio of crankshaft to prop governor drive on an R2800 engine. Tech orders made no mention of this, I had no idea of the gear ratio, or why I should know. I argued with the instructor, the information was not available and there was no reason to know the gear ratio, but to no avail.

Fail two days flunk week    Fail too days and you flunked the week. We diligently read the techorder material and went over scraps of paper handed down from class to class of questions asked and proper answers. 

            “Cooperation means Graduation”   The class ahead wrote down questions asked on scrap paper notes – these became part of our study material.  Instructors were aware of this and would change questions.  

            100 question weekly test   At the end of the week we were given a 100 question quiz. You could miss five questions and pass, more and you flunked. If you flunked two daily tests and the end of week test you were in deep trouble.  We were normally told what questions we missed.  On one occasion the instructor would only say I passed. I pressed to find out how many I missed, he said one question, but he wouldn't say what one. I was persistent in trying to find out what I answered wrong. After a while he turned to me with a note of finality and said "look, you know this stuff too well. If I told you, you could write down all the questions and answers by memory for the next class".  I was puzzled, we’d never been instructor–student before, why would he think that?  We were about 2/3 of our way through at the time and never knew our individual scores – our concern was to pass, by how much didn't matter.

            Lab test   Two weeks after completion of a subject we were called out of class to take a lab test and interview. A room closed to all except those taking the “lab test” was provided with equipment the instructor could manipulate to create malfunctions. Our task was to trouble shoot the system, identify the failure and specify a solution. We were given 5 to 10 independent problems to solve for a given system lab test.

            No Laughing matter   I was present when Moran, checking a faulty electrical system encountered a problem that made no sense.  Frustration built, when his allotted time ran out he just sat down and laughed.  This was unacceptable behavior -- no talking or communication was permitted.  I was near by at the time and looked at Moran, who shrugged and gave me a “my goose is cooked” explanation look.  All of us knew Moran was capable – this was no laughing matter.  I joined the instructor in seeing what was wrong, the instructor found the voltmeter had an intermittent fault.  It took the combined effort of many to bring forth the unusual circumstances leading to this incident and peer endorsement of his continuing.  I don't recall another such unanimous action by cadets for another cadet.  Morran and I later served together in Pecos Texas.

            Oral Test   After the trouble shooting lab test we were given an oral test lasting from 20 minutes to an hour. This test was critical if you had failed the class room testing or lab testing. It was within the judgment of the interviewer to pass or flunk you on that subject.

Second Chance  If you failed a week you dropped back and repeated. If you failed twice you went before a board of commissioned officers. Sometimes another chance was given, but no one I knew of was reinstated the second time before the board.

            Asking Questions   As our instruments class took time out for a break I chastised myself for dominating the conversation – it become a dialog between the instructor and I.  I knew the instructor was comfortable, when I was an instructor, I measured progress from students questions.  As I migrated to the coffee machine I told myself others probably wished you’d shut up.  While cued up for coffee I heard two students behind me – One said “I wish I could think of asking questions like that.”  The other said, “yeah I learn more that way”.  I recognized the fellows voices, they didn’t know I heard – I felt better.   I decided it’s OK, so long as they are good questions.

            Foot Fungus    Half way through I acquired an infection between the toes of my left foot, found to be a fungus from the Pacific Theater difficult to cure. I tried all kinds of stuff but finally had to go the hospital, and was gone for a week. It was cured by soaking my foot in potassium permanganate. I felt sorry for one cadet, it had spread all over has body and he'd been there two months.  I put off going on sick call, telling the fellows I didn’t want to be separated from “our class”.

            Same Class?  When I returned a week later I was in the same class?   I have no idea how they pulled it off, they'd only say don't ask.  More than one instructor commented that ours was an exceptional class. To stay in the same class they would have to (a) all gone on sick call for a week  (b) all flunked a week  (c) credited me with a class I didn't take  (d) had the cooperation of an instructor. To this day I have no idea how they did it? I wish I'd thought to ask Dick Brown when we visited them in CA.  I was surprised and flattered they'd go to so much trouble and take such a chance of washing out.  Looking back, perhaps they valued my asking questions.

            Nothing to do   I was placed in a small hospital room large enough for a single bed, and two visitors. There was nothing on the walls and nothing to read, the room was void except for my shaving kit. Up to this moment I'd been on the go since entering cadets. I was in a silent void with nothing to do, like a bird trying to fly in a vacuum.

            The Door Knob   Staring into the void I noticed the door knob. It was brass and had not been polished since installed – it provided something to do. I extracted my polishing rag from my kit and went to work with vigor. I'd just gotten into the swing of it when a nurse came around the corner. She stopped abruptly looked at me and I looked up at her. Before I could say hello she turned about and strode off. I shrugged and went back to work on the door knob.

            A visitor   I had almost finished when a man in civilian clothes casually walked by and paused at the door. I invited him to sit down which he did and we proceeded to visit. I kept trying, in a polite way, to find out what he was doing there. I could see he wasn't a cadet and he said he wasn't a patient. I asked are you my Doctor. He said no he was just wanting to visit. I told him I was glad he stopped, that after months of being on the go that blank room left nothing to do. He said I saw you were polishing the door knob? I said yeah that was the best thing I could think of doing till you came a long. I asked how he managed to visit with patients when it wasn't visiting hours. He said he sort of worked for the hospital. The conversation began by him interrogating me and switched to my interrogating him. He was always casual and friendly but evasive when I tried to pin him down by equally casual questions relating to why he was there.  He was a capable conversationalist and I complemented him on his range of interests.  At a certain point in this dialogue something seemed humorous to him, he turned to me, smiled and said he'd better be going. I wished him well as he walked away and invited him back so we could visit again.  He glanced back with grinned, waved as he walked on.

            Psychologist  By the time the nurse returned I had it figured out.  I smiled and said to her, you thought I was nut’s, polishing that door knob – my visitor must have been a staff psychologist.  The nurse and I had a good laugh – I was the only one sick enough to polish door knobs

            Visitors   I was pleasantly surprised when three girls come visit me each evening, it was a considerable street car ride for them.  There were several young ladies who were long time friends who went out of their way in our behalf.  Their help and consideration seemed to fill a selfless inner need, there was no reward except for inner personal satisfaction.  It would be understandable if we were wounded veterans, but we were transient – we knew and they knew we’d soon part. 

   

Photo                             Radar                                             Radio                    Armament

            Kinds of Engineering    In addition to Aircraft Maintenance I was taking, they taught Radio, Radar, Photo and Armament. We didn't know it then but 80% of the ground technical personnel would be assigned to the aircraft maintenance officers and the remaining 20% divided among the others. The others focused on specialties and we covered the rest.

            Next to Youngest   I was next to the youngest Cadet, Probst was two weeks younger. We were 20, while most were in their late 20's and early 30's. A few had been engineering students, most had several years of military or civilian aircraft experience – each brought prior capability with them.

            New York City   We had one full weekend pass and four of us went to New York City. We arrived late and after walk about entered a Dine and Dance restaurant. 

Joan Mazur   While dinning we saw four girls at a table, when the dancing started one of the fellows went over and asked one to dance. This broke the ice and we were soon paired with dancing partners. The girls had finished eating and were ready to leave. We persuaded them to stay but after a couple of dances, insisted they had to leave.  Joan was my partner and gave me her address.  I wrote on occasion and she'd write back. She worked in a bank and her letters followed a business letter format. We communicated after the war with Christmas cards.

In 1963 I received a phone call at our home in CA. She was in CA and wondered if it would be alright if she came to our house for a visit. She said she had never married and was on her way on a trip around the world. I told her we would be most happy to have her come for a visit.

            I tried to recall what she was like?  We only danced a few times on a dimly lit dance floor. I recalled an attractive girl who’s letters were well written. I couldn't figure why she'd never married. With a degree of apprehension I met her at our front door with my wife and kids waiting to meet Daddy's old girl friend.

            She was attractive and accompanied by an older friend she asked along. We had a wonderful visit, she was a delightful conversationalist. She was taking the trip at the advice of her Doctor. Although she looked in good health she had a heart condition, from more recent Christmas cards that has not improved, I’m sure is why she never married.

Not that kind    After dancing we wandered about and by 2:00 am were pooped and started looking for a hotel room. Finding no rooms after three tries we stopped for a cup of coffee and rest a bit.  Many people were still about, perhaps due to war time work shifts. We sat at the counter and two girls were to my right.  After a few sips of coffee I decided we needed to ask for help; from the locals.  I asked the girl next to me if she was acquainted with this part of New York?  She said yes, so I asked her if she knew where we could find a room. She pulled herself up looked at me and said I'll have you know I'm not that kind of girl!   Nonplused for a moment I chuckled saying you New Yorkers must have a language all your own. I'm from farm country and haven't encountered this kind of communication problem before, my buddies and I have been up since 5:00 am, we're tired & simply want to find a place to sleep – I’m sorry if I offended you.

Gracious Ladies    After a pause she and her friend turned and asked where are you from?  I told them and introduced my buddies. They were soon leading us from one location to another until they found us a place to stay. In a short span they changed from hard exterior to a pair of gracious helpful considerate young ladies. I wondered if this dual personality was typical of that evolved in the environs of a big city?  They tried 3 places before finding us a room.  Our room consisted of cots arranged among steel girders forming the top pinnacles of a sky scraper hotel. It was 3:00 am by the time we settled in. 

            Neudorfer   Ken Neudorfer went his own way to visit friends, New York was his home town.  Ken once commented, I'd give a lot to be able to do that.  I was writing a letter to my folks and looked up at him quizzically. He said you sit down and as fast as you can write, a letter rolls out of your pen, I can't seem to convert what I want to say to writing.

            Noxzema   After our NY trip Ken was continually shifting his shorts, walking gently and as little as possible. His behavior reminded me of the football player after someone put “hot stuff”  salve in the crotch of his shorts! Ken obviously had a problem and we were concerned. He was reticent to discuss the subject but assured us there was nothing to worry about. He used Noxzema to solve a NY problem and its chemistry inflamed sensitive regions. The word Noxzema generates a smile in memory of his plight.

            ASTP   An ASTP, Army Specialized Training Program and Navy's V-12 Program were going on while we were there.  Our program, fashioned after West Point, was push push with discipline and intensive cramming,  theirs was an extension of conventional college.  (When the Battle of the Bulge broke out ASTP students were abruptly shipped to Europe to cover losses.)

            Joe from Peru   I passed a guy and thought knew, I could tell he had similar thoughts. As soon as he spoke I was able to place him, it was Joe the student from Peru at Lincoln Nebraska. I went to see him later and we had a good but short visit. He received the same training we did but was exempt from our strict cadet discipline. It was lonely for him, the only one from South America and exempt from our activities, he felt left out. I never saw or heard of him again.

            Hanger at Yale   Their enclose baseball field became a hanger and we ran up airplanes outside.  The football field was near by but we were not permitted to see games.  After game crowds would gather along a fence and watch as we'd run up aircraft.  Pretty college girls would watch through the fence, we couldn't really tell if they were pretty but prop wash silhouetted their pulchritude – our imaginations made each a beauty queen.

   

                  Ballpark Hanger           Athletic Building                      Falling in to go march somewhere

            Athletic Building    Yale had a fantastic Athletic Building. Above the main entrance was a multi-storied tower. The various floors were devoted to boxing, wrestling, weight lifting, gymnastics, etc. On the left side on the ground floor was a full indoor stadium surrounding an Olympic size pool. To the right of this was an indoor practice facility for rowing teams, the boat was a fixed concrete section with seats on rollers and oars in place, water was pumped past each side to simulate a boats forward motion.  On the right side of the tower was a large gym. On a second floor above the gym was a large practice swimming pool, and about it’s perimeter was a track where runners could practice during the winter. In another section on the ground floor were several large fully enclosed Handball courts Compared to an environment of dust storms, depression and drought a few years prior this seemed unbelievable! The school was the recipient of much American wealthy – it was our privilege to enjoy it.

            Hand Ball   Our favorite sport was hand ball. Four of us would play as two man teams inside the completely closed cubicle with hardwood walls and maple floors.

            Wrestling   We had our turn at wrestling and I was doing quite well, until I found myself confronted with a fellow I’d never seen before – I could tell by his stance he’d wrestled before – a conclusion endorse when I saw classmates gathered about the mat wearing grinning faces.   My opponent and I wrestled for some time, neither able to pin the other.  While wrestling I said, your no stranger to this sport, where did you wrestle.  He said I was on the team at Lehigh (noted for their wrestling teams), your buddies were searching for someone and insisted I take you on.  I said you are good, as you can tell they are enjoying this.  We became good friends, I can see his face but can’t recall his name, he was an upperclassman and we lost contact when gym phase ended.

            Can’t Float   I had never learned how to swim and this was a wonderful opportunity and I took advantage of it.  We had to pass a floating tests – I couldn't float no matter what I tried! Some could float with ease, for others it was difficult but achievable without swimming. I was one of the rare ones who would just sink.   In the first attempt to stay afloat for an hour I dog paddled and became too pooped to finish.  As I tried to come out the instructor stepped an my hands. I told him it was either let me come out or him come in and get me.  At first he thought I wasn't trying, saying all you have to do is float.   I said yeah but I can’t float. He said everyone can float if they try.  I said, I want to know how to float, I certainly didn't want to drown if our transport goes down.  Tell me exactly what to do and I'll do it. He told me to fill my lungs, relax and lay back.  I did and sunk to the bottom till I had to come up for air. The next day he spent the entire hour with me before he was convinced I really couldn't float. I finally passed the test by laying back in the water and maintaining enough motion by slowly moving my legs or slowly sweeping my arms, I snorkeled my nose enough to breath and yet not fatigue.  Years of heavy manual labor eliminated fat and service exercise kept it off – like the instructor said, my body was abnormally dense.  Later in Tumon Bay on Guam I could float – in salt water. 

            Last Class to Old Quad   Near the end we became very aware we were the last class, as we were moved from Silliman Hall to the Old Quad.  From the main entrance we climbed up marble stairs, worn from many generations of foot steps, to an upper floor with window open to sound of a street cars passing all hours of the night.  It was nice but a come down.

Airport Hot Coffee   Final training in Nov. of 1944 was at the New Haven airport. It was cold and windy trying to work on planes out in the open, we changed a supercharger and engine on a B-l7. A little old guy with a food truck would stop; every so often with hot coffee and hot dogs. We went through a lot of coffee trying to stay warm, we had no shelter all day long.

            Abdomen Cramp   While in the hanger receiving instruction I developed a progressively worsening feeling in my abdomen. Finally I went on sick call and waited about 45 minutes -- I could hear the Dr. telling what all he'd done the night before. He knew I was there but left me twisting in the wind.  Finally I turned to the Sergeant and said tell the Dr. to finish his bull session some other time – I need to see him and now!  The Sergeant saw I meant it, told the Dr. and waved me in.  As I walked in the Dr. asked what was wrong? I suddenly doubled over with a severe cramp. The Dr. kept saying, as if giving an order, to speak up and tell him what was wrong? Still doubled over and not able to breathe I waved for him to shut up. Finally I converted a few short breaths into longer ones and managed to speak. I had become anxious and aggravated while waiting and the Dr's attitude made me angry. I said I couldn’t talk because I couldn’t breathe, if you’d tended to business when I got here I could have told you. Surprisingly he took no offense and soon had my problem diagnosed, my diaphragm cramped due to a lack of salt. He gave me some salt tablets and in 15 minutes I felt much better and a half hour later felt fine and was back in class. That salt worked fast.

            Buying Uniforms  During the last two weeks we bought new uniforms and filled out papers preparatory to discharge as enlisted men and commissioned as Second Lts. Our clothing allowance would only pay for winter clothes, I still have most of them, I subsequently only needed Suntans.

            Write personal record   We were gathered in a large room and were told to write our life history – our whereabouts and activities since birth. We did this in one setting from memory – indicating time, day and month.  The purpose was left to our imaginations, we doubted if an agent could pass undetected,  perhaps it was information they could refer to if there was need to prove who we were.  None of us knew the time of day on our birth certificates.

            New Haven Fairwell   During our last days we managed to bid farewell to the girls who’d been most helpful.  They’d bid farewell to cadets before us. We appreciated their cheerful best wishes while taking final photos – all had recognized inevitability of parting.  

 

Ned Kendall posed for the Beaver               The end of Cadet Parades

            The Beaver was the Cadet Program paper, and did a special issue dated Nov 24, 1944, a summary of photos taken while the cadet program was in operation. The above are extracts from that issue. Kendall posed as the parting cadet – holding a barracks bag he had when we got off the train in Goldsboro NC.

            The New Haven community with over 2000 cadets in their midst would miss the weekly parades – and those leaving preserved memories – the ingredient of happy nostalgia.

Newly commissioned 2nd Lts     Ken, Ned, Darrell,  Robert Faulk

            Dinner at NY Train Station    Some 20 of us, now 2nd Lts, arrived at the New York train station at the same time to catch trains to our next destination.  We looked about and decided to dine at the station restaurant. An older gentleman was giving a dinner party for a group of girls, then being seated, saw us come in – he invited us to join them for dinner at his expensed. We did and spent a most enjoyable evening visiting and joking with the girls while lingering over the meal. Ever so often we'd all go along to see one or two of the guys off. After about 1/3 had left the girl I was with said, it's obvious you fellows have been together for some time and are very close friends. When you part you just shake hands, wave and say be seeing you around, have a good trip. Are you going to be reunited some where? I turned smiled and said, no it’s unlikely we will ever see each other again. She seemed quite surprised and puzzled. I continued, each of us is fully aware of how the other feels, there is no need to express our feelings with words. We accept it's best to use the pretense that we are not really parting, that we will be run into each other again somewhere sometime.  Word was passed to the other girls we were indeed parting, perhaps forever, it was not discussed – they’d become aware.

            Three of us were the last to leave on a 2:00 am train, all the girls stayed to see the last of us off.   We said goodbye on the platform then waved at each other from the train. As the train started to pulled out I saw their cheerful laughter and smiles had turn to tears, each was crying.  Something very wonderful had happened.  In a brief span our lives had intertwoven, strangers became close friends.  As the train rolled away I thought, we don't even know your names, not even to express thanks.  

            As the train clickey clicked into the night I wondered who those ladies were, where they worked?  All were very nice looking, well dressed and alert, as if required attributes.  I had a feeling the gentleman treating “his girls” had selected each from many – he was absolutely delighted when observing us blend in conversation.  Fate mixed the ingredients of long term bonds – then let them wither.