Skip to main content
The largest online newspaper archiveArchive Home
The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 245
A Publisher Extra® Newspaper

The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 245

Location:
Los Angeles, California
Issue Date:
Page:
245
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

fiosAnfleleg gfanea 1 0 Thursday. April 30. 1987 Special Cadets Meet Again After 43 Years They Weathered the Winds of War By MARY BARBER. Times Staff Writer strangers for about one minute. Then there we were with our arms around each other." Bushman said that upon retiring last year as vice president of the Perkin Elmer one of the world's largest manufacturers of scientific equipment, he began tracking former class members, most of whom had lost contact with each other.

He started checking "Who's Who" listings, then wrote to alumni offices of colleges near the men's hometowns, based on listings in the yearbook. Then he wrote to chambers of commerce. "I must have written 200 letters," Bushman said. "It was a labor of love." Then he looked up Pomona College's contract with the Air Corps and discovered that the college had charged the military $730 a year for each student, plus $2 a day for room and board. "I call that a bargain," he said.

li to i pl.lji i CH3S3 i i rxi i hi FINAL SPRING SALE APfSWTMIRT SVttUTU MTS4M til ARM COM SUUi lM Another guest was E. Wilson Lyon, who was in his second year as president of Pomona College in 1943 and later became one of the key figures in bringing five other colleges to Claremont Lyon, now 94, attended the luncheon with his wife. All Physically Fit The former "pre-mets," as they called themselves, are all in their mid-60s, and all appeared to be physically fit and enjoying life. Bushman said: "Most of these people were unrecognizable after 43 years, so it was like talking to Js I. iwf 11720 W.

PICO (213) Quality carpets at warehouse prices. "1000's of yards in stock" Bell cuts thehighcost of credit cards with this! 100 Monsanto Nylon 8 05 Ha In 16 cofcxs 100 Advanced Performance Nylon Plush Bj kittcolora Room Sin Remnants Vinyl Floor Custom Mad Araa Ruga 8pcial Apartnwnl PricM Forty-three years ago, America was at war, normal living was suspended and 200 young soldiers spent a year studying a subject few of them would ever use. Then they scattered all over the world. Hardly an experience that seemed as if it would influence them for a lifetime but that's what it did, they agreed when they saw each other this month for the first time since 1944, when they left Pomona College. "We were the best, we knew it and we were damn proud of it," said Bliss Bushman of Claremont, organizer of one of the college's most unusual reunions.

In 1943, Pomona was one of 14 colleges and universities throughout the country to contract with the Army Air Corps to provide an intensive one-year training program in meteorology. Intensive Study An Air Corps announcement said that "young men of high promise," aged 18 to 21, who tested high in math and science would be accepted. The Pre -Meteorological Detachment at Pomona College prepared to become military weathermen in World War II through intensive study in math, vector mechanics, physics, geography, history and composition. The competition among them was intense, the "washout" rate was high, and two years of college work were covered in that one year. Every minute was programmed from 6 a.m.

to 9 p.m., recalled the men, who nevertheless found enough time to court and marry a number of Pomona College co-eds during and after the war. "If you got 75 on just one exam, you were sent to gunnery school," Bushman recalled. "I got a 76 once, and did I hit the books!" The Pomona detachment's yearbook contains tributes to the group from top military brass for having the highest scholastic and athletic achievement among similar Army programs. Group Disbanded Ironically, the Air Corps trained hundreds more meteorologists than it needed, so the Pre-Meteorologi-cal Detachment at Pomona College was disbanded after completing the required year of study, and its cadets were sent to other training programs or to active duty. Only a handful ever served as meteorologists during the war, and only one made meteorology his career in civilian life.

He was not at the reunion. "We always had the feeling we were lost in some general's crap game," said William Graham of Silver Lakes, retired president of Barstow College. "We'd been built up to be elite officers, and it was a complete waste of manpower," Graham said. "But the program may have contributed more in the long run. I think it made us all overachievers.

I think I got my Ph.D. because of this." Graham also is a former president of colleges in Missouri and Florida and has a long list of academic positions, including director of the Tournament of Roses Band at Pasadena City College in the early 1950s. Strong Ties Like many of his former classmates, Graham has been married to the same woman for more than 40 years and has well-educated children and several grandchildren. Members of his family maintain strong ties to their church, where his wife, Jeanny, is music director. That is pretty typical of the former cadets, according to biographical sketches that 98 of them sent to Bushman.

Richard Nevins of Pasadena met Mary Lois Minton in Pomona College's Frary Dining Hall, and they were married in 1946. April 18 was their first time back in Frary, where the reunion lunch was held. Nevins was elected to the State Board of Equalization continuously from 1958 until he retired last January, and was the board's chairman four times. Others in the class were R. Gene Shelley, president of Raytheon an international electronics firm; James A.

Baker, staff senior scientist emeritus of UC's Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory; Bob Pilling, dean of instruction at East Los Angeles College; Terry Root, professor of clinical orthodontics at USC, and Dan Kingman, composer, professor of music and conductor of Sacramento's community orchestra. 'Rare and Special Treat' "My crazy wonderful happy life would not have come about had it not been for my experience at those critical moments attending Pomona," Phillip George, designer of airline interiors, airport facilities and restaurants all over the world, wrote in his biographical sketch. "I look back on that time as a rare and special treat." Alan Perry, a San Diego attorney and another of the reunion organizers, said the year at Pomona "was the most meaningful event in our lives." John Shelton, 74, a former geology professor at Pomona College and maker of several films for the American Geological Institute, told the class: "I thought I'd given this group my last lecture 43 years ago. You were one of the greatest groups I've ever had the privilege of teaching. You were the best motivated, the best behaved and the most satisfying group I ever taught." flBELL LJ SAVINGS 123Mlt7fl 1DDD123M rs- io89 visa iiiflfffi DAVID SMITH W.L.A.

just w. of barrington 479-8400 asun. VISIT OUR SHOWROOM CMm I "'laie- swimsuits A Cup 'i mT' I j. paW resort wear Introducing the Bell VISA with a difference big difference! Instead of paying a high fixed interest rate of up to 22 on your VISA balance, Bell offers a variable rate that's always in line with today's market. Bell's current rate can cut your interest payments by up to one third.

And there's more to a Bell VISA. Add overdraft protection 8904 Melrose Doheny Robertson) 278-5978 GRAND OPENING: Santa Monica Place, 2nd Level 393-6912 fiBELL A Federal Savings BWHr Bell Savings Los Angeles, 1801 Century Park East, Century Park Plaza, (213) 553-7081 BelTs VISA rale may vary. Monthly periodic rate 1.186. APR and monthly periodic rale calculated in March for the month of April, 1987 Cash advance charge, 2 of transaction. Annual fee $18 per year.

GREAT IDEAS BEGIN AT Gf.lA ComoleteDecoratina Kitchen Assistance Cabinets Designer Fixtures Corian Faucets Whirlpool Tubs RIALTO KOHLER ONE PIECE TOILET WHITE PORCELAIN LAVS SALE 99.00 119.00 240 too SALE REG 17x14 150.00 19x15 175.00 WHITE SLIGHT IMPERFECTIONS REG. 1340 7 -i 4 PICO I 2327 Federal Ave. W. Los Angeles 473-6531 orai ton thw sd, may wcoty of M-F MO-SJO; SAT. NOW 0K SUK to your Bell interest earn ing checking account or consolidate balances from your high interest credit cards.

bur Bell VISA also offers at no cost, extras like credit card registration, emergency cash service, car rental discounts and more! lb see how much you can save with a Bell VISA, call or visit your Bell branch today. Loan Association and Loan Auociation FIRM SLEEP CLASSIC Twin a. pc. 0 Fullea. pc 99 Queen 2-pc $249 Kina 3-pc $299 Solo in sets only PERFECT REST C-0 SUPREME B3- $70) Twin a.

pc. 0 JJ Full ea. pc $119 Queen 2-pc $299 King 3-pc $349 Sola in sets only PERFECT REST I Twin a. pc. 0 Full ea.

pc $139 Queen 2-pc $349 Kina 3-pc $399 Sola in sets only 68 98 Hotel 2 The Benefits Vou Want, In One Affordable Package Free Seminar sponsored as a public service Plus, WithThe B'nai B'rith You Choose The Doctor You Choose The Hospital You Choose The Deductible You're Covered Wherever You Go When You Travel, Your Protection Goes With You Available for B'nai B'rith members up to age 65. enroll new members. by the Arthritis Foundation LTU Underwritten By: ntt uutxm tat Mtomur.t COUPVOf WAN 140 WKMOMMP ftMAMOM. StMKSS HWWM NtWWM 10019 Up To $1,000,000 Lifetime Benefit Standard Semi-Private Room Charges Are Eligible Expenses Home Health Care Benefit Maternity Benefit Ambulatory Surgical Benefits Second Surgical Opinion Benefit Dental Option B'naiB'rith Members' Insurance Program For more information, contact: YES, I'm interested in B'nai B'ritlrs New Comprehensive Major Medical Plan. Please have a B'nai B'rith representative contact me with more information.

Home Phone We Name Addiess City ELLIOT MATLOFF 9665 WILSHIRE STE. 500 BEVERLY HILLS, CA. 90212 (213) 858-5970 Age Slate Zp HE Planning and Investing for Retirement rf a seminar on estate financial planning and tax strategies HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 1986 TAX REFORM ACT HOW TO INVEST BEFORE AND AFTER RETIREMENT HOW TO AVOID PROBATE AND DEATH TAXES Tuesday, May 5, 7:30 p.m. Temple Immanuel, 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills Wednesday, May 6, 7:30 p.m. Holiday Inn Westwood Plaza, 10740 Wilshire Westwood RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED: 213938-6111 YOU GET COMPLETE SET Oflicc Phone -depth M8 Twin set 88 King set Queen set Sold in sets only The Original WAREHOUSE MATTRESS FURNITURE 11920 W.

Jefferson, Culver City, CA 90230 lefleraon exit (1 blk. W. of 405) (213) 390-9559 M-F 9am-9pm, Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 12pm-5pm.

Get access to Newspapers.com

  • The largest online newspaper archive
  • 300+ newspapers from the 1700's - 2000's
  • Millions of additional pages added every month

Publisher Extra® Newspapers

  • Exclusive licensed content from premium publishers like the The Los Angeles Times
  • Archives through last month
  • Continually updated

About The Los Angeles Times Archive

Pages Available:
7,610,379
Years Available:
1881-2024