WWII Letters

2/LT. CHAS. R. COLLIER 0-546970 Btry B. 880 FA Bn. APO 7, c/o Postmaster NYC

Friday, 18 May Germany

Dear Dr. Tresidder;

Your very interesting and friendly letter of March addressed to Stanford Alumni in military service just came to me a few days ago so excuse this tardy reply.

I was glad to hear that you plan to maintain the standards set in past years - especially so because I believe many people over-emphasize the adjustment necessary for a soldier to become a civilian. A number of fellows in my class who are in the Pacific and also some officers in this division who are from Stanford feel the way I do; that our friends and family are

Lt. G.R. Concannon USS Allegan F.P.O., S.F. 19 June 1945

Office of the President Stanford University California

Gentlemen,

President Tresidder's form letter of March 1945 has finally reached me, and I am taking this opportunity to reply. Having graduated, and already obtained the only other degree I wanted (MBA Harvard), I have no plans at present to return to Stanford as a student. This answers your basic question, I believe. However please consider me as a loyal alumnus, and if I can be of some service, please advise.

In connection with the post script of your letter, I would appreciate your sending this note over to the Records Bureau so that they may be brought up to date in my case.

Sincerely, GRConcannon, '40

R.I Donald E. Davis 19132499 CoC 1265 Engr. Bn APO 230 New York, N.Y.

PRESIDENT TRESIDDER STANFORD UNIVERSITY CALIF.

May 23

Dear Mr. Tresidder,

I just received your letter along with an Alumni Review and was very impressed by the account the latter gave about the University. In return I will answer the few questions in your letter and hope they will help out.

Despite the probability of another year or more in the service I still hope to return to Stanford. I was majoring in economics and want to follow almost the same line. As is often the case even with college graduates my future is still uncertain but I have a vague idea of working on transportation, preferably by air, connecting the U.S. with South America. I haven't had much chance to look into the opportunities available but that is my idea for now. By going to summer school I think I can get my degree in one year during which I expect to live in the Delta Chi house. Haven't got any new ideas for extra-curricular activities but I would like to join The Spanish Club when I get back. I just hope the returning veterans can mix in with the normal life and don't need any special considerations to get along.

Sincerely yours, Donald E. Davis '45

17 April 1945

Dear Dr. Tresidder,

I was very happy to receive your letter to "Alumni in Military Service." It is rather nice to know what is going on at the "Farm." I still recieve a copy of "The Stanford Alumnus," and that keeps me up on most of the school activities.

Your letter contained several questions, the answers to which I would like to answer here. First of all, I do hope to return to Stanford after the war, and I plan on going ahead with my Pre-med course. I have had an opportunity to complete most of my pre-med work in the Navy V-12 unit at U.C.L.A. however there are one or two courses I will have to complete before applying for med. school.

There is one thing that does worry me though, and from all the discussion I have heard on the subject, I know it is a very important item for Stanford to consider. I am with the opinion of all the other Stanford men I have talked with recently that if there are no fraternities to go back to there will be only half a school to return to. I think that one of the major factors in any university is the fraternity and sorority

Somewhere in Germany March 28, 1945

Dr. Tresidder Office of the President Stanford University, Calif.

Dear Sir:

Your letter was forwaded to me by my family. It aroused my interest because the thought of school has been constantly in my mind over here.

There are many questions in my mind - more than you threw at me. First, I am concerned with the time I shall be out of the army. I am not getting any younger and I am faced with at least four years to complete my college education. It might be two years easily before I do get out. I shall be 22 at that time, in that case. That means that I shall be too far behind in everything. The education I shall want will be something that can get me specialized in my job quickly. It should offer a wide variety in my chosen field so it can be adaptable to any situation.