Though Homecoming traditions remain the same, the circumstances students face have changed over the decades. Check out this article from the 1950 Homecoming edition when students were concerned about their classmates being drafted.
Homecoming is the time when old friends get together and talk about the good old days. But for some very unfortunate members of the student body, there won’t be any talking, not on the campus at least.
This year’s Homecoming isn’t any different from those in previous years to most of us. But to those who were hit by the draft and are no longer on campus, it’s a different story — the old army story, complete with barracks, pin-ups, blood and sweat.
Many of the old faces will be seen on campus mingling with the new ones. But of course, the men who were eyed and pointed out by Uncle Sam will not be there.
Those who left just recently were: Burr Rodgers, Pete Edwards, Bob Polkinghorn, Ken Montag, John Moser, Carl Barber, Jim Hilty and Jim Starrell.
Those who have received notice pending induction are: Al Martinsko, Bob Swisher, Dick Hamilton and Dale MacKay.
Before the semester closes, there will be several more who will shake hands with the Uncle and don the standard clothing.
Several parties were held during the past month for the men who were on the eligible list. Till the last minute, fingers were crossed that some word of encouragement might come from the Pentagon, but the Pentagoners were too busy following Truman’s flight to MacArthur.
Tears were shed in both directions. The men who left their better halves behind tried hard to stop the deluge, but the look the frails’ faces broke even the stoniest. It looks like V-mail will be the ruler of the day in the very near future unless the Pentagoners stop following Truman’s flight and start mapping out a flight of their own.
