In a brief space their careers were altered. From a life of security and peaceful study, they were thrust almost without warning into tile mad global struggle. They were called to serve. And how fully they gave their answer, we know, sorrowingly, but proudly. They had not been trained to the brutal ways of war, but had busied themselves in preparing to meet life's innumerable perplexities in peace. To enlighten by their knowledge a world struggling in religious darkness; to strengthen by the power of their Catholic truth a world weakened by selfishness, this had been their purpose.
But to live as God wanted them to live and to die as He wanted them to die, this, over and above all else, was the beckoning star that led them.
The principles which governed their lives are those by which all must attain sanctity; to do God's will in all things. These sons of Campion were striving for this when they were cut short. All they had lived for was shattered. Their hopes fell in ruins about them. But despite this, their early training in Catholic homes, and the later instruction at Campion, enabled them to see in all this change the will of God. Confident, they knew that even in death they were following His plans for them.
Their willing sacrifice of all they held dear cannot be held cheaply. Can we believe that their preparation was vain and fruitless? Is not the world a better place because of their brief sojourn in it?
Although they may not have made great contributions to science or literature, the shining example of their Catholic lives and their faithful adherence to principle was of far greater value.
To insure the lasting value of their oblation, we Seniors of 1946 pledge ourselves to carry out their lofty ideals. We promise to strive that we may fill worthily the places they left vacant. To carry our Catholic heritage to a pagan world, and to instill our Catholic hope in a world of despair, this is and will be our enduring memorial of them.
To them, proudly, yet with heavy hearts, we dedicate this volume of
THE CAMPION KNIGHT.
Ens. John T. Battaile '39: carrier, Pacific: 5-9-45 S 1/c Clement A. Berghoff, Jr. '44: surgery, San Diego: 10-3-44 Lt. Paul E. Bohonek '40: over Austria: 11-7-44 Pvt. Arthur J. Bonness '43: maneuvers, Montana: 7-17-44 Pfc. James Bubb '41: surgery, Guadalcanal: 2-3-45 Sgt. Daniel C. Burke '38: in Germany: 2-24-45 Lt. John L. Carmody '42: over Austria: 12-16-45 Pfc. John E. Clair '42: in Germany: 1-20-45 Ens. John V. Clinnon '37: flight maneuvers, Florida: 5-3-44 Lt. David F. Cunningham '38: in France: 6-20-44 Pvt. James C. Davis '37: in training: 1-11-41 Ens. Robert P. Dawson '41: crash, Marianas: 2-28-45 Lt. Harry L. Delaplane '42: over English Channel: 10-30-44 T/Sgt. Edward P. Dreher '41: in Germany: 4-6-45 Lt. Richard E. Fox '37: crash in Europe: 12-9-43 Lt. James F. Gambill '40: crash, New Orleans: 5-20-43 Ens. Edward L. Grelle '40: crash, Florida: 12-24-43 Sgt. James W. Griffin '33: died as Jap Prisoner: 5-20-44 Lt. Robert W. Grimm '40: in Germany: 6-27-45 Pvt. Franklin P. Harpring '40: died on furlough: 1-19-44 S/Sgt. John J. Heaney '35: in France: 8-17-44 Capt. Leo S. Hillenbrand, Jr. '37: Iwo Jima: 2-20-45 Capt. Henry R. Hillenmeyer '38: explosion, Korea: 11-30-45 Ens. John H. Hogan '41: crash, Florida: 1-29-44 AMM 2/c Charles W. Kallal '38: somewhere in Pacific: 3-19-45 Lt. Alphonse J. Kech '39: over Germany: 8-4-44 Cpl. Thomas A. Kelly '31: in southwest Pacific: 11-7-43 Lt. John F. Kinsman '41: over Philippines: 2-19-45 Pvt. Victor S. Krzysko '43: in Italy: 11-1-44 Lt. Richard J. Leahy '41: in Europe: 10-27-44 Lt. William W. Lechnir '38: in France: 6-10-44 S/Sgt. Raymond A. Maxwell '39: maneuvers, Georgia: 8-4-43 Lt. Robert W. McClellan '34: Bougainville: 11-29-43 Sgt. Terence J. McGurgan '33: crash, Wyoming: 8-2-41 Lt. Donald B. McNally '38: over France: 11-15-43 Lt. Robert J. Miller '35: crash, Washington: 8-10-43 Lt. Edward J. Murphy '43: over Germany: 3-31-45 Lt. Francis G. Murphy '34: over Bay of Bengal: 4-24-45 Pvt. Joseph H. Saris '37: in training: 1-11-41 Ens. Otto E. Scheurmann '40: lost at sea, Pacific: 12-18-44 Pvt. Callistus J. Slais '42: in Italy: 11-29-43 Pvt. Eugene W. Sullivan '28: in France: 9-13-44 Sgt. Robert Coles Van Heck '36: Tarawa: 11-23-45 Cadet John T. von Harz '36: crash, Texas: 10-24-41 Pfc. John W. Wade '39: at Cherbourg: 6-24-44 Pvt. Ferdinand Weiber III '42: from wounds in Africa: 9-6-43