Class of '64 (July-August 2011 Issue)


William (Woody) Flowers, Army ROTC, completed law school and practiced almost a year before being called to active duty. After an assignment in counter-intelligence stateside, Woody started his tour in Dalat gathering intelligence. Not unlike other classmates in Vietnam, he faced problems of intelligence sources working for both sides and internal conflicts between Vietnamese and Montagnards. Once he countermanded a Vietnamese officer giving coordinates of a Montagnard village to U.S. artillery support. Though Woody doesn't often talk about Vietnam, he credits his experience with teaching him how to remain calm and retain equilibrium under pressure, which served him well. He and Mary Kay, a retired college professor of political science, have two sons, Michael and Matthew. He's attended several class reunions and helps Sabin Danziger with fund raising.

David Kruger joined Army ROTC following his father's advice. He joined a special intelligence group, which assembled information and prepared briefings for the Secretary of Defense and the President. After two years he volunteered for Vietnam and was an intelligence officer on the 1st Cavalry Division general's staff. Sounds safe enough, but he was in four helicopters and one airplane that crashed. Dave perceived a beautiful country and likable people. He ultimately managed the Eastern Hemisphere operations for a bank. He and Jean travel extensively and have been back to Vietnam five times. In retirement he gives his time to non-profits, including Wentworth Institute of Technology, where he is chairman of the board. They have a daughter Kristen, a son Scott, and two grandchildren.

Hugh Savage also was influenced by his WWII veteran father to join Army ROTC. An engineering major he joined the Army Corps of Engineers, but skipped officers' basic training, a mistake in hindsight. In Vietnam he was initially headquarters company executive officer in An Khe. Midtour, he accepted leadership of a platoon building lookout towers and bridges. He improved the group's low morale by keeping the soldiers' needs foremost. After his service ('64-66) he earned Civil Engineering degrees from Tufts University and the University of Washington.Ê Hugh married Caroline Russell (Skidmore '66) while at Tufts. They have three daughters and two sons -- all in technical fields -- and four grandsons. Recently he turned over his engineering business to a son and sold his home inspection business.

James Stewart joined ROTC at Dartmouth and has high regard for the program and its instructors. He chose to enter military intelligence and was sent to Vietnam. He arrived just in time to attend the Bob Hope Christmas show in Saigon, where he stood next to General Westmoreland from whom he later received a commendation. Jim was responsible for daily reports detailing enemy troop strength and location for all of Vietnam. While there he attended a meeting of the Dartmouth Club of Saigon. Jim lives near Palm Beach, Florida, is commander of the county VFW, attends Dartmouth Club meetings and has been an interviewer. His wife Jane is director of information technology for a major hospital. They have a daughter Kristen who is a paramedic.