No Forgotten Fronts
From Classrooms to Combat

Dr. Lauren Post
When his students left for war,
Dr. Post collected their
addresses, excerpted their
letters, and sent The Aztec
News Letter all over the world.

Dr. Post was a
veteran of
World War I.
In 1943, he sponsored a rope-twirling exhibition on
the campus quad.

The Very First Issue
Dr. Post called it a News Service Experiment

Dr. Post produced the News Letter each month throughout World War II.
It kept students connected to one another, and to their campus.
April 28, 1944
Dear Dr. Post,
Sometimes, doc, the going gets pretty tough – even on a battlewagon – and you feel discouraged and disgusted.
And somehow the word “Newsletter” flashes in your brain, and you pick out an old issue at random and start
thinking of the other fellow – fellow Aztec. You think of the guy who used to drop by for you every morning and
drive you out to State. It wasn’t much of a car, and we invariably had engine trouble, and I don’t recall ever making an
8 o’clock class on time. But you can’t help thinking of what a swell guy he was and how badly you felt when you
learned that – that he had been killed in a bombing raid over Germany.
You read about others who have been killed or wounded. And you read about others who have been away from
the States a hell of a lot longer than you have. It’s then that you realize that things aren’t tough at all – that you’ve just
been kidding yourself!
Respectfully,
Lt. (jg) RJ (Bob) Noel, USNR
USS Mississippi
c/o FPO
San Francisco, California

“Where is my newsletter?”
December 17, 1943
Dear “Doc”
S.O.S. S.O.S. where is my newsletter? Please get one on the road
right away.
Doc, this rope-spinning is a rough, rough, racket! In the first place,
the size of a B.O.Q. room is somewhat restricting, and it’s too damn
cold to go outside and practice. I’ve been practicing faithfully since the
rope and instruction book got here, but don’t seem to get very far. But
you wait, someday I’ll come barreling into your office, take you down to
the quad, and do a Texas Skip for you!
Happy Landings
1st Lt. Lionel E. Chase

A Letter from
Lionel Chase

Dr. Post was
careful to observe
strict censorship
guidelines.

March 4, 1942
Somewhere on Oahu
Dear Doc Post,
You really missed something over here Doc. It was really something the seventh of
December. I’ll tell you it was just the same as waiting for a kick off. Your old stomach was just
as tight as it could be but when the first gun was fired, boom, it was gone and you were figuring
(“figgering”) how to run one through tackle. I must admit it was something like our game in ’39
against Compton, but there will come a day and soon I hope.
No kidding Doc I’m a changed man. I have been studying pretty hard since I’ve been in the
Army and I have my math, as applied to Anti Air Craft Gunnery, down fairly well. Well Doc I
hope you can see it to forgive me as I did “goof ” off something awful.
Aloha
Wally (Mac) McAnulty

Wally Mac McAnulty

Ernie McAnulty (Wally’s brother) was in a German POW camp for
captured pilots. Dr. Post wrote to both brothers, and to their mother.
June 7, 1943
Lt. McAnulty E. U.S.A.F.
Gefangenennummer: 1123
Lager-Bezeichnung:
M. - Stammlager Luft 3 [penciled in: Block 100 Prn. 6]
Deutschland
Dear Doc;
This card is being written under a bit different circumstances than
my last letter to you. I’m a Prisoner in Germany. I would appreciate it if
you would let my friends know I’m O.K. and any letters will be gratefully
received. Hoping to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
E.M.

Ernie’s cell mate was another fellow Aztec, Griffith Williams.
These records show that they shared Cell 18, in Block 125 at
Stalag Luft III.

Initially, Griff
Williams was
thought to be
missing. His
friends were
relieved to know
that he had
survived a plane
crash.

Courtesy of Muzeum Obozow Jenieckich/POW Camps Museum, Zagan, Poland.
Stalag Luft III POWs. Griffith Williams is in the back row, 7th from the left.

In 1941, the
Aztec
basketball team
won the
national title.
Three members
of that
championship
team were
killed in World
War II.

Milky Phelps, the team’s start forward, was one of the best-loved athletes
on campus. After he lost his life in a training crash, the campus retired his
jersey number. Faculty voted to award him his degree posthumously.
July 5, 1943
Many names I have read have hurt very deeply. I can only say that they
gave the full measure of devotion to God and country the same as all of us are
willing to do. You at State can be proud of your sons and daughters, you taught
us courage and truth, we will fight to keep you there to teach the ones that will
come after us to be better equipped to run this world after this mess is over.
You Dr. Post and men like you hold our future, and our children’s future in
what you give them now. Make them men, strong men as you have made us,
give them visions and thoughts of good government and how to run it, make
them conscious of God and his divine Guidance. Make them HARD for theirs
will be a hard row to hoe. Turn out men like Milky Phelps, you can do no
better.
Lt. Ray W. Fellows

Dr. Post promised that no Aztec would be forgotten. He displayed pictures of
students in service, with gold stars next to the names of those who had been killed.

A page from the
campus yearbook,
Del Sudoeste

Aztec stickers were one
of the most-requested
items, and especially
prized by pilots. They
put their mascot on the
canopy of their planes.

March 10, 1944
Still Italy
Dear Doc:
I’m in the hospital with what is known in the parlance as
“exhaustion” which covers a multitude of sins. My sin was to get caught
in the center of a concentration of “screaming mimi’s” & get my
marbles scattered all over the [word blacked out]. To top it off it took me 3
days to collect them. While my top was off I sure had me one hell of a
time telling officers & noncoms off & even tried to pick a fight with a 6
foot Ranger. Wish I could have been there to enjoy it.
Pvt. James R. (Jim) Hurley, Jr.
Dr. Post received letters from hundreds of people, and
he made sure information got to where it was needed.

March 24, 1944
Italy
Dear Dr. Post:
At my earliest opportunity I shall look up Pvt. James R. Hurley,
Co. I., 15th Infantry, APO #3. Thanks for letting me know about
him.
With every good wish to you and all the Aztecs I am
Very sincerely yours
Delmar L. Dyreson
Regimental Chaplain
7th Infantry
Dr. Post asked another Aztec, an army chaplain
stationed nearby, to visit Jim.

April 15, 1944
Dear Dr. Post:
Thank you so much for your interest in James, Jr., and for asking the Chaplain of
the 7th Infantry to look him up, and for letting us know about it. It was kind of you
indeed, especially when you have so many Aztecs to remember, who are now serving their
country. I do hope that the 7th is billeted near the 15th so that the Chaplain Dyreson can
easily find James. The latter is having a rather difficult time of it, and to think that
somebody was interested in him, and one who was capable of giving him spiritual
consolation besides, will, I’m sure, give his morale a big uplift.
Thanking you again for your courtesy, I am
Sincerely yours,
J.R. Hurley, M.D.
9298 Lemon Avenue
La Mesa, California
A letter from a grateful father.

September 22, 1944
I only hope that after the war we get the proper credit for
what we have done.
Jim Hurley
Jim, there are no forgotten fronts – not as long as there are Aztecs on
them, and we have them on all of the fronts.
Dr. Lauren C. Post, Editor
The Aztec News Letter
No. 38, May 1, 1945

Jim Hurley,
Associated Student
Body Treasurer

February 10, 1944
Hi Doc:
Yes, Sir!, we are now on the boat, destination unknown.
You’ve heard how tough the paratroops are. How rugged in physical endeavor, but what you
don’t know is how these same men felt as we boarded the ship & left the soil of U.S.A.
From the “Staten Island Ferry” to the boat, was something to witness. First we joked and
kidded as we passed familiar signs along the harbor like “Maxwell House Coffee,” “Bethlehem Steel,”
Colgate Soap & Perfume” & then that thing that stopped the crowd, the “Statue of Liberty.”
Tough guys had tears in their eyes, many stood gazing open-mouth, many a heart was in one’s
mouth, with a feeling of emptiness in one’s pit of the stomach.
The Statue of Liberty was beautiful & as she disappeared, Long Island came into view, then
Brooklyn, & what memories & laughs we all had.
Then as some giant hand pushing us way out, land seemed far off, New York skyline seemed to
diminish. When that disappeared & possibilities of seeing land of U.S. was gone, we just leaned back &
silence was a bliss as we all thought of what we left behind & what we are fighting for.
Always
“Little Geronimo”
Pvt. Herman Addleson
Describing a last view of the United States.

Eulogy for a classmate.
September 28, 1944
Dear Dr. Post –
I received the issue of the Aztec News Letter with a mixture of feelings – some
reminiscent, some a longing for the good old days at State. Unfortunately, during my
college life, I had to work 8 hours a day as well as attend school and I didn’t have a
chance to enter into the campus life and campus friendships as much as I really desired.
However, there was one little fellow we all knew, Herman Addleson who was
killed on D-day, and this fellow was my friend. I can remember lying on the grass
discussing our ideals and hopes, and so I believe I can qualify to say to all our fellow
Staters that the price of this victory is written in memories of men like that – not just
flesh and blood, but the dreams and aspirations of men who will live forever in our
memories. May their memories and ideals reflect in the way we live and in our
accomplishments.
Hope to see you again before too long.
William C. Boyd

The Aztec News Letter, No. 35, February 1, 1945
Lt. W.P. (Pat) Wyatt, USMCR, wrote from the
Southwest Pacific:
“I can’t see how those jokers can send home letters
saying where they are. I can’t even tell you whether I lux my
undies. All I can say is that I am on a rock in the
Southwest Pacific. My plane, The Nervous Wreck, is
holding out as well as any dive bomber can, and I am
rapidly finding myself in the same category.”

Pat Wyatt is in
the bottom row,
fourth photo.

One of
Pat’s
illustrated
letters.

Dr. Post wanted to make sure the men remembered their campus.

The tactic worked like a charm!

Dr. Post’s reunion
with Wally McAnulty.

Assorted Letters
Dr. Post received thousands of letters
throughout World War II.

The World War II Servicemen’s Correspondence Collection, 1941-1946.
Courtesy of Special Collections and University Archives, SDSU.