Quote in italics is by Class Scribe Marty Ganderson from "1961 Class Notes" in the ASSEMBLY Magazine, December/November 2006.

John Mack ('61) has a story to share that stirs increased respect and gratitude to those "who have pointed the way."

First, his words of appreciation to the Ring Recovery Committee: "I received my father's class ring. Thank you so much for all of your efforts! My children are as stunned and delighted as I am. What an unusual set of circumstances! I am only sorry my mother did not live to see this (she died in 1992). Please give my sincere and heartfelt thanks to all who assisted you."

Now, the circumstances. A Class of '25 ring with the engraving that appeared to be "E.C. Mack" was one of the two rings that the committee acquired from the effects of a man who had been a civilian contractor on Wake Island. After this man's capture, he ended up in POW camp in Japan where the records show that John's father was imprisoned as well. From that point the trail of events is uncertain.

What is certain however, is that the committee diligently traced the ownership through the manufacturer Tiffany & Co. Tiffany's records show that only one person in '25 purchased a sized 10 1/2 ring with a faceted garnet stone, Edward C. Mack '25, John's father.

One committee member who carried out this mission explained. Both graduates died in the POW camp only after unspeakable horrors of the Bataan Death March, and then were transported to Japan aboard POW ships which were sunk by our own aircraft. Yet they survived for another POW camp in Japan before dying within a matter of months before the war's end.

May it be said, "Well done; be thou at peace."

Marty Ganderson
Class Scribe