Aggieland Twenty Years Ago Not Too Different From Today (Editor’s Note — This is the first in a series of articles on A&M as it was in 1930-31, ex actly 20 years ago. Further sto ries in the series will appear in future editions.) . Remember way back when. . . That’s the standard introduction for a look at the past. But it’s not too apt to apply in this instance for the when is exactly 20 years ago— . a time when some of us had yet to grace the world with our presence and most of the rest weren’t pay ing too much attention to things beyond the scope of our play-pen. ' This is to serve as a look at the highlights around Aggieland in those days when almost the entii*e world was at peace and a nickel was actually worth five cents—if not more. And the look will be by a quick survey of The Battalion files of the year 1930-31. Let’s see what we find. The first issue, dated Septem ber 24, 1930, announced the first football game of the season, a ' clash with the Southwestern Uni versity Pirates. The Pirates had bested Rice 32-6 the previous week. This first school-year number of tabloid-sized Batt also announc- sPP the introduction of a new song to A&M. It was named “There Shall Be No Regrets.” That phrase, incidentally, was the battle cry at the beginning of this recent 1950 football season. Inside the paper a column en- * titled “Did You Know” announc ed that 2,397 men had registered that year. Big news of the next issue of the paper was the 43-0 defeat of the Pirates and the plans for the Ne- braska-A&M game. Another story mentioned the proposed opening of a 9-hole golf course adjacent to the campus “operated so as to show particular attention to A&M stu dents and campus people.” On the editorial pages,two read ers who identified themselves only as “Two who have been embarrass ed” made a plea for a course in table manners to correct a record that showed “A&M graduates . . unfortunately notorious for crimes committed at the dinner table.” Two stories shared first place on the next issue, one on the All- American honor rating conferred on the 1930 Longhorn and the oth- j er on the impending game with Tulane in Dallas. The spoils page mourned a 13-0 Aggie loss to Ne braska. Another reader contribution on v, this editorial page again jumped on Aggie manners. Objection able this time were wisecracks and unnecessary noise at the movies. Quiet was especially urged when “talking” pictures were being shown. President T. O. Walton took up much of the front page of the next issue, primarily for having Walton Hall, being built at the time, named for him. He was also credited with having received nu merous complaints on hazing. The sports page announced a 3-0 loss to TCU and looked forward to the Arkansas game. Contributing reader for the issue, “D.C.A.,” ask ed for shows on Sunday. Announcement of resumed ath letic relations with Baylor head lined the Oct. 29 issue for 1930. The relations had been discontin ued following the death of an Aggie at the 1928 Baylor game riot. The spoils section had bad news again—Arkansas 13, Aggies 0. It might be interesting to note that the Aggies, then coached by Matty Bell, were scheduled to meet the Centenary Gents, coached by Hom er Norton. One of the Aggie squadmen, incidentally, was a small lad named Harry Stiteler. The first Corps Trip of the year, a Dallas excursion, headlined the next issue which also told of the first campus fire of the year. Plans for the corps trip were being com pleted. The sports page told of “Light Horse Harry” Stiteler leading the Aggies to a 7-6 triumph over Centenary. His passing spelled victory for the team, but just to make sure, Stiteler made the tally from the 2-yard line. The “reader-gripe” for the week was about telling jokes at yell- practice. The next issue found sports again in the headlines with an an nouncement of the coming Rice game, the first at Kyle Field for the year. Smaller headlines told of a 13-7 loss to SMU. The editorial page contained a Dallas News editorial lauding the Aggies. It began “How can a fel low get mad enough to fight when those Aggies are just so darn po lite?” Among basketball letter- men pictured in the issue was one “Beau” Bell. The coming Aggie-Longhorn game headlined the next edition which boasted of the Aggies’ fourth cross-country champion ship in as many years. Confer ence standings i n football, though, found the Maroon and White sitting in the conference cellar on the wrong end of a 4-0 win-loss record. An apology from Rice students for some uncontracted painting and a denouncement of poor-man nered movie-goers highlighted the editorial page. As the year moved into it’s final month, sports fans were again sad. Turkey Day results had found Ag gies 0, Texas 26. Page 2 contained a form on which Aggies were to indicate what they considered their ideal, female- Six Aggies Have Won Congressional Medal By ANDY ANDERSON Six times, Aggies have taken the most coveted of all military awards. The Congressional Medal of Honor has been awarded to men in the classes of 1937, 1941, 1942 and 1943. George D. Keathley, who before his death, lived in Lamesa, was from the class of 1937. S/Sgt. Keathley assumed command of two platoons and by displaying out standing leadership, forced enemy forces to withdraw. For this brav ery and leadership, Sgt. Keathley was awarded, posthumously, the Medal of Honor. First Lieutenant Turney W. Leonard, class of 1942, was post humously awarded the Congression al Medal in July 1945. Lt. Leonard reorganized confus ed and leaderless infantry units who were able to overcome enemy resistance. His direction of artil lery fire toward enemy strongholds accounted for the destruction of six German tanks. At the time of his entrance into the Army, he was living in Dallas. The class of 1943 had three Medal of Honor Wilnners. They were Thomas W. Fowler, Wichita Falls; Lloyd H. Hughes, Corpus Christi; and, William G. Harrell, who now resides at 257 Larchmond, San An tonio. Second Lieutenant Fowler, a tank officer, took charge of an infantry unit and led them through mine fields he had scouted. He attempted to rescue a tank crew but was pre vented by withering enemy fire. After the rescue attempt, he rendered first aid to nine wound ed infantrymen in the midst of an artillery barrage. By braving the relentless enemy fire, he was able to save many lives and was recog nized by being posthumously hon ored with the country’s most hon ored medal. Second Lieutenant Hughes pilot ed his badly crippled plane through heavy anti-aircraft fire as he was going in over his target, refineries at Ploesti, Roumania. Utter disre gard for his life and his gallant and valorous execution of his orders were honored by the War Depart ment by the presentation of the Congressional Medal. One of the two living recipients of the award is William G. Harrell. Sergeant Harrell was awarded this medal for defense of a command post on Iwo Jima. He personally accounted for five of the twelve Japanese soldiers that were found heaped around his fox-hole fol lowing an all night attack. First Lietuenant Eli M. White- ley, with relentless drive led a platoon of men in an attempt to clear hostile troops from houses along the line of advance of Com pany L. 15th Infantry. Lt. Whiteley killed nine Germans, captured twenty-three more and spearheaded an attack which cracked the core of the enemy re sistance in a vital area. “Buss” Whiteley, as he was known to his classmates in the class of 1941, is now an instructor in the agronomy department at A&M. Corps Parade—1900 Style wise. With football season past, the editors sounded the familiar “get those grade-points” plea. This predecessor of Sbisa and Duncan, the Old Mess Hall burned at about the turn of the century. ' ~