American Hero: a glimpse of Citizen Soldier High School Kid from Kalispell, Montana

I inherited the 1940 High School Year Book that had belonged to my uncle Bud (Carl Ralph Bonde, Jr.)  I have searched its contents repeatedly, finally transcribing the whole of all of the inscribed comments.  Remember, Bud did really lousy in school, intelligent as he was.  He lived another 4 years.  One of those as university student, most of the rest of the time in the army.  They trained hard, I’m told, in places in Alabama and Arkansas.  My mother said Bud found his experience, “very rough.”  

Appendix A

Inscriptions from Carl Bonde’s 1940 The Flathead high school annual

The following 69 notes written to Carl Ralph Bonde Jr in a copy of the high school annual The Flathead 1940 were copied verbatim by DS 1/4/2011.  Names are in boldface. These names were rechecked against a list of students published on the web by Gayle Collins, and annotated 1/14/2011 by DS.

First Page Spread autographs in approximate order clockwise toward the center:

Remember History & Lit. Classes Albert Keenan “41”[1]     Don’t forget Biology Romolo Pettinato

Good “luck” to a swell guy.  I’ll see you next year.  Chester Mahugh “41”

I hate to admit it but you’re really a good mathamatician Carl Bob Bryan

The good old Biology class we will not forget. Lawrence Johnson[2]            Well Carl you will probably always be a silly kid, but good luck I’ll see you next year Alton Lee.

OK Bonde — You Win.  To bad you did about same as Me in Bozeman — Better Luck next time. Allan  Crumbaker – ’41

Lotsa Luck to a swell kid Bob Jystad

Good Luck, Carl. Neoa  [Neola Shepard?]

Dearest Carl hope you get to stay in the Library for at least a couple of weeks next year Bruce Johnson

Didn’t you have fun in Great Falls? I sure did too.  Will have a good time this summer. Bertha-May Simon

Don’t forget the trip Bozeman. Vernon Johnson

Don’t play those machines any mo’ “Luck” Art Anderson

Rudolph Bergstrom ’41

Lots of Luck next year Don Bolton

Good luck to a Biology pal Mary Ellen Dyer

Lots of Luck remember Reeves classes Hope I see you next year. Carlene Wilke

Remember the trip to Bozeman and heres wishing you lots of luck in the future.           Bill Ulrick

Best wishes for next year Flora Brownback

Carl Bonde Best wishes, Carl Bryce[3]

Remember Bozeman Ralph Asbridge

Ransom H. Brown

Lots of Luck Robert Swenson

Remember Reeves and the Circular sitting in am. Lit and History George Rhodes

As one duck-hunter to another — ??!! Ernie Brooner [does not appear in annual]

Remember biology and me Harold Groot Class of “42” [does not appear in annual]

Lots of luck kid and don’t be so onery next yr. Andy McClelland

Good Luck to you. Elfred Martinson “41”

Second page spread autographs:

You’re all right when it comes to math Carl good luck Buck “41” [Walter?]

Loads of Luck, Carl. Janett Newell

Hope you have Loads of Fun during vacation. “Best Wishes” Dorothy Jean [Berry?]

I wish I knew as much about Geometry as you do. Good luck. Dorothy Nees

“Leslie Cornelius” [not in annual and underlined, near the following inscription and in Donald Swanberg’s handwriting

“Good luck” Donald Swanberg “1940” [does not appear in print in annual]

Listen you drop in the bucket if you don’t quit picking on me and taking me on those crazy boat-camping trips I’ll I’ll . . . I’ll, Oh forget it. Bob Huck [a caricature below, titled “you”]

good luck  Lawrence Sonstelie

Don’t forget the ducks, Bonde, Douglas Penrod

Luck to you in your Geometry, next year Taking it over aren’t you K Jr.

Good luck to a fell History Scholar Lloyd George

Well Carl We had fun in our Hist & Lit classes. Don’t forget the chalk erasers grrrr. Beverly Hinman 41′

Good luck to a good Geom student & a “nut” You & Bob H. [Huck?] made a great pair of comedians. Carol Clark

Here’s luck Brother Bonde Alan Aggson

get along. Bob Evans

Maybe some day I’ll say it. Mabe Luck BJ Libert

Good Luck to a swell classmate A pal of ’42 Vergen Ainley

Confidentially I don’t know what you mean when you say what happened at my house. Betty Lou Nelson PS Do you remember Terman the Pigion

 

Third page spread autographs:

Luck to a good student – Bill Newell ’42

Lots of luck to you. Remember good old Hist & Lit. Evelyn Zimmerman “41″.

Hello Carl, Don’t work too hard. I’ll be on that camping trip in a few days. Don’t forget geometry off Thompson either. God, you know what. Don Huck

Bonde, Lots of luck to swell kid. Don’t forget your famous yodel when you learn to play Black Jack come around shorty [unsigned note]

Autographs throughout the remainder of the annual:

[Dedication page] Well Hi Carl, Say boy here we are going to be Juniors — Hope you are in some of my classes next year. Luck, Yvonne Johnson

[page of football players’ heads in star cutouts] I’d look more natural if there were bars over this but — Good Luck D. Christiansen Christy

[opposite Principal’s Message] Dearest Carl, The next time you lose a dollar to me I’m going to collect it in one piece Roger Baldwin

[Page 14 on faculty page by Lee Thompson mathematics athletics] Lee Thompson Geom Boseman

[Page 40 on junior student photos page] Here’s looking at a tough classmate but a friend I hope Johnny Rhone “41”

[Page 54 track and field page] Best Wishes Pat Talley

[Page 57 student council page] Luck to you Bonde. And that means that the “big ones” don’t get away (as always before) Dick Wendt

[Page 71 opposite senior and all school play page] Remember those rides to school with Turman last year? Fun? Yes. We still have one more year. Oh joy! Betty Bailey

[Page 76 on page with Baton Twirlers, opposite Pietro Yon “world-famous organist and composer.”] Good Luck – See you next year O[pal] Moe

[Page 83] Good Luck Russ Zobel

[Page 98, last numbered page in the annual] Lots of luck to you. Hope you get to go to Bozeman again next year. Dorothy Calvert

I’ll admit girls giggle alot but your just as bad as any of them. Virginia Clark

Goodbye you fast thing! Alfred Pedersen

Last page spread in annual:

Carl, Don’t forget Geometry.  How can you.  It’s great stuff!  Bob “Riggs” Orser

Best wishes to a swell kid.  Haven’t seen much of you this year.  “Nadine”

Hi Elsie Garey

Leave the Wimmen in distant towns alone – You were just lucky – Best wishes – Harry Anderson

Good luck next year, Bonde. Dean M[arquardt].

Hope we’re together in some class next year. Tom La Samaire

Carl apparently liked to clown in some of his classes, and enjoyed geometry and history and literature class.  He hunted and fished and camped, and went on a school-sponsored trip (mathematics related?) of some kind to Bozeman.