Marshall M. Fowler, Y1c (R)
U. S. Coast Guard
Nantucket, Mass.

8 December 1943

Bryant Alumni Service Club
Bryant College
Providence, R. I.

Dear Fellow Alumnae,

I received the cigarettes so kindly sent by you, and wish to express my thanks. As can be seen by the address, I am able to get back to Providence fairly often, and have visited the college twice since entering the Service. The changes there are as evident as elsewhere, missing faces from the faculty and a change in the atmosphere, due somewhat to the war and indirectly in that there are many less fellows.

For the above reason I judge I am speaking largely to the fair sex, I may be breaking some regulation as I am not in the Recruiting Branch but when some of you are looking around & thinking of what you want to do upon graduation why don't you investigate the Spars. I'm here on Nantucket because I'm needed, but see no reason why a girl couldn't do the work & let me on a ship or some foreign station.

I joined the Coast Guard particularly because of two very good reasons. I like the sea and the Coast Guard also works in peace time. Not that I shall stay in after the war, but the deeds of the Coast Guard in time of peace equal in heroism any of the war time exploits of any service, their war time exploits are a matter of record and indicated by the percentage of casualties as compared to other branches.

All right, I can look out the window of my station & see the ocean, so maybe I should be satisfied--would you be? Just look into it--70 State St. Boston, Mass will get you literature, or go in for an interview.

Thanks again for the cigarettes.

Truly yours
Marshall Fowler
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M. M. Fowler, Y1c
U. S. C. G. R.
Nantucket, Massachusetts

Bryant College Service Club
Bryant College
Providence, Rhode Island

Howdy,

Thanks for your letter, I was certainly glad to hear from the School and the news of the boys in the service.

I was sorry to hear of the boys who have had their final transfer, and hope with you that those reported missing will turn up after spending some time on a desert island without Hedy Lamarr.

Thank you anyway for the fellow who got my cigarettes. I was spending a couple of weeks fishing, and we have an agreement that any packages for boys on fishing trips are opened and shared, and I guess they forgot to tell me.

On the first of May my CO was kind enough to recommend me for first class. It went through and I have no doubt the business staff would be interested in hearing of it.

I would be interested in getting the addresses of those fellows who were in my B. B. A. evening division class and are now in the service. I met Mello when I first went in, but have no idea where he is now. Some of the others are probably in one branch or the other and it would be interesting to where and what.

Very truly yours
Marshall M. Fowler
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UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
Nantucket, Massachusetts

28 February, 1943

Bryant College
Providence
Rhode Island

Gentlemen:

This letter is to bring you up to date on my service standing.

I noticed that you had my graduation date 1920 on one of the Alumni Bulletins. I corrected this verbally, but want to take the opportunity to make sure that you don’t have me ten years older than I really am. I’m just old enough to be sensitive about it. I believe it was 1930 when I graduated.

I enlisted in the Coast Guard 12 September, 1942, and am a second class yeoman.

See if you can’t get the training of the Spars. A little Bryant schooling goes a long way.

Yours very truly
Marshall M. Fowler [Transcription ends]