On-The-Roof Gang
Class #6
Class #6 convened in 10 August 1931 and finished in 20 December 1931. Chief Radioman Dorman Chauncey was the instructor, only the second man to hold this position. Like the previous class, Class #6 sought to bolster the intercept mission in China by training a full class of Marines. However, only three were available for the training. One Sailor was added to the class last minute. As was the Marine Corps practice at the time, each of these operators as assigned to radio intelligence duties for only a single tour at the American Legation in Peiping, before being sent back to general service communications assignments.
Corporal Joel Hugh Easter
Joel Easter graduated from OTRG Class #6 and was assigned to Peiping in 1931. He performed RI duties there through Jan 1933 before he returned to general service communications duties in the USMC.
Joel Easter, 1928
Easter was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
03 Jan 1933: Peiping, China
06 Jan 1934: Peiping, China
17 Jan 1935: Peiping, China
Pertinent data:
Born: 18 June 1911
Location: Virginia
Died: 12 March 1963
Location: San Francisco, California
Interment Location: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
Corporal Carl Herman Gustaveson
Carl Gustaveson graduated from Class #6 and was stationed at Station ABLE in Peiping for one assignment before being removed from RI duties in 1933.
Gustaveson was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
03 Jan 1933: Peiping, China
06 Jan 1934: Peiping, China
17 Jan 1935: Quantico, Virginia (not performing radio intelligence duties)
13 Jan 1936: San Diego, California (not performing radio intelligence duties)
06 Jan 1937: San Diego, California (not performing radio intelligence duties)
11 Jan 1938: [not accounted for]
09 Jan 1939: Marine Corps Reserve
Pertinent data:
Born: 27 May 1904
Location: Greenfield, South Dakota
Died: 24 Jun 1984
Location: Albert Lea, Minnesota
Interment Location: Lakewood Cemetery, Albert Lea, Minnesota
Corporal John Hibbard
John Hibbard attended OTRG Class #6 from December 1930 to April 1931 and then transferred to the American Legation in Peiping, China. He performed RI duties there through June 1935 before he returned to general service communications duties in the USMC. He retired as a Warrant Officer.
Hibbard was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
26 Apr 1932: En route Peiping, China
03 Jan 1933: Peiping, China
06 Jan 1934: Quantico, Virginia (not performing radio intelligence duties)
Radioman First Class Clifton Shumaker
In June 1930, OP-20-G provided rudimentary intercept training to Radioman First Class Clifton Shumaker and sent him to Bar Harbor, Maine to establish an intercept site there. After completing the task and intercepting nearly one hundred European radio stations, Shumaker attended OTRG Class #6 in order to learn the katakana telegraphic code. He earned a promotion to Warrant Radio Electrician and was sent back to general service radioman duty. He received a commission during the war. In 1954, he was granted a patent for a “Broad Band Antenna,” for work he was doing at the Naval Research Lab. He died while still on active duty on January 20, 1955, in Alexandria, Virginia, at the age of 48, and was buried in Arlington, Virginia.
Commander Clifton Shumaker
Shumaker was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
23 Feb 1932: En route Asiatic Station
03 Jan 1933: ComBatDiv (on assignment – not performing radio intelligence duties)
06 Jan 1934: USS Chicago (not performing radio intelligence duties)
Pertinent data:
Born: 31 January 1906
Location: Leake, Mississippi
Died: 20 January 1955
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Interment Location: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
