John F. Lipstate
From an email

On March 18, 1937 I was 1 month and 4 days past my 13th birthday and a member of Boy Scout Troop 31 in Tyler, Texas. We were sent to New London the next day and I was supposed to help direct traffic at a crossroads near the school.

The crossroads was near the school and there was personal debris all over the area. I saw a tennis shoe and prayed there was no foot in it; fortunately there was not. The place seemed to be in utter confusion but that turned out not to be the case. Heavy oil field equipment was being used to help move building rubble and that was most helpful in uncovering the victims.

I remember the day with great clarity.

John F. Lipstate
September 15, 2007

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Letter from John Lipstate to Floyd Ray
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September 10, 2007
Hi Floyd:

I was taking a stroll down memory lane, why I don't know, but perhaps that is the way old folks act. Anyway, I was thinking about my time in the Boy Scouts and of course, you came to mind. Besides all the good times, hikes, overnight camping trips and sundry other things Boy Scouts do I recalled some of the more stark and unpleasant things.

March 18, 1937 we were Boy Scouts and that was the day the New London School exploded killing some 300 teachers and students. It was a Thursday and on Friday the confusion was great and rumors were rampant concerning the situation. However, much heavy oil field equipment was mustered for rescue work and our Troop was called upon to volunteer for traffic control. Although I was reluctant to go my parents told me that it was my duty and that I would be part of the effort. At the time I was one month and 10 days past my 13th birthday and had no experience with such stark reality as what had occurred. Tales of body parts, blood, and gore scared me greatly but I went, as did you.

We assembled at Hogg Jr. High School early in the morning and were transported to New London. I can't recall exactly how we were transported but it must have been on a bus with some other Troops.

When we got to the disaster scene I was assigned to a crossroads adjacent to the school and was to direct traffic. I had no experience in such activity and sort of stood in the road hoping nobody would run over me. I looked around and there was debris of all kinds on the ground and in the road and I prayed there would be no human parts. Fortunately, there was none but I remember seeing a tennis shoe and hoped there would not be a detached foot in it. There wasn't.

There were folks with all kinds of food and drinks available for the rescue effort. I am not sure but I seem to recall a sort of temporary stand with sandwiches and cold drinks. Of course, there was no charge for anything and I drank a number of Dr. Peppers during the day. At that time Dr. Pepper was my most favorite drink and I got a couple to take with me to my crossroads station. I don't remember where we went to relieve ourselves but it must have been nearby. Perhaps I went down in the ditch adjacent to my station, I just am not clear on that, but I am sure I found somewhere.

Finally, the day ended and we were all picked up, counted and transported back to Hogg. It was late by the time we arrived and your father, Dr. Ray, picked us up at the school to take us home. I believe I went to sleep in the car from the time we were picked up at the school and awakened when we were at our house on 1st Street. When I got out of the car one of the Dr. Peppers I had secreted in my shirt slipped out and smashed to bits on the road. I was absolutely chagrined by the situation and Dr. Ray was laughing so hard I wondered how he was able to drive! For years I was embarrassed by that event.

Well, as difficult as the whole experience was it may have been a test of what we were going to be subjected to in a few years during the war. So, perhaps some personal good came from it although the tragedy was something I will never forget.