Evening star., 1939-01-23
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

times elected commander in chic,
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars o.
the United States, who during hi
third term headed goodwill tou,
Of veterans through the Orient.
Mr.. Van Zandt was born during
the Spanish-American War, o!
pioneer residents, in Blair County
Pa. Part of his education was re.
ceived in the Pennsylvania Railroad
Apprentice School, He had two
years overseas service with the Navy
during the World War and wa.
discharged with the rating of CHIEF
'quartermaster. For the last 20 year.
he has been an active member Of the
United States Naval Reserve.
He has been employed by the
Pennsylvania Railroad since 1915
starting as a molder apprentice ir
the Altoona shops. He has since
served in practically every depart.
ment and is now special representa-
tive of the passenger traffic depart
ment. For the last three years he
served as chairman of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars National Legisla-
tive Committee, was twice COM
mander of the Department of Penn
sylvania.
Also Legion Member.
He is a director of the v. F. W.
Security Fund. Inc. He is also a
member of the American Legion
and an honorary member of the
United Spanish War Veterans, a
member of the Masonic fraternity
the Mystic Shrine, Knights of
Pythias, Grange, Eagles, Blair Coun-
ty Historical Society and the Blair
County Game, Fish and Forestry
Association.
Representative Jacob Thorkelson,
1st Montana, is also an ex-Navy
man, a lieutenant commander of
Reserves. He was born in Egersund,
Norway, and came to the United
States when he was 16. He served
for two years with the Virginia
Naval Reserves and was then master
OF ocean-going ships for 10 years.
He took up the study of medicine
and was graduated in 1911 from the
College of Physicians and Surgeons
IN Baltimore. and held the chair of
anatomy for two years. Then he
moved to Montana, where he has
practiced surgery for rs years. He
also engaged in the advertising
business in Butte. Last November
he defeated Representative Jerry j.
O'Connell, who was stormy petrol"
in the last Congress.
Four From Minnesota.
Representative John G. Alexan-
der, Sd, Minnesota, was born in Cort-
land County, N. Y, and took his
law degree at Cornell University.
His occupation is insurance and real
estate management He served in
the World War and in the Mime
sofa National Guard for 10 years.
Representative Oscar Youngdahl,
5th, Mimi, was an unsuccessful
candidate for State attorney gen.
eral two years ago. He served in the
Navy during the World War and is
the father Of four children.
Representative H. Carl Andersen,
7th, Minnesota, was born in the
State OF Washington. When he was
four years old the family moved to
his present farm home in Tyler,
MINI. He is farmer by profess
sion, is member of the American
Legion and served three years ago
in the State Legislature.
Representative William A. Pit
tenger, 9Th. Minnesota, holds
honors as an ''in-and-outer." He
also is distinguished as serving the
district formerly represented by j.
Adam Bede, noted wit, humorist,
journalist and lecturer. Mr.. Pit
tenger was born in Charlottesville,
Ind. He received his law degree
from Harvard and has practiced
law for q years. After two terms
in the State Legislature he served
in the Seventy-flrst and Seventy
second Congresses, was defeated for
the Seventy-third, was again elected
for the Seventy-fourth, was again
defeated for the Seventy-fifth and is
now back in the Seventy-sixth.
jerks MAKES COMEBACK.
Representative George H. Helnkc
1st. Nebraska, was born on farm
and worked his way through COL
lege for six years by waiting on Ia
BILE and doing odd jobs" He has
practiced law for 80 years. He has
been county attorney for two Terms
the first four years and the Sec
ond eight years.
Representative Carl T. Curtis
4th, Iowa. is only 80 years old. He
is a lawyer.
Representative Arthur B. jerks
1st, New Hampshire, is another
comeback" He was unseated last
June In a contested election case
and in November won back the seat
He Is retired shoe manufacturer
and is president of the Morris Plan
Bank in his home city.
Representative Foster Stearns
I'd, New Hampshire, is the son ot
the late Frank Stearns, prominent
Boston merchant who was sponsor
and adviser to the lat.. President
Coolidge. Mir. Stearns has taken
degrees from Amherst, Harvard and
Boston Colleges and studied extern
sively abroad. He was a first lieu
tenant of infantry in the World
War and served with the Intelli-
gence Section at General Head
quarters. He was assistant military
attache in Brussels, was wounded
and decorated with the Silver Star
and Purple Heart.
Served as Diplomat.
He is a member of the American
Legion and the Veterans of For.
eign Wars. He served as drafting
officer in the State Department fol
two years. Later he was third sec.
retary of the Embassy, attached tt
the United States High Commission