Indian Springs School began its second year of operation in September 1953. At that point, there were about 100 students and about 12 faculty, including the two directors, Dr. Armstrong and Dr. Crosby. The first day was spent in an orientation session in the library, where we faced the faculty, who assembled in a semi-circle in front of the room.
One of the first things Doc did was to introduce the faculty. Most of them Doc had been acquainted with at Peabody, and most had served in World War Two, which had ended only eight years earlier. Some had undergone actual combat, including Mr. Cameron, who had been in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Mr. Cobun, the science teacher, who had been an Army captain in the Battle of the Bulge, and Mr. Cantey, who was a lieutenant commander on a carrier that was struck by a kamikaze late in the War.
Needless to say, such exploits fascinated us teenage boys, so during the break, John Fuller and I asked Mr. Fleming where he served during the War. Of course, he began with his signature laugh, and then told us: "Well, my military career was not nearly as exciting as some of my colleagues. I was a radio operator on one of the Aleutian Islands…a handful of sailors and a bunch of goats!" And then he added, "I guess things have really not changed that much. Ho! Ho! Ho!"
Well, I imagine there were times when Mr. Fleming (except for Doc, our teachers back then always were addressed "Mister" or "Doctor") wishes he was back on that Aleutian Island, as he ended up being stuck with my class twice out of our four years at ISS. He was so brave and special that we invited him to our Fiftieth Reunion, and in the group picture Mr. Fleming looks just like one of us…after 50 years, he still looked and sounded the same!
But, as those of us who are now octogenarians ourselves know so well, time finally catches up with all of us - physically, at least. Last Fall, I learned that Mr. Fleming had had a fall and was at one of our facilities recovering. He was sort of crumpled up in bed, but he knew exactly who I was, and he seemed to be as sharp as ever. What a recall he had, always!
Mr. Fleming was "in the beginning with Doc." Just imagine being in one place for 70 years. When I think of Mr. Fleming, I can't help but recall the old movie version of "Goodbye, Mr. Chips". Mr. Chips is a professor at an English boarding school who, like Mr. Fleming, spent his entire career teaching several generations of young English high school boys.
At the end, Mr. Chips has one of those end-of-life visions in which each of his pupils returns to his doorway and bids him "Goodbye, Mr. Chips". We would hope that just maybe Mr. Fleming had the same experience at the end of his life…"Goodbye, Mr. Fleming."