"In those days, you didn't live with a prettygirl without marrying her," says Wilson. "I had nosocial life. I had a schooner life and a marriedlife."

Wilson had considered a career in writing, butthat dream was quickly--but temporarily--dashedwhen he submitted a poem to the Advocate duringhis first year.

"I got it back with red pencil on top thatsaid, "This is shit,'" says Wilson. "That is, youknow, the shortest from of literary criticism."

Wilson says he did not learn much of value atHarvard, except for a writing class he took withthe late lecturer Kenneth P. Kempton, who isincluded in the Gray Flannelacknowledgments.

And Wilson's years at Harvard also made himsomething of a cynic. "I came here absurdlyexpecting Harvard students to be the cream of thenation," says Wilson. "And was disappointed tofind that most of us, alas, were hardly that."

"I think at the time they were still letting ina lot of people because their families had a lotof money," Wilson says.

Wilson says his only bow to that establishmentcame when he successfully sought membership inEliot House. Wilson had arranged to live with twostudents from distinguished families. Duringinterviews with then-Master Roger B. Meriman, theother two students went in first. Meriman askedeach about his family, then welcomed them to EliotHouse.

"I went in and the house master asked me, 'Areyou with these two?' Then he said, 'Welcome toEliot House.'"

Eliot House or no, Wilson's plans alwaysextended far beyond Harvard. His father hadpredicted war with Germany as early as 1933, andthe author says he planned on serving.

Though he tired Navy ROTC at Harvard, hedisliked the training. "I'm not a marcher," saysWilson. "All I could do was knock my hat off myhead with my rifle."

So having decided against the Navy, Wilsonentered the Coast Guard after taking mid-yearexaminations his senior year.

He did not return to complete his Harvardeducation until the spring of 1946.

Wilson now lives on a 40-ft. sailboat with hiswife of 30 years, Betty. He has four children andeight grand-children.

"You know," says the 72-year-old Wilson, "Youdon't really know much until you get to be 70."

Wilson has cut back on writing for now, butsays he will soon begin to write non-fiction,perhaps a book dealing with sailing and boats.

Wilson will address his former classmates todayat Harvard in a speech recalling the story ofserving on a ship off the coast of Greenlandduring World War II