Athletes in World War II
After many professional athletes learned about the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941, some of them were eager to sign up with the U.S. Armed Forces to go and fight for their country. Even though fighting in the war meant giving up playing time in their sport, they still were determined to help bring their nation to victory over the Axis Powers in World War II. * The 1940 summer Olympics in Japan and the 1944 summer Olympics that were supposed to be held in London were cancelled due to World War II. However, London would host the 1948 summer Olympics.
Lawrence P. " Yogi " Berra
Military Unit: US Navy
Rank: Seaman Second Class
Yogi Berra served with the US Navy during World War II. In February 1944, he sailed for the British Isles on the USS Bayfield, where he was as a gunner's mate on board a rocket-launching landing craft in the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach. As Berra later recalled, " It was just like a Fourth of July Celebration."Berra also served in North Africa and Italy, and was sent home to the United States after suffering a hand wound. By 1948 he was the New York Yankees' first-string catcher. Berra played 18 seasons with the Yankees, was a 15-time all-star, a three-time MVP, and appeared in 14 World Series. Berra was elected in into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
Rank: Seaman Second Class
Yogi Berra served with the US Navy during World War II. In February 1944, he sailed for the British Isles on the USS Bayfield, where he was as a gunner's mate on board a rocket-launching landing craft in the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach. As Berra later recalled, " It was just like a Fourth of July Celebration."Berra also served in North Africa and Italy, and was sent home to the United States after suffering a hand wound. By 1948 he was the New York Yankees' first-string catcher. Berra played 18 seasons with the Yankees, was a 15-time all-star, a three-time MVP, and appeared in 14 World Series. Berra was elected in into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
Joseph " Joe " P. Dimaggio
Military Unit: US Army/Air Force
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Joe DiMaggio served with the US Army and US Air Force during WWII. On February 17th, 1943, DiMaggio traded his $43‚750 salary from the Yankees for $50 a month as an army enlisted man. He was assigned to Special Services with the Army Air Force and reported for duty on February 24, 1943 to Santa Ana Army Air Base in California, the Army Air Forces’ west coast training center headquarters. In September 1945, he was transferred to the Army Air Forces’ DonCe Sar Convalescent Hospital in St Petersburg, Florida, after suffering from numerous stomach ulcers. He was released from service on September 14th, 1945 without ever really going into combat. Dimaggio was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955 after having many batting records, an 11 time All Star and 3 time MVP with the New York Yankees from 1936 to 1951. (With 3 years due to wartime service)
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Joe DiMaggio served with the US Army and US Air Force during WWII. On February 17th, 1943, DiMaggio traded his $43‚750 salary from the Yankees for $50 a month as an army enlisted man. He was assigned to Special Services with the Army Air Force and reported for duty on February 24, 1943 to Santa Ana Army Air Base in California, the Army Air Forces’ west coast training center headquarters. In September 1945, he was transferred to the Army Air Forces’ DonCe Sar Convalescent Hospital in St Petersburg, Florida, after suffering from numerous stomach ulcers. He was released from service on September 14th, 1945 without ever really going into combat. Dimaggio was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955 after having many batting records, an 11 time All Star and 3 time MVP with the New York Yankees from 1936 to 1951. (With 3 years due to wartime service)
Robert W. A. " Bob " Feller
Military Unit: US Navy
Rank: Chief Petty Officer
Bob Feller seved with the US Navy during World War II. On December 8, 1941 – the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor - Feller enlisted in the Navy, making him the first MLB player to enter the war. He was assigned to the Norfolk Naval Training Station in Virginia. Feller then spent 26 months as chief of an anti-aircraft gun crew on the USS Alabama (BB-60), a South Dakota-class battleship. His ship hit Kwajalein, the Gilberts and the Marshalls and then across to Truk. (Islands in the Pacific) The USS Alabama returned to the United States in the spring of 1945, and then returned to Cleveland Indians that spring. From 1936 to 1941 then from 1945 to 1956 Feller went on to hold many pitching records like being the first American League pitcher to throw a complete game no-hitter on opening day in 1940. Feller was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
Rank: Chief Petty Officer
Bob Feller seved with the US Navy during World War II. On December 8, 1941 – the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor - Feller enlisted in the Navy, making him the first MLB player to enter the war. He was assigned to the Norfolk Naval Training Station in Virginia. Feller then spent 26 months as chief of an anti-aircraft gun crew on the USS Alabama (BB-60), a South Dakota-class battleship. His ship hit Kwajalein, the Gilberts and the Marshalls and then across to Truk. (Islands in the Pacific) The USS Alabama returned to the United States in the spring of 1945, and then returned to Cleveland Indians that spring. From 1936 to 1941 then from 1945 to 1956 Feller went on to hold many pitching records like being the first American League pitcher to throw a complete game no-hitter on opening day in 1940. Feller was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
Stanley F. " Stan " Musial
Military Unit: US Navy
Rank: Seaman Second Class
Stan the Man served with the US Navy during World War II. He passed his Naval physical examination in June 1944 and reported for induction on January 23, 1945. Musial was assigned to Bainbridge Naval Training Center in Maryland on March 17, and played for the Bainbridge NTC Commodores baseball team. In June 1945, he was assigned to Special Services and sent to Hawaii. Attached to a ship launch unit at Pearl Harbor, he ran a launch out to battle-damaged ships that came in, ferrying personnel back to port. Musial was discharged from the Navy on March 15, 1946 and promptly returned to the St. Louis Cardinals. From 1941-1963 Musial was named to 12 All Star teams, won 4 MVPs and still holds many records! Musial was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969.
Rank: Seaman Second Class
Stan the Man served with the US Navy during World War II. He passed his Naval physical examination in June 1944 and reported for induction on January 23, 1945. Musial was assigned to Bainbridge Naval Training Center in Maryland on March 17, and played for the Bainbridge NTC Commodores baseball team. In June 1945, he was assigned to Special Services and sent to Hawaii. Attached to a ship launch unit at Pearl Harbor, he ran a launch out to battle-damaged ships that came in, ferrying personnel back to port. Musial was discharged from the Navy on March 15, 1946 and promptly returned to the St. Louis Cardinals. From 1941-1963 Musial was named to 12 All Star teams, won 4 MVPs and still holds many records! Musial was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969.
Jack R. " Jackie " Robinson
Military Unit: 761st Tank Battalion US Army
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Jackie Robinson served with the US Army during World War II. Robinson left UCLA before completing his degree in 1941 and went to Hawaii to play football. He returned to California on December 5, 1941 two days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and was drafted the following year. On April 3, 1942, Robinson entered the US Army, attended officer candidate school, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1943. He served at Fort Riley, Kansas in 1943 and most of the men at Fort Riley wound up fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, but due to a broken ankle he suffered in 1932 he was to stay here in America. Luckily, Robinson was transferred to Fort Hood in Texas before that battle took place. He received a medical discharge on November 28, 1944. After the war, Robinson then went on to break the baseball color barrier in October of 1945. Jackie finished after 10 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers with many 2nd basemen records, major league records, 6 All Star appearances, and an MVP in 1949. Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Jackie Robinson served with the US Army during World War II. Robinson left UCLA before completing his degree in 1941 and went to Hawaii to play football. He returned to California on December 5, 1941 two days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and was drafted the following year. On April 3, 1942, Robinson entered the US Army, attended officer candidate school, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1943. He served at Fort Riley, Kansas in 1943 and most of the men at Fort Riley wound up fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, but due to a broken ankle he suffered in 1932 he was to stay here in America. Luckily, Robinson was transferred to Fort Hood in Texas before that battle took place. He received a medical discharge on November 28, 1944. After the war, Robinson then went on to break the baseball color barrier in October of 1945. Jackie finished after 10 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers with many 2nd basemen records, major league records, 6 All Star appearances, and an MVP in 1949. Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
Theodore S. " Ted " Williams
Military Unit: US Navy/US Marine Corps
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Ted Williams served with the US Navy and US Marines during World War II. However, the press and the fans were not happy, he enlisted in the Navy on May 22, 1942. "I'm tickled to death and I'm hoping I'll get into the air quick to start some slugging against the Axis," he told reporters. Following the 1942 season. Williams was first sent, with teammate John Pesky, to the Navy's Preliminary Ground School at Amherst College in Massachusetts, for six months.After many more months of training Williams received his pilot’s wings and commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on May 2, 1944. Williams returned to the United States (was in Hawaii) in December and was discharged from the Marines on January 28, 1946. Ted went back to the Red Sox until he was recalled for active military service in 1952 in Korea. Williams flew 39 combat missions before being pulled from flight status in June of 1953 after an old ear infection acted up. From 1939-1960 Ted Williams played with the Boston Red Sox having many batting records, 16 All Star games, and 2 MVPs in 1946 and 1949. Williams was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966.
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Ted Williams served with the US Navy and US Marines during World War II. However, the press and the fans were not happy, he enlisted in the Navy on May 22, 1942. "I'm tickled to death and I'm hoping I'll get into the air quick to start some slugging against the Axis," he told reporters. Following the 1942 season. Williams was first sent, with teammate John Pesky, to the Navy's Preliminary Ground School at Amherst College in Massachusetts, for six months.After many more months of training Williams received his pilot’s wings and commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on May 2, 1944. Williams returned to the United States (was in Hawaii) in December and was discharged from the Marines on January 28, 1946. Ted went back to the Red Sox until he was recalled for active military service in 1952 in Korea. Williams flew 39 combat missions before being pulled from flight status in June of 1953 after an old ear infection acted up. From 1939-1960 Ted Williams played with the Boston Red Sox having many batting records, 16 All Star games, and 2 MVPs in 1946 and 1949. Williams was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966.
Sources
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Baseball in Wartime -Player Biographies (Hall of Famers). N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May
2013.
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Times 28 Oct. 2012: 9(L). General OneFile. Web. 22 May
2013.
"Baseball-Reference.com- MLB Stats, Standings, Scores, History."
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2013
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Military | Stars and Stripes. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May
2013.
"MLB." Bleacher Report. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May
2013.
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the Game with Uncle Sam. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May
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2013. Web. 24 May 2013.
"The Olympic Games Logo Timeline – Every Logo for Every Olympics
Since 1932." Mitten United RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May
2013.
"Marine God Puller: WW2 Hero Bob Feller Dies." Marine God
Puller: WW2 Hero Bob Feller Dies. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May
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"PHOTOS: Memories Of Stan Musial « CBS St. Louis." CBS St Louis.
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