Gary Bedingfield’s Volume 2, Issue 14 October 2008 [email protected] in Wartime www.baseballinwartime.com

Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice

his issue of the Baseball in Registration Now Open! Wartime Newsletter sees the launch of a new feature The American Veterans Center's T focusing on players who lost their lives in World War II. More than 100 players with 11th Annual Conference experience died in service during the war. Two of November 6-8 -Washington, DC them - Elmer Gedeon and Harry O’Neill - had a brief taste of the game at the major league level. The The American Veterans Center invites you to join them for the nation's others were all minor league players premier veterans Day event. at various stages of their careers. Some had already retired and were pursuing work in different areas, From November 6-8, 2008, America's most distinguished veterans others were in the midst of their and active duty service members will gather in Washington, DC to climb up the minor league ladder, share their experiences and memories of the defining moments in while some were just starting out American military history. after high school or college. On the following pages you will read about Gedeon and O’Neill as well as The conference will feature three days of speakers and panels, wreath Billy Southworth Jr, laying ceremonies at our nation's war memorials, private VIP winner Jack Lummus and Keith receptions, and the annual gala awards banquet honoring our Bissonnette. greatest military heroes. Their stories - just like the others who made the ultimate sacrifice - are unique and personal. A forgotten Friday's events include Baseball and World War II – Major League tragedy in a time of worldwide Baseball players who put their careers on hold to serve in the military suffering and devastation. Many are during WWII. Featuring , , Lou Brissie, Jerry unknown to the baseball community Coleman and Mickey Vernon. of today and I’m proud to bring their stories to your attention. Look out for more biographies of Plus a reception in honor of the veterans of players who lost their lives - World War II, with a special tribute to Bob Feller on his 90th birthday. Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice - in the Space is limited, so sign up today! next issue of the Baseball in Wartime Newsletter. To request a registration form, call 703-302-1012 ext. 220 or Gary Bedingfield (Founder and Editor of www.baseballinwartime.com) e-mail [email protected]

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Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice - Elmer Gedeon

“I had my accident. It’s going to be good flying from now on,” Elmer Gedeon told his cousin, Bob, in 1942. Less than two years later, Gedeon was killed in action when his bomber was shot down over the battlefields of Europe.

Elmer Gedeon - nephew of former major league infielder Joe Gedeon, three-sport star and major league - was a naturally gifted athlete. In addition to playing baseball and football at Michigan, Gedeon excelled in track and was a two-time Big 10 hurdles champion. But Elmer loved baseball and he was good Field, near Phoenix in May 1942, German construction works in enough to be signed by the and trained with the 21st Bomb France. As they approached the Washington Senators following Group at MacDill Field in Tampa. target area, anti-aircraft fire graduation in the summer of intensified and Gedeon’s bomber 1939. Flight training was a hazardous was severely by flak. “We got time and almost claimed his life The 22-year-old played for caught in searchlights and took a on August 9, 1942. Gedeon was Orlando of the Florida State direct hit under the cockpit,” says the navigator in a North his rookie year before his co-pilot James Taaffe. “I B-25 twin-engined bomber that joining the Senators at the end of watched Gedeon lean forward crashed on take off and burst into the 1939 season. His first major against the controls as the plane flames at Raleigh, North Carolina. league appearance was on went into a nose dive and the Despite suffering three broken September 18 at , cockpit filled with flames.” ribs, he managed to free himself as a late- replacement in and crawl from the wreckage, Taaffe was the only crew member Dutch Leonard's 19th win of the then realized a crewmate – able to escape the flame-engulfed season against the Tigers. The Rarrat - was still inside. airplane. As he descended by following day, he was the starting Without a moment’s hesitation, parachute, and captivity at the centerfielder, collecting three hits Gedeon went back inside the hands of the Germans, he in a 10-9 win over the Indians. burning plane and pulled Rarrat watched the bomber smash into In 1940, Elmer was with the to safety. Two men died in the the ground, carrying Gedeon and Senators for but crash and the five surviving crew five others to their death. spent the season with the members were hospitalized. Charlotte Hornets in the Piedmont By July 1943 – with his wounds League. As January 1941 and healed – Gedeon was training on thoughts of spring training rolled Martin B-26 Marauders, and in around, Elmer received his February 1944, newly-promoted summons for military service and Captain Gedeon arrived at joined the Army in March 1941. Boreham Airfield in England with He reported to Fort Riley following the 394th Bomb Group. basic training but transferred to On April 20, 1944, just five days the Army Air Corps around after celebrating his 27th Memorial Day. Elmer earned his birthday, Elmer piloted one of 30 pilot's wings and a commission as B-26s that left England to bomb a at Williams Volume 2, Issue 14 Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 3

Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice - Harry O’Neill

In 1939, Harry O’Neill appeared Kiwanis basketball tournament California before he shipped out in just one game for the and was on the All-Kiwanis team for the Pacific Theater with the Philadelphia Athletics, but he selected by the Chester Times Fourth Marine Division. would go down in history as one newspaper. At Gettysburg he was O'Neill made major amphibious of only two major league players a three-sport star playing center assaults at Kwajalein, Saipan and to be killed in World War II. on the basketball and football Tinian, and by February 1945, he teams and with the was on his way to to baseball nine. help secure the island for use as In baseball, Harry helped a base for long-range fighters to Ira Plank (brother of former major escort bombers on their missions leaguer ) capture the to Japan. 1938 Eastern Pennsylvania The island was riddled with Intercollegiate baseball title. pillboxes, gun-pits, trenches and "Porky O'Neill reached the status mortar sites and a three-day of a hero here today," claimed a naval bombardment, beginning local paper on May 4, 1938, on February 16, was intended to "when his in the ninth rid the island of much of its inning drove one run home and defense. But the bombardment enabled the Gettysburg Bullets to had minimal effect and American nose out a stubborn Nittany Lion forces met fanatical resistance in nine grueling 5-4." when they hit the beaches on The 6-foot-3, 205-pound February 19. youngster was a much sought On March 6, 1945 – as the battle after athlete and signed with moved inland - Harry O'Neill was ’s Philadelphia Harry O'Neill was a standout killed. "We are trying to keep our Athletics immediately after his athlete at Darby High School, courage up, as Harry would want graduation on June 5, 1939. He Pennsylvania and progressed to us to do," wrote his sister, spent the rest of the year with Malvern Prep School before Suzanna, in a letter to Gettysburg Philadelphia as their third-string entering Gettysburg College - a College shortly after his death. catcher, and made his only major private four-year liberal arts "But our hearts are very sad and league appearance on July 23, institution - where he studied as the days go on it seems to be 1939 as a late-inning defensive history. At Darby High he played getting worse. Harry was always replacement for Frankie Hayes guard on the team that won the so full of life, that it seems hard against the Tigers. to think he is gone." In 1940, Harry was assigned to the Allentown Wings of the Interstate League, and then in July he joined the Harrisburg Senators of the same league. He quit baseball the following year and taught history at Upper Darby Junior High School in Pennsylvania, joining the Marines in September 1942.

He attended officers’ school at Quantico, Virginia and was promoted to first lieutenant at Camp Pendleton, California, in January 1944. That same month, his wife, Ethel, visited him in Volume 2, Issue 14 Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 4

Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice - Billy Southworth Jr

As a youngster, Billy Southworth and had 85 RBIs to earn league Returning to the at Jr had two loves in his life - MVP honors. At the end of the the end of 1943, he served as an baseball and airplanes. He would season he was sold to the instructor and visited his father at grow up to be an outstanding Toronto Maple Leafs of the home in Sunbury, in ballplayer and an exceptional - one level November 1944, before leaving pilot, but with tragic below the majors. for duty at Grand Island Army Air consequences. Field in Nebraska. It was their last Meanwhile, war was raging time together. across Europe and Southworth had been paying particularly close On February 15, 1945, attention. "I think it's my duty to Southworth was piloting a B-29 enlist, because they're going to that left Mitchel Field in New York need us," he told his father who bound for Florida. At 3.50pm, the was now managing the Rochester four-engined bomber appeared Redwings of the International over LaGuardia Field with the left League. On December 12, 1940, outboard engine stopped. Southworth enlisted in the US Struggling at the controls of the Army Air Corps. huge plane, Southworth overshot the runway as he attempted an He took to flight training with emergency landing. He tried ease and received his bomber desperately to climb above pilot’s wings at Brooks Field, Flushing Bay but the airplane Texas on August 29, 1941. He clipped the water and then served overseas with the somersaulted before bursting into 303rd Bomb Group in England, flames. At the time of his birth in 1917, where his fellow airmen dubbed Billy Southworth Jr’s father was him "the flying outfielder." His first Five crew members were rescued an outfielder with the Portland Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was but a further five - including Billy Beavers of the Pacific Coast christened "Bad Check" because Southworth Jr - were missing in League and would go on to enjoy it kept coming back. His second - the front section of the plane a 13-season playing career in the "Winning Run" - clearly referred to which sank in 30 feet of water. major leagues, 12 years as a his baseball background. On August 4, 1945, 24 weeks major league and earn Southworth completed his 25- after the crash, a body washed selection to the Baseball Hall of mission tour of duty in Europe ashore at the confluence of the Fame in 2008. without a single injury to any East River and Long Island Billy Jr was, himself, a standout member of his crew. He was Sound. Dental records identified athlete at East High School, in awarded the Distinguished Flying the body as Billy Southworth Jr. Columbus, Ohio, and signed a Cross and Air Medal. professional contract to play baseball with Asheville of the in 1936.

Steadily progressing through the minors, he was with Kinston of the Coastal Plain League in 1938 and appeared in 103 games, batting a respectable .283 with 14 home runs. The following year was to be Billy Jr’s best in professional baseball. Playing with the Rome Colonels of the Canadian-American League, he batted .342, homered 15 times Volume 2, Issue 14 Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 5

Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice - Jack Lummus

Jack Lummus was an outstanding On January 30, 1942, athlete who played both Jack joined the Marine professional football and Corps and took basic baseball. He is one of only two training in . pro baseball players to be At the end of the year awarded the Congressional he was appointed a Medal of Honor. second lieutenant and spent 1943 in California.

With the 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, Lummus left the mainland in August 1944, bound for Camp

Tarawa in the Hawaiian Islands. "Our baseball league Jack Lummus was buried at the ended last week," he wrote home 5th Division cemetery at the base on November 23. "My team took of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima. top honors, winning in a breeze At a ceremony at his hometown of with only one loss." Ennis on May 30, 1946, Mrs Lummus received the Medal of On February 19, 1945, First Honor on her son's behalf. Lieutenant Lummus was in the first wave that hit the beaches at His body was returned to Ennis in Iwo Jima - a tiny island the April 1948, and now rests at the Japanese had turned into a maze Myrtle Cemetery. In December Jack Lummus was born on a of underground tunnels and 1986, the Jack Lummus cotton farm in Ennis, Texas, in defensive bunkers. Lummus led Memorial Park was opened in 1915. He attended Ennis High 3rd platoon through rugged, front of the Ennis Chamber of School where he excelled in hostile terrain towards Kitano Commerce, and his name lives on football and track, earning all- Point on the northernmost tip of today after a US Navy vessel was district honors. Lummus the island. On March 8, he led an named in his honor. The USNS graduated from high school in assault on three concealed 1st Lt Jack Lummus carries a full 1934 and accepted a two-year Japanese pillboxes. Single range of Marine Corps cargo, sports scholarship to Texas handedly, and despite being enough to support a Marine Air Military College, where he earned wounded by exploding hand Ground Task Force for 30 days. all-conference honors in football. grenades, Lummus knocked out At age 21, he enrolled at Baylor all three pillboxes before stepping University again earning honors in on a landmine. Despite being football but also in baseball. He mortally wounded he still shouted was a superb defensive encouragement to his troops - centerfielder and signed a urging them to continue the professional contract with Wichita advance - before being Falls of the West Texas-New stretchered to an aid station. The Mexico League, batting .257 in 29-year-old Marine Corps hero's 26 games. During the winter of life tragically came to an end on 1941, he also signed with the operating table the following football's . day.

www.baseballinwartime.com/database.htm Volume 2, Issue 14 Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 6

Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice - Keith Bissonnette

Keith Bissonnette flew over 200 1940 and batted .277 missions as a Republic P-47 with 67 RBIs in 134 Thunderbolt pilot, earning the games as the Anglers’ Distinguished Flying Cross and Air . Medal with three Oak Leaf In 1941, he played 32 clusters. games with the Utica Braves of the Canadian- American League and was batting .286 when he was optioned to the from which Allied airlift planes Augusta Tigers of the South might be attacked. Atlantic League. Bissonnette played 91 games for the Tigers as Bissonnette flew over 200 an outfielder/first baseman and missions as a Republic P-47D batted .291. Thunderbolt pilot, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross with In 1942, Bissonnette was tearing one oak leaf cluster for "heroism up South Atlantic League pitchers or extraordinary achievement" while playing second base for the Keith Bissonnette was born in and the Air Medal with three Oak Jacksonville Tars. He batted .326 Enderlin, North Dakota, a Leaf clusters for “meritorious in 59 games and spent the picturesque town in the achievement.” second half of the season with St southeastern part of the state. Paul in the American Association, On March 28, 1945 – two His father, Jesse, a former Dakota batting .237 in 42 games. months after the birth of his League ballplayer, moved the daughter, Diane, back home in St family to St Paul, Minnesota when Bissonnette - who was married to Paul - First Lieutenant Keith Keith was quite young and it was Dorothy Johnson by this time - Bissonnette was killed when his there that he began to develop was drafted by the Army at the plane crashed two miles his baseball skills. end of the season and entered southeast of Keng Tung in Burma. service with the Army Air Force in A pitcher in grade school, his February 1943 after passing his hitting was so hefty that he was cadet examinations. He earned switched to first base to get his his pilot’s wings and was batting power in the line-up every commissioned as a lieutenant in day. At Cretin High School (a late 1943. Their son, Gary, was private, Catholic school, now born in October 1943, and known as Cretin-Derham Hall Lieutenant Bissonnette went High School) he was the bulwark overseas to Burma to serve with of the school’s baseball team for Show Your Support for the 80th Fighter Group in April four years, and blasted a 420-foot Baseball in Wartime 1944. in the scholastic play- Visit the Baseball in Wartime Store for off championship in his senior Known as the Burma Banshees, t-shirts, sweatshirts and more... year. the 80th Fighter Group was a vital element in the victory in Burma. Keith also played hockey and During its two years in combat basketball in high school and was they flew patrols in support of the a standout football player. But the cargo airlift over the "Hump" 6-foot-2 right-hander chose between Assam and Kunming, baseball for a career and signed China. Their official mission was with his hometown St Paul Saints later extended to include of the American Association at offensive strikes in northern the end of 1939. He was Burma to prevent the assigned to the Leesburg Anglers establishment of enemy bases in the Florida Sate League in www.cafepress.com/garybedingfield Volume 2, Issue 14 Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 7

Recent Passings Ernie Andres

January 11, 1918 to September 19, 2008 Ernie served with the Navy during WWII and was at Great Lakes in 1942. He later served a five-month tour of duty aboard a sub- chaser in the Pacific, and became the athletic officer at Miami Navy Training Center in Florida upon his return. He moved to Shoemaker Naval Receiving Barracks in California in 1945, and was discharged from service at the beginning of 1946.

Mickey Vernon April 22, 1918 to September 24, 2008 Mickey was inducted into the Navy at Sampson Naval Training Station in New York in 1943. He was at Norfolk Naval Air Station in 1944, and arrived in Hawaii in October. Vernon took part in the Navy’s Western Pacific Tour, playing for the Fifth Fleet team at islands including Kwajalein, Saipan and Guam. Following the tour, he was sent to Ulithi Atoll, where he refereed basketball The story of an amazing team of Sailors representing the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, featuring 68 major and umpired softball games. leaguers, 18 major league all-stars and five future Baseball Hall of Famers, that defeated 13 different big Mickey was discharged from service on October 4, 1945, league teams. Available at www.greatlakessportspublishing.com or on amazon.com

Baseball in the Military America's Pastime Goes to War Stars and Stripes Supplement

Download this 24-page feature with contributions from Todd Anton, Gary Beding- field, Frank Ceresi, Linda McCarthy, Bill CNowlin and many others. Visit the Stars and Stripes Baseball in the Military webpage