Gary Bedingfield’s Volume 5 Issue 30 April 2011 in Wartime Baseball Special Issue www.baseballinwartime.com [email protected] www.baseballinwartime.com in Wartime baseballinwartime.blogspot.com

Professional Baseball Players Who Died in World War II t the beginning The Additional 14 Players Who Made the of January 2010 my book Ultimate Sacrifice in World War II “Baseball’s ADead of World War II” was published by JERRY M. ANGELICH McFarland. It was the first ever detailed account of former CLARENCE W. CLAYTON players who lost their LESTER O. CLOTIAUX lives while serving with the armed forces during WWII. The book detailed EUGENE L. DELLINGER, JR. the lives of 127 men whose ballplaying careers were halted by JOHN H. FESSLER military service and whose lives were ended in tragic circumstances, TROY L. FURR often thousands of miles from home. At the time of publication I knew the list wasn’t complete. The EUGENE J. GABRYCH majority of the names included in the book I had unearthed myself during my own research; there were no official records to go by. ROBERT J. GRUSS Consequently, since the publication of “Baseball’s Dead of World War II” I have continued to conduct research on this ROBERT F. NIEMAN subject and have now uncovered an additional 14 names, bringing the total number of former ballplayers who died in military service in WWII to a staggering 141. LUSTER PRUETT While I have included these additional players on the Baseball in Wartime website and also the Baseball in Wartime blog, I JAMES G. ROBERTSON felt it was time to include them together in a publication. Hence, this special edition of the Baseball in Wartime newsletter. HERMAN P. RUSH On the following pages you will find the biographies of the 14 players who didn’t make it into “Baseball Dead of World War JAMES E. STEWART II” back in January 2010. I hope you’ll take a few moments to read through them and then, perhaps, give them a moment of silence as a way of saying thank you for the sacrifice they made. Gary Bedingfield—Glasgow, Scotland Founder and editor of Baseball in Wartime [email protected]

Baseball’s Dead of World War II A Roster of Professional Players Who Died in Service by Gary Bedingfield Now Available!

Order your copy from amazon.com. Barnes and Noble, McFarland Volume 5 Issue 30 Page 2

Jerry Angelich Jerry M. Angelich Provo to the league championships, in 1940 but was unable to put up the which they clinched over Pinney numbers he achieved in previous years. Date and Place of Birth: 1916 Beverage for their first title since 1932. A second tour of duty came in 1942 Wilmington, before playing his last professional Date and Place of Death: December 7, Angelich entered military service with the season in 1944. Sawamura ended his 1941 Hickam Field, , Hawaii Army Air Force on August 19, 1941. He career with a 62-22 record and 1.71 Baseball Experience: Minor League was stationed at Hickam Field in Hawaii ERA. Serving with the Imperial Japanese Position: with Headquarters Squadron, 17th Navy, he was killed near the Ryukyu Rank: Private Airbase Group. Islands when his ship was torpedoed on Military Unit: Headquarters Squadron, December 2, 1944. 17th Airbase Group, US Army Air Corps On December 7, 1941, during the Area Served: Pacific Theater of Japanese surprise attack on Hawaii, their Eiji Sawamura was inducted into the Operations planes bombed and strafed Hickam to Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in eliminate air opposition and prevent U.S. 1959. Since 1947, the Sawamura Award Jerry M. Angelich was born in planes from following them back to their (Japan's equivalent to MLB's Cy Young), Wilmington, a district of Los Angeles, aircraft carriers. Hickam suffered has been given to the best in California, in 1916, and was a star extensive damage and aircraft losses, professional Japanese baseball. athlete at local Banning High School. A with 189 people killed and 303 slow ball pitcher, he had trials with the wounded. Angelich’s Pro Experience Sacramento Senators of the Class AA in 1935 and was Private Angelich was attempting to 1935—Trials with Sacramento Solons of with the team for pre-season exhibition operate a machine gun in a wrecked Pacific Coast League. games in early March. airplane when he was killed by strafing 1936—Trials with same team. Japanese fighter planes. He is buried at On March 18, Angelich was selected by the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii. Kettle Wirts to start for the Senators against a touring Japanese Sawamura, the Japanese pitcher professional all-star team at Moreing Angelich hurled against in 1935, went Field. Before a crowd of 4,200, and with 15-3 in 1936 for the Tokyo Giants in the Wirts behind the plate, Angelich was first professional season. On September locked in a pitching duel with 18-year-old 25, 1936, he pitched the first no-hitter in Japanese ace Eiji Sawamura. In Japan, Japanese professional baseball history. the previous November, Sawamura had He had an incredible 33-10 record and faced a team of visiting major league all- 1.38 ERA in 1937, but was drafted for stars including , , military service in January 1938. Aged and . 23, he returned to professional baseball Entering the game in the fourth , the high school pitcher struck out nine batters and held the Americans to a single over five ; a by Gehrig in the seventh that left Sawamura with the loss. However, he was immortalized by Japanese fans for striking out Gehringer, Ruth, Gehrig, and Foxx in succession.

Angelich, who hurled eight innings and was relieved by Bill Hartwig in the ninth, was beaten by Sawamura, 2-1. The Senators managed just five hits off the Japanese youngster.

Angelich signed a contract with Sacramento on April 5, but was released on April 20. He had a further trial with Sacramento in 1936, and later played for the Provo Timps of the Industrial League – a thriving semi-pro circuit with six teams fielding formidable line-ups that competed throughout state. On September 3, 1939, he pitched a 3- 1, five-hitter over Magna-Garfield to take Hickam Field burns during the Japanese attack, December 7, 1941 Volume 5 Issue 30 Page 3

Clarence Clayton and Les Clotiaux Clarence W. Clayton Lester O. Clotiaux officiating. He was buried at Block Cemetery in Nederland and the burial Date and Place of Birth: 1926 Date and Place of Birth: August 16, 1921 included a military escort from the Lake Middletown, Ohio Nederland, Texas Charles air base and US Marine Corps Date and Place of Death: May 1, 1945 Date and Place of Death: August 9, 1945 pallbearers from the Marine base at Czechoslovakia Smiley, Texas Mid-County Airport in Nederland. Baseball Experience: Experience: Minor League Position: Second Base Position: Clotiaux’s Pro Experience Rank: Private First Class Rank: Corporal Military Unit: 358th Infantry Regiment, Military Unit: USAAF 1941—Trials with Port Arthur Tarpons of 90th Infantry Division US Army Area Served: United States the Class D Evangeline League. Area Served: European Theater of Operations Lester O. "Les" Clotiaux was born in Nederland, Texas on August 16, 1921. Clarence W. Clayton Clotiaux graduated from Nederland High was born in 1926 in School in 1937 and went to work for the Middletown, Ohio. The Gulf Refinery in Port Arthur where he son of Mr. and Mrs. played baseball with the Barrel House George Clayton of 718 Bees in the Gulf Refinery League. Fifteenth Avenue, Clayton was an In 1941, Clotiaux was among four outstanding ballplayer on the spring roster of the Port at Middletown High Arthur Tarpons of the Class D Evangeline School and signed with League and was with manager Harry the Strohm's squad when they hosted the organization upon Brooklyn Dodgers in an exhibition game graduation in June at Legion Stadium on March 28 (for the 1944. record, the Dodgers walloped the Tarps 17-0). Clayton joined Boston's in his home town, the Middletown Red Sox of Clotiaux was released before the season the Class D , who began and played for the Grammiers, a were managed by Red Barnes, an top-notch local semi-pro team, as well as with the Washington Senators continuing to play for the Barrel House in the late 1920s. Batting second in the team where he worked. line-up and playing second base Clayton appeared in 101 games and .246 Clotiaux entered military service on with 40 RBIs. He led the league's second August 29, 1942. He served as a basemen with a .923 fielding corporal with the Army Air Force at Foster percentage and played for the Ohio Field, Texas and was the regular catcher State League all-star team in July when on the Foster Field Falcons baseball they walloped Newark, 19-3. Clayton team. went 1-for-2 in the game. On August 9, 1945, the Falcons traveled Clayton's career was short-lived, to Childress Army Air Base in Texas for a however. He entered military service in ballgame. The Falcons won that contest October 1944 and was soon in Europe and five of the players - Clotiaux, Duard with the 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Lawson, Harold Phillips, Chester Seipp Infantry Division. and Pete Zarrilla, along with pilot Second Lieutenant Peter R. Davis (an On May 1, 1945 - just one week before experienced pilot with over 1,500 hours the end of the war in Europe - Private during the previous year) - flew back to First Class Clayton was killed in action in Foster Field in a twin-engined Beechcraft Czechoslovakia. He was awarded the AT-7C. On the return journey the plane Bronze Star and Purple Heart and is crashed near Smiley, Texas. Corporal buried at Lorraine American Cemetery in Clotiaux and the other five men on board St. Avold, France. were all killed.

Clayton’s Pro Experience On August 12, 1945, funeral services were held for Corporal Clotiaux at the 1944—Middletown Red Sox of the Class First Methodist Church in Nederland, D Ohio State League (league all-star). with Reverend John R. Lockhart Volume 5 Issue 30 Page 4

Gene Dellinger Eugene L. Dellinger Barney and Gene Mauch, Dellinger United States and survived a few weeks appeared in 10 games as an outfielder at the Northington General Hospital Date and Place of Birth: June 30, 1926 and batted .293 before being assigned before succumbing to his injuries on Bahama, North Carolina to the Olean Oilers of the Class D PONY January 31, 1946. He was 21 years old. Date and Place of Death: January 31, League. At Olean, Dellinger played for 1946 Northington General Hospital, former Pirates Jake Eugene Dellinger's body was returned to Tuscaloosa, Alabama Pitler and had Ralph Branca and future Bahama, North Carolina. He now rests at Baseball Experience: Minor League infielder Billy DeMars the Mount Bethel United Methodist Position: Outfield-First Base as teammates. In 80 games (46 in the Church Cemetery in Bahama. Rank: Sergeant outfield, 14 at first base and 13 at Military Unit: US Army ), the 17-year-old batted .257 Alton Mangum will never forget his Area Served: European Theater of with 35 RBIs and led the team with 300 childhood friend: "Eugene was a great Operations at-bats, 77 hits and 14 doubles. athlete – playing baseball, basketball and football. He was extremely well Eugene L. "Gene" Dellinger was born on In 1944, he advanced to the Montreal liked, and his death was certainly a June 30, 1926 in the small town of Royals of the Class AA International shock to our small community." Bahama, North Carolina, about 14 miles League - one level below the majors - north of Durham. Dellinger loved and appeared in an exhibition game Dellinger’s Pro Experience baseball and played the game every against the Brooklyn Dodgers on July 11. opportunity he had while growing up. 1943—Olean Oilers of the Class D PONY "After the game," recalls Mangum, "Leo League and Durham Bulls of the Class B "Eugene and I grew up in Bahama, and Durocher went to Eugene and talked with Piedmont League. we lived within 150 yards of each other," him, and Eugene told him it looked like 1944— of the Class AA recalls his boyhood friend Alton P. he was going to be drafted in the Army. and Newport News Mangum. "We played together from the Leo told him if he went into the Army to Dodgers of the Piedmont League. time we could walk. We were both in the call him after the war and that he wanted Drafted by Buffalo Bisons of Class AA Boy Scouts, and we hiked and camped him with the Dodgers." American Association in November with our Scout troop, and we were as 1944. close as brothers. Playing again for Bruno Betzel, Dellinger batted .185 in 28 games for the Royals "When Eugene was about 10 years old, and was assigned to the Newport News his daddy helped him in changing his Dodgers of the Class B Piedmont League swing from the right side to the left. He where he was reunited with another had a very natural swing left handed, former manager, Jake Pitler. Playing first and he reminded me of in base, third base and the outfield, the way he snapped his wrist when he Dellinger batted .304 in 85 games and swung at a ball. drove in 56, while his teammate, future Hall of Famer drove in 50 "We both played baseball at every runs and batted .294. opportunity as we grew up. If we weren’t playing in a game, we were throwing the In November 1944, Dellinger was ball to each other. His dad had broad drafted by the Buffalo Bisons of the shoulders, and Eugene took after him." American Association but he would never get to play a game for them because he Dellinger played shortstop with the entered military service with the Army the Mangum Township High School team in same month. Bahama; Mangum played first base, and the two of them regularly attended Dellinger, who attained the rank of ballgames at Durham Athletic Park, sergeant, spent much of his military home of the Durham Bulls who were a service playing baseball; first in the Brooklyn Dodgers farm club at the time. United States and later in France. It was while traveling with his Army team near "When the Bulls held a tryout day, Brussels in Belgium that tragedy struck. Eugene attended," says Mangum. "After "The ball team was riding in the back of displaying his baseball skills, they talked an Army truck when it struck a train," to him and signed him after he remembers Mangum. "He was burned graduated from high school." badly and was transferred to the Veterans hospital in Tuscaloosa, Joining the club in 1943, and playing for Alabama." former St. Louis Cardinals infielder Bruno Betzel and alongside future Several soldiers were killed in the Brooklynites Gene Hermanski, Rex accident. Dellinger was flown back to the Volume 5 Issue 30 Page 5

John Fessler and Troy Furr John H. Fessler In November 1948, Fessler's body was the hope he would be a useful infielder returned to Pine Grove and finally laid to for the club's 1944 season. Date and Place of Birth: 1915 Pine rest on November 7. Grove, Pennsylvania Unfortunately, military service Date and Place of Death: June 10,1944 Fessler’s Pro Experience intervened before he could play a game Normandy, France as a professional, and Furr entered Baseball Experience: Minor League 1938—Centreville Colts and Easton Cubs service with the Army at Fort Bragg, Position: Shortstop of the Class D eastern Shore League. North Carolina on April 13, 1944. Rank: Staff Sergeant 1940—Huntington Aces and Bluefield Following basic training he was sent to Military Unit: Service Company, 507th Blue-Grays of the Class D Mountain State France where he served with Company Parachute Infantry Regiment US Army League. M - a heavy weapons company - of the Area Served: European Theater of 1941—Goldsboro Goldbugs of the Class 275th Infantry Regiment, 70th Operations D Coastal Plain League. "Trailblazers" Infantry Division. The division had landed at Marseille, France, John H. Fessler in December 1944, and reached the was born in front on December 28, near Bischweiler 1915 in Pine on the west bank of the Rhine River. Grove, Pennsylvania. On January 3, 1945, while in combat as He signed with a machine gunner during the battle for the Centreville the town of Philippsbourg in north- Colts of the eastern France, Private First Class Furr Class D Eastern was reported missing. It was later Shore League – confirmed he had been killed in action a Phillies farm that day. team – in 1938. After a Troy Furr is buried at Oakwood Cemetery slow start he in Concord, North Carolina. was released in Troy L. Furr June and immediately signed by the Furr’s Pro Experience Easton Cubs of the same league. Date and Place of Birth: July 11, 1923 Fessler, who played shortstop and Concord, North Carolina Late 1943—signed with Atlanta Crackers second base, appeared in 25 games Date and Place of Death: January 3, of the Class A1 Southern Association and batted .180 with one home run. 1945 Philippsbourg, France (did not play). Fessler was out of organized baseball in Baseball Experience: Minor League 1939, but returned in 1940 to play in Position: Second Base the Class D Mountain State League with Rank: Private First Class the Huntington Aces and the Bluefield Military Unit: Company M, 275th Infantry Blue-Grays. In 70 games he batted .243 Regiment, 70th Infantry Division US Army and drove in 25 runs. Area Served: European Theater of Operations In 1941, Fessler played 116 games at shortstop with the Goldsboro Goldbugs Troy L. Furr, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill of the Class D Coastal Plain League and Furr, was born in Concord, North Carolina batted .279 with 43 RBIs and league on July 11, 1923. An infielder, he was high 37 stolen bases. He also led the playing semi-pro baseball in the Concord Goldbugs in games played and runs City League in 1943 and led the circuit in scored (88), while leading the league pitching and fielding. with 481 at-bats. With ballplayers Fessler entered military service on April being called into 25, 1942 and served with the 507th military service at Parachute Infantry Regiment. He was an an alarming rate, outstanding member of the regiment’s Earl Mann, basketball team. president of the Atlanta Crackers of On June 6, 1944, Staff Sergeant Fessler the Class A1 parachuted into Normandy and landed Southern close to the Merderet River. He was Association, signed killed in action just four days later on Furr during the June 10, 1944. winter of 1943 in

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Gene Gabrych Eugene J. Gabrych went behind second base to get Moxie PNA’s opening game against Rochester Muhr's grounder in the eighth and on May 5. H. Irving Tingley was Master of Date and Place of Birth: 1920 Winona, caught him by a step with a fine Ceremonies, the Winona Municipal Band Minnesota underhand throw to Neuman.” played, and speeches were given by Date and Place of Death: July 5, 1944 Mayor Joseph Druey, Postmaster Leon Foret de Mont Castre, near St. Jores, But the youngster was also impressing Bronk, Council President John Dugan France fans with his bat. “Gabryck Smacks and Recreational Director M.J. Baseball Experience: Minor League Homer To Beat Sheboygan Nine,” was Bambenek. Position: Shortstop the headline for the La Crosse Tribune Rank: Sergeant and Leader Press sports page on August Gabrych's body was returned to Winona Military Unit: 2nd Battalion, 359th 19, 1941. La Crosse hurler Don in 1948. On May 1, funeral services Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division Schoenborn pitched a three-hitter that were conducted at St. Stanislaus Church US Army day and “Gene Gabryck came through in with burial at St. Mary's Cemetery. Area Served: European Theater of the hero's role,” the article declared, Operations “blasting a home run over the right field In the shadow of his older brother and fence in the sixth inning with Ed Gittens on the infield dirt of the ballpark named Eugene J. on base.” after him, Gene’s younger brother Ray Gabrych was fine-tuned his baseball skills with the born in Winona, Excellent defensive skills coupled with PNA team during the 1946 season. He Minnesota, in occasional power at the plate spelled a signed with the Marion Indians of the 1920. He and promising future for the 21-year-old, but Class D Illinois State League in 1948 his brothers, military service beckoned before the and batted .214 in 97 games. The Elmer and Ray, 1942 season got under way. Gabrych following year he joined the Greenville played baseball was assigned to the U.S. Army’s 359th Bucks of the Class C Cotton States for the Polish Infantry Regiment of the 90th Infantry League where he concluded his National Alliance Division at Camp Barkeley, Texas, where professional playing days batting .186 (PNA) team of he had the opportunity to play for the over 28 games. the local Bi-State regimental team in the Division baseball League in the league. Aged 83, Ray Gabrych passed away on late 1930s, and October 22, 2009. Elmer Gabrych helped the club After training in Texas the Division went passed away in October 2010. to an 18-3 to the Louisiana and California-Arizona record in 1938, including an 8-4 win Maneuver Areas before sailing for Gene Gabrych Park remains in use today before a capacity crowd against the J.J. England on March 23, 1944. On June 7, although the covered wooden Kohns team from St. Paul, who were the 1944, D-plus-1, Gabrych was bound for grandstands have long since been 1937 National Amateur champions. Normandy aboard the transport ship USS removed and replaced by modern metal "Both the fielding and batting of Gene Susan B. Anthony (AP-72) when it struck bleachers. Nevertheless, proudly Gabrych, PNA second baseman,” a mine and lost all power. Despite this displayed upon the backstop is a sign declared the local press, “gave the near disaster, Gabrych’s entire battalion that reminds everyone how the park got Kohns plenty of trouble. Gabrych waded ashore without loss, except for its name: collected two hits and drove in three their weapons. runs; he had five put-outs and three GABRYCH PARK snappy assists.” The “Tough ‘Ombres” as the 90th NAMED IN HONOR OF Infantry Division quickly became known, GENE GABRYCH Gene Gabrych had become quite a local went into action against German forces DIED IN WORLD WAR II celebrity with the PNA team and he on June 10. On July 5, Sergeant Gabrych signed with the Eau Claire Bears of the was with the 2nd Battalion of the 359th Gabrych’s Pro Experience Class D Northern League in 1940, Infantry Regiment as they attacked the making just a couple of appearances. In northeast corner of the Foret de Mont 1940—Eau Claire Bears of the Class D 1941, he joined the La Crosse Castre, near St. Jores in Normandy. Northern League. Blackhawks of the Class D Wisconsin Heavy resistance was encountered and 1941—LaCross Blackhawks of the Class State League and, playing as Gene the battalion was held short of its D . Gabryck, appeared in 111 games, objective, suffering many casualties, batting .255, driving in 82 runs (sixth including the loss of Gene Gabrych. best in the league) and often dazzling fans with his defensive skills. “Gene News of his death deeply affected the Gabryck . . . handled four putouts and close-knit community of Winona, and three assists without an error, went permission to rename East End Park as behind third to catch a fly, and pulled a Gene Gabrych Park was announced in classy play, Gabryck to Neuman,” March 1946 by Mike Libera, business announced the La Crosse Tribune and manager of the PNA Baseball Club. Leader Press on July 20, 1941. “He Dedication ceremonies were held at the Volume 5 Issue 30 Page 7

Bob Gruss and Bob Nieman Robert J. Gruss about 20 southeast of the airfield killing July 1943 to enter service with the Army all nine crew members. Air Force. He was assigned to the 421st Date and Place of Birth: 1924 Base Unit at Muroc Army Air Field (now Lakewood, Ohio The young airman’s body was returned to Edwards Air Force Base) in southern Date and Place of Death: August 19, his parents Albert and Mary in Lakewood California, for combat flight training as 1944 nr. Tonopah, Nevada and buried at Calvary Cemetery in an aerial gunner. Baseball Experience: Minor League Cleveland on August 28. Position: Outfield At around 9pm on Wednesday, August Rank: Corporal In 1991, Bob Gruss was inducted in the 23, 1944, Corporal Nieman was aboard Military Unit: 442nd Base Unit, USAAF Lakewood High School Sports Hall of a Consolidated B-24D Liberator bomber Area Served: United States Fame. that lifted off the runway at Muroc to give both its pilots some instrument Robert J. Gruss Gruss’s Pro Experience flying time and to practice dropping was born in bombs. Piloted by Lieutenant John L. Lakewood, a 1943—Batavia Clippers of the Class D Graves, and co-pilot Flight Officer James suburb of PONY League. L. Redd, the B-24D flew without incident Cleveland, Ohio for the first couple of hours, but around in 1924. He was Robert F. Nieman 10.55pm the crew had problems with a backfield star number three engine and were forced to on Lakewood Date and Place of Birth: 1919 , shut it down. This, however, didn’t stop it High School’s Pennsylvania from catching fire and Lt. Graves gave football team, Date and Place of Death: August 23, the order to abandon ship. A short time among the top 1944 nr. Muroc Army Air Field, California later there was an enormous explosion scorers of the Baseball Experience: Minor League and the flame-engulfed right wing of the lake Erie scholastic league in 1942, and Position: Shortstop bomber was ripped off. signed with the Rank: Corporal organization after graduating in June Military Unit: 421st Base Unit, USAAF As the bomber spiralled to the ground, 1943. Area Served: European Theater of and amid unimaginable terror, the crew Operations and United States struggled to escape. Of the ten airmen Adept at baseball as he was at football, onboard that night, five remained the Indians assigned Gruss to the Robert F. Nieman was born in 1919 in trapped in the falling wreckage, and died Batavia Clippers of the Class D PONY the Northside district of Pittsburgh, upon impact with the desert below. League and the young outfielder Pennsylvania. The son of Lawrence and appeared in 20 games, batting .329 with Mary Nieman, and a graduate of Oliver Bob Nieman, along with Lt. Graves, 12 RBIs and six stolen bases. He High School, he played semi-pro baseball Flight Officer Clifton C. Watts, Cpl. appeared to have a promising career with the Bellevue club of the Allegheny Bernard D. Fogel and Pfc. James W. ahead of him but military service County League from 1935 to 1940 Flitcroft all lost their lives that night. beckoned and Gruss was a corporal with (Bellevue were league champions in the Army Air Force before the 1944 1940). Bob Nieman’s body was returned to season came around. In 1941, Bellevue joined the Greater Pittsburgh, where a Requiem High Mass Pittsburgh League and was counting on was held at St. Cyril of Alexandria Church Gruss trained as an aerial gunner at the contributions of their hard-hitting, on September 1, 1944. Tonopah Army Air Field, one of the 180-pound shortstop, Bob Nieman, but largest military bases in Nevada. As part professional baseball had their eyes on Nieman’s Pro Experience of the 4th Air Force’s 442nd Base Unit, the 22-year-old. In April 1941, Nieman Corporal Gruss was involved in high signed with the Akron Yankees, a New April 1941—signed with Akron Yankees altitude bomber training in Consolidated York Yankees farm team in the Class C of the Class C Middle-Atlantic League B-24 Liberators. Middle-Atlantic League. (did not play).

On the morning of Saturday, August 19, The Akron club was strong, with a line-up 1944, Bob Gruss was aboard a that featured future major leaguers Gus B-24E that left Tonopah on a routine first Niarhos, Joe Buzas, Monk Dubiel, Joe phase training flight never to return. The Lutz, Joe Murray and Ed Sauer. Whether four-engined bomber was being flown by Nieman would have been able to hold his Captain Robert E. Sweet - an own against these players we will never instructional pilot with overseas service know because on May 15, military and recipient of the Distinguished Flying service beckoned before he had an Cross - and Second Lt. Robert L. Pyle. opportunity to play a game. Exactly what went wrong remains a mystery, but it is believed there was a Nieman spent 11 months in England failure of the right vertical stabilizer. The with the U.S. Army’s Medical Corps plane crashed in the Nevada wilderness before returning to the United States in Volume 5 Issue 30 Page 8

Luster Pruett Luster Pruett The re-equipped German 21st Panzer, Pruett’s Pro Experience 25th Panzergrenadier, 7th Date and Place of Birth: 1921 Vandalia, Fallschirmjäger and 47th Volksgrenadier 1941—Fostoria Red Birds of the Class D Illinois were occupying Rittershoffen, and PFCs Ohio State League (league all-star) and Date and Place of Death: January 11, Pruett and Kneeland were among those Meridian Eagles of the Class B 1945 Rittershoffen, Germany rushed forward to try and take the town. Southeastern League. Baseball Experience: Minor League Position: Outfield They were helping each other strap on Rank: Private First Class their gear when Pruett said to Kneeland, Military Unit: Company B, 68th Armored “Jim, I got a funny feeling in my stomach. Infantry Battalion, 14th Armored Division I don’t know if I’m gonna come through U.S. Army this.” Area Served: European Theater of Operations Jokingly, Kneeland told his buddy that he always felt that way. Luster Pruett was born in 1921 in Vandalia, Illinois, a town in Fayette “This time it’s different,” Pruett replied. County on the Kaskaskia River, about 70 miles northeast of St. Louis. It was a bitter cold day and the infantrymen were approaching the town He signed with the St. Louis Cardinals through an orchard when the Germans organization in 1941 and joined the opened fire with machine guns, tanks Fostoria Red Birds of the Class D Ohio and just about everything they had. State League that year. Pruett played Kneeland jumped into an abandoned fox right field for 26-year-old manager Len hole. He was just five yards away from Ellison and batted .340 in 87 games Pruett. with four home runs and 48 RBIs. He was named to the Ohio State League all- “I’m hit!” the young ballplayer shouted. star team in August and sold to the Meridian Eagles of the Class B “Can you crawl over here?” Kneeland Southeastern League the same month. called out. In 14 games with the Eagles Pruett batted .205. Pruett began to move slowly towards the foxhole as Kneeland returned the fire On March 2, 1942, Pruett entered coming from the buildings ahead. military service with the Army at Scott Suddenly, a burst of machine gun fire Field, Illinois. Stationed at Camp filled the air. When Kneeland looked up, Campbell, Kentucky, with the 14th Pruett was dead. Armored Division, Private First Class Pruett played on the division baseball When Pruett’s body was recovered it was team until going overseas in October riddled with nine bullet holes. 1944. The 14th Armored Division arrived at Marseilles in France on October 29, “He was a wonderful buddy and a great and Pruett was in combat with Company ballplayer,” recalls Kneeland. “He B of the 68th Armored Infantry Battalion wouldn’t brag about it, even though he by mid-November. used to receive letters from the Cardinals. I think he even got a letter Also with Company B and in the same from .” squad as Pruett was James Kneeland from Grafton, Massachusetts. “He was a Luster Pruett was 23 years old. He was real nice fellow, everybody liked him,” buried at the Epinal American Cemetery recalls Kneeland. in France.

The 14th Armored Division battled its James Kneeland, who was later way across France and first entered promoted to sergeant, survived the Germany on December 16, 1944. On nightmarish and terrifying 12-day conflict January 13, 1945, the Division was in that became known as the Battle of the vicinity of Rittershoffen, just north of Hatten-Rittershoffen. He lives in Grafton, the Haguenau forest, when German Massachusetts. forces broke through and drove out the U.S. 42nd Infantry Division.

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Jim Robertson James G. Robertson Johnny Pesky had played for two years forces at Rabaul and neighboring earlier (many of the Silverton Red Sox islands. Date and Place of Birth: August 31, players worked for the Silver Falls Timber 1919 Albany, Company which was owned by Boston Shortly before midnight on April 20, Date and Place of Death: April 20, 1944 Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey). The Red 1944, Robertson, with the squadron’s off Green Island, Pacific Ocean Sox were state semi-pro champions that executive officer Major Douglas E. Baseball Experience: Minor League year and clinched the league title in Keeler at the controls of the PBJ-1D, was Position: Catcher September with a 14-5 win over returning from a mission over the Rank: First Lieutenant Medford. The Silverton line-up of 1941 Japanese stronghold of Kavieng on the Military Unit: VMB-413 U.S. Marine featured Willamette teammates Toolson island of New Ireland. The bomber had Corps and Shinn, future PCL outfielder Bill been damaged by Japanese anti-aircraft Area Served: Pacific Theater of Carney and big leaguer Dick Whitman. fire and was attempting a landing in Operations heavy rain at the Allied airstrip on Green Robertson completed his basketball Island when it overshot the runway and James G. competition at Willamette in the winter – crashed into the lagoon killing all on Robertson, the where he was named to the Northwest board. In addition to Jim Robertson and son of Robert Conference all-star team - and signed Major Keeler, other crew members were and Lola with the Salem Senators of the Class B Second Lieutenant Charles F. Leidberg Robertson, was Western International League in from Chicago; Staff Sergeant Gilbert V. born on August February 1942. One of his first games for Enck of Portland, Oregon; Sergeant 31, 1919, in the Senators was against his alma mater Aaron S. Johnson Jr. of Pluckemin, New Albany, Oregon on April 23 at George E. Waters Park – Jersey; and Sergeant Robert C. Hubbell about 30 miles home of both the Senators and Bearcats. of Philadelphia. south of Salem. In a close fought contest it was He attended Robertson’s infield dribbler that scored “'Robbie,' as he was affectionately Albany High the only run of the game in the bottom of known by friends and athletic foes alike, School where, as the ninth. was . . . one of Willamette’s best a catcher, he led baseball players,” recalled the the Bulldogs to three consecutive Playing for first year manager Charlie Willamette Collegian newspaper upon championships and was named to the Petersen, Robertson held his own behind news of his tragic death. county all-star team each year. In his the plate and with the bat for the senior year the Bulldogs lost to Eugene Senators. He had a three hit game Jim Robertson, who was about to receive in the district finals and won the against the in May and a captain's commission, was survived by Strawberry Fair championship. He also was batting .250 in 21 games when his wife and a one month old daughter played football and was an all-star military service beckoned in June. named Dotty Ann, whom he had never basketball player; a league high scorer seen. his senior year and recipient of the Jim Robertson initially served with the school’s outstanding all-around athlete U.S. Navy but transferred to the Marine Robertson’s Pro Career award. Corps after completing pre-flight training at St. Mary's, California, NAS Pasco, 1942—Salem Senators of the Class B Beginning in 1938, Robertson continued Washington and NAS Corpus Christi, Western International League. his high profile athletic pursuits at Texas. After earning his wings, Robertson Willamette University in Salem. Under joined VMB-413 – the Marine Corps’ first the guidance of Roy “Spec” Keene medium bomber squadron. With 1st (Oregon Sports Hall of Fame inductee Lieutenant Jim Robertson as pilot and 1982), Robertson was the Bearcats’ squadron athletic officer, VMB-413 starting catcher for four years. In 1940 deployed to Hawaii in January 1944. The he caught every inning of the team’s 22 squadron flew North American PBJ-1s; games as they clinched the Northwest the U.S. Navy’s equivalent of the famous Conference championship for the first B-25 twin-engine Mitchell bomber, and time since 1931. Among his teammates the flight echelon flew to the island of at Willamette were pitchers Bill Espiritu Santo, part of the New Hebrides, Hanauska and Earl Toolson, and at the end of the infielders Clint Cameron and Lee Shinn, month. Following a who all went on to play minor league brief training period, ball. the squadron then moved northward to Robertson finished his collegiate Stirling Island (part of catching days in the spring of 1941 and the Treasury Islands) played summer ball for the Silverton Red from where it flew Sox of the Oregon State League – the night-time missions same team Boston Red Sox infielder against Japanese Willamette University Bearcats baseball team (Robertson is front row, second left) Volume 5 Issue 30 Page 10

Herm Rush Herman P. Rush Despite the on-field success of the Moving across open ground, dotted with Chinooks in 1938, the team fell on little towns the Germans made every Date and Place of Birth: July 20, 1917 financially hard times in 1939. Fleming, effort to stop the American advance. Long Beach, California Ardizoia, Schulmerich, Tyack and Dapper Date and Place of Death: December 7, were gone and the team struggled to win On March 2, 1945, T/4 Rush was fatally 1945 Modesto, California a game. Former major league infielder wounded by a German sniper. He was Baseball Experience: Minor League Jimmie Reese took over from Penner as shipped back to the United States for Position: Catcher manager, and at one point the players medical attention but died in hospital in Rank: Technician 4th Grade were forced to hitch-hike to Spokane in Modesto, California on December 7, Military Unit: 311th Infantry Regiment, order to keep up with the schedule, using 1945. Herman Rush was 28 years old 78th Infantry Division US Army the same method to swing across the and is buried in Lancaster, California. Area Served: European Theater of state to Tacoma. The league took over Operations the team in August and Orland “Al” A 1939 Chinooks teammate, Alan W. Lightner, who in addition to playing first Lightner, who played as Alan Wray and Herman P. Rush base was also the team’s traveling was the brother of / was born in Long secretary, was appointed manager on manager Orland “Al” Lightner, also lost Beach, California August 17. The Chinooks finished with a his life in Europe. He was killed in action on July 20, 1917. A lowly last-place 40-102 record. while serving with the 70th Infantry 1935 graduate of Division near the German town of Antelope Valley Rush played 35 games with the Saarbrucken on January 12, 1945. Joint Union High Chinooks, sharing catching duties with School in Bill Brenner and Red Farquharson. He Also to lose his life in World War II was Lancaster, batted .160 with 17 hits in 106 at-bats. umpire Don Stewart, who had ejected a California, Rush In an interesting incident on August 14, handful of Chinook players when they signed with the of the he took over catching duties from staged the earlier mentioned “sit-down Pacific Coast League in 1938 and Brenner following the latter’s ejection strike” during a game in 1939. Stewart attended at Lake Elsinore from a game. Playing the Wenatchee was a Canadian and served with the before being optioned to the Bellingham Chiefs, the Chinooks had staged a "sit- Calgary Highlanders. He was killed on Chinooks of the Class B Western down strike" when they objected to March 13, 1941, during a German International League. umpire Don Stewart calling a ball hit bombing raid on Glasgow, Scotland. along the third base line fair. Stewart Under the guidance of manager Ken settled the "strike" in 15 minutes by Penner – who had been playing banishing manager Reese, pitcher Larry Rush’s Pro Experience professional baseball since 1913 and Weldon, catcher Brenner and third pitched for the Cleveland Indians in baseman Bud Stewart. 1938—signed with Hollywood Stars of 1916, making a return to the majors the Class AA Pacific Coast League. with the Cubs in 1929 – the Chinooks The Bellingham franchise moved to Played with Bellingham Chinooks of the were contenders throughout the Salem in 1940 and Rush was out of Class B Western International League summer of 1938. With a pitching staff professional baseball that year. He 1939—Bellingham Chinooks. that included future major leaguers Bill entered military service with the Army at Fleming and Rugger Ardizoia, and a Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California hard-hitting outfield of Wes Schulmerich, on November 14, 1941. As a technician Jim Tyack and George Mandish, they fourth grade, Rush served with the 311th finished the year with a 68-65 record, Infantry good enough for second place behind Regiment of the Yakima Pippins. The Chinooks then the 78th went on to claim the league Infantry championship title by defeating the Division in Pippins, three games to two, in the Europe. playoffs. Rush was behind the plate in the opening game as Bill Fleming hurled On February a 1-0 two-hitter and fanned 12. He was 28, 1945, back behind the plate for the fifth and the division final game that was won, 6-3, with crossed the Fleming pitching in relief of Ardizoia. Roer River and joined Rush appeared in 53 games for the the offensive Chinooks, sharing catching duties with of the First 18-year-old future major leaguer Cliff and Ninth Dapper and Joe Annunzio. He Armies batted .198 with 33 hits in 167 at-bats. toward the Rhine. 1938 Bellingham Chinooks (Rush is back row, fourth left) Volume 5 Issue 30 Page 11

Jim Stewart and Joe Vecchio James E. Stewart Joseph Vecchio ear and knee while helping to evacuate wounded men from the front lines. In a Date and Place of Birth: July 30, 1924 Date and Place of Birth: April 4, 1918 letter home, he wrote that at one time Hazlehurst, Georgia Astoria, New York during the engagement he was only 25 Date and Place of Death: March 22, Date and Place of Death: November 16, yards from a German machine-gunner, 1945 Iwo Jima, Pacific 1944 Dieuze, France who warned the medic to advance no Baseball Experience: Minor League Baseball Experience: Minor League further. Position: Pitcher Position: Outfield Rank: Private Rank: Technician Third Grade Vecchio was awarded the Silver Star for Military Unit: 7th Platoon, Company C, Military Unit: 46th Medical Battalion, gallantry in action and the Purple Heart 34th Replacement Draft, 3rd Marine 10th Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th for wounds received. Division, USMC Armored Division US Army Area Served: Pacific Theater of Area Served: European Theater of In August 1944, the 4th Armored Operations Operations Division moved swiftly across France as part of General Patton’s Third Army, James E. Stewart was born in Joseph Vecchio, son of Anthony and defeating several large German armored Hazlehurst, Georgia. A pitcher, he was Sadie Vecchio, was born on April 4, 1918 forces in the Lorraine area. On signed by the Atlanta Crackers along in Astoria, a neighborhood in the November 16, 1944, as the division with Troy Furr (who was killed in action northwestern corner of Queens on Long advanced through the French town of in France in January 1945) during the Island, New York. He began his Dieuze and approached the Saar River, winter of 1943. Sadly, he never got to professional baseball career when he Joe Vecchio was killed in action. He was play a game in a Crackers uniform as he signed with the Opelousas Indians of the 26 years old. entered military service with the Marine Class D Evangeline League on April 15, Corps. 1939. He was released by the club two In December 1948, Joe Vecchio's body weeks later but signed with the Abbeville was returned from Europe to Utica, New Twenty year old Private Stewart was in A’s of the same league on May 3. The York, aboard the U.S. Army transport the Pacific with 7th Platoon, Company C, 21-year-old outfielder batted .140 in 13 ship Barney Kirschbaum. 34th Replacement Draft, 3rd Marine games before being released by the A's. Division at Iwo Jima in March 1945. He Vecchio’s Pro Experience was killed in action on March 22 - one of Vecchio joined the Army in May 1941 4,500 Marines who lost their lives on and trained for 16 months with the 1939—Opelousas Indians and Abbeville the tiny volcanic island. Major leaguers Fourth Armored Division at Pine Camp, A’s of the Class D Evangeline League. Harry O'Neill and minor leaguers Jim near Great Bend in northwest New York Trimble, Frank Ciaffone, Bob Holmes, state. During that time he played Jack Lummus and Jack Nealy also lost baseball with the Watertown Collegians, their lives on Iwo Jima. a powerhouse team of college stars coached by future American Baseball James Stewart is buried at Hazelhurst Coaches Association inductee Hank City Cemetery. Hodge.

Stewart’s Pro Experience From the deep snow of the Canadian border, the Fourth Armored joined the Late 1943—signed with Atlanta Crackers Tennessee maneuvers in the of the Class A1 Southern Association Cumberland Mountains, before moving, (did not play). in mid-November 1942, to the vast California Desert Training Center. Six months later the division arrived at Camp Bowie, Texas, and on September 25, 1943, Vecchio married Rita Campese of Utica, New York.

The Fourth Armored left the United States for overseas duty in December 1943 and arrived in England in the New Year. After training until July 1944, the division landed at Utah Beach in France on July 11 and entered combat six days later. Serving with the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion as a medic, Technician Third Grade Vecchio was wounded on August 1 as the division helped secure the Brittany Peninsula. He was hit in the