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World War II Chronicle: September 21, 1941
Unto the Breach ^ | Sept. 21, 2021 | Chris Carter

Posted on 09/21/2021 10:06:54 AM PDT by fugazi

Today's sports section discusses the St. Louis Cardinals' innovative farm system, a product of general manager Branch Rickey (featured image). Ironically, Bob Scheffing, who hit a ninth-inning grand slam for the Cubs in yesterday’s contest, was recently a member of Rickey’s minor league system before being sold to the Chicago Cubs.

After four seasons as a backup catcher for the St. Louis Browns and New York Highlanders (renamed the Yankees in 1913) Rickey was commissioned a major in the Army's chemical corps during the first World War, serving in France alongside fellow major leaguers Ty Cobb and Christy Mathewson. 1942 will be his last season with the Redbirds before moving on to Brooklyn. Most people know that Rickey is responsible for bringing Jackie Robinson into baseball, but a lesser-known bit of trivia is that Rickey refused to play on Sundays.

Boston slugger Ted Williams belted two hits in yesterday’s 8-1 loss to the Yankees, nudging his batting average up to .406, with seven games to go for the Red Sox.

The sports section also highlights a scrimmage between the Georgetown and Navy varsity squads. Not mentioned is fearsome Georgetown lineman Al Blozis, who the New York Giants will select in the fifth round of the 1942 NFL draft, and whose athletic feats earn him a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame and the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. Despite only playing two seasons for the Giants before the "Hoya Hercules" managed to fight his way into the Army (they had to waive the height restrictions as he was 6'6"), and three games while on furlough in 1944, he was voted into the NFL's 1940 All-Decade Team and the Giants retired his number 32.

Not content with a stateside fitness instructor assignment, Blozis fought again to be sent overseas. While the 28th Division fought their way across France's Vosges Mountains in January 1945, two men from Blozis' infantry unit failed to return from a scouting patrol. Blozis searched for them himself, and was cut down by enemy machinegun fire. His body was recovered that April and is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-Avold, France.

He was one of two New York Giants killed during World War II, Medal of Honor recipient Jack Lummus being the other. More fun trivia: Blozis set the Army hand-grenade record when the former shot and discus champ sent one flying an incredible 94 yards, 2 feet, 6.5 inches -- about three times the normal throwing distance.

Blozis was one of 12 Georgetown football players to perish during World War II. Pictured on page 38 (holding ball) is Johnny Barrett Jr. who as we see in the photo is killed in action on Sept. 15, 1944 during the Battle of Peleliu. 2nd Lt. Barrett served with Company K of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. He earned a posthumous Silver Star and his body was not recovered.

Although he went on to the U.S. Military Academy, Gen. Malin Craig served as the Chief of Staff for the United States Army between Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Gen. George Marshall. Now two years into his retirement, Craig will be recalled to active duty on Sept. 26, where he will run the War Department's Personnel Board.

Click here for today's newspaper



TOPICS: History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS:
The entire newspaper can be read here (or the embedded link at the end of the piece) https://www.untothebreach.net/world-war-ii-chronicle/world-war-ii-chronicle-september-21-1941/ which also features a pdf version.
1 posted on 09/21/2021 10:06:54 AM PDT by fugazi
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To: fugazi

Francis P. Daly died on Iwo Jima the day before the famous flag raising on Mount Suribachi.


2 posted on 09/21/2021 11:40:41 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: Verginius Rufus

DALY, Francis P., Major, USMC. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy J. Daly, 19 Rhode Island Ave., N. E, DC (na) + DALY, Francis Paul, 6604, HqCo, 5thSerBn, 5thMarDiv, FMF, February 22, 1945, killed in action

Daly was captain of the Georgetown basketball team


3 posted on 09/21/2021 1:11:18 PM PDT by fugazi
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To: fugazi
Thanks for the information on Maj. Daly. The men who happened to be in the photo of the flag-raising on Feb. 23 did not think of themselves as deserving of any special recognition--they were mindful of all their fellow Americans who fought on Iwo Jima, many of whom were killed like Maj. Daly.

He was in the 5th Marine Division. My father was in the 6th Marine Division which fought on Guam and Okinawa.

4 posted on 09/21/2021 1:43:45 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: Verginius Rufus

It’s fascinating to see these men when they were young and carefree, before history marched on and they became a number on a list of casualties. If you think about it, those who knew or had heard of Maj. Daly are probably all gone. Maybe his family doesn’t even know much about him. Hopefully not.


5 posted on 09/21/2021 3:06:28 PM PDT by fugazi
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To: fugazi

Always remember this with any war movie and young people. If you tell them who won, you’ll spoil the ending for them.


6 posted on 09/21/2021 3:08:43 PM PDT by Hillarys Gate Cult (`)
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