World War II Chronicle: January 9, 1942
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Joe Louis defends his heavyweight title tonight in a rematch against Buddy Baer… Former heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey is attempting to enlist in the Army as a private despite being older than the age limit (bottom of front page). We will discuss Dempsey more in future installments… Page 8 reports that American Volunteer Group pilots have destroyed seven Japanese warplanes in Burma… Page 14 notes the passing of Pilot Officer Sidney N. Muhart, an American flying for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (No. 94 Sqn.), who was shot down over North Africa on Dec. 29, 1941. Muhart appears to be one of three RAF pilots shot down that day by Luftwaffe ace Otto Schulz, who at this stage of the war is halfway to his total of 51 victories at the time of his death in June 1942… Sports section begins on page 42
Boxers go to war
In the January 5th edition we discussed former heavyweight champion Gene Tunney accepting a commission in the Navy to head up their physical fitness program. On the front page of today’s paper is Jack Dempsey (pictured above), the man who lost his title to Tunney — and then lost the rematch. 11 years older than the service’s maximum entry age of 35, Dempsey still passed the physical exam and is trying to serve as a private.
As you can guess from the picture above, Dempsey does not join the Army. However, later in the month the former champ does join a service. More on Dempsey to come.
Joe Louis is nearly five years into his incredible 12-year reign as boxing’s heavyweight champion. Louis will soon enlist in the Army, serving in a segregated cavalry unit out of Fort Riley, Kansas. His celebrity status comes in handy on occasion, such as when he helps several black soldiers stationed at Fort Riley whose Officer Candidate School applications were being delayed by their chain of command. One of those soldiers is future baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who would receive his commission in January 1943.
Louis’ challenger Buddy Baer — brother of former heavyweight champ Max Baer — also joins the Army.
Max Baer lost to James Braddock in 1935, who became the heavyweight champ in one of boxing’s greatest upsets. Braddock enlists in the Army, earning a commission and serving as a hand-to-hand combat instructor in the Pacific Theater.
German boxer Max Schmeling took the heavyweight title from former sailor Jack Sharkey in 1930, who took it back after a 1932 rematch. Max Baer then defeated Schmeling in 1933. Schmeling turned around and upset a then-undefeated Joe Louis in 1936, but lost their celebrated 1938 rematch. He was drafted into the Luftwaffe, where he served as a paratrooper and was wounded during the 1941 Battle of Crete.
Sugar Ray Robinson, maybe the sport’s finest pound-for-pound boxer, joined the Army along with his childhood friend Louis, and the former neighbors stage boxing expeditions during the war. Rocky Marciano, who would become the heavyweight champion in 1952, was drafted into the Army, involved in shipping supplies across the Atlantic.