Posted on Apr 16, 2018
High-Kicking Pitching Legend 'Bullet Bob' Feller
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CPL Dave Hoover I met him a long time before he passed away. I had a home Indians cap on and we started talking. He was first class all the way. He would easily have won 300 games, but he spent his most productive professional years in the military. He was one of the first pro athletes to volunteer for service after Pearl Harbor. Here is a little from Wiki on his military service:
"The United States entered World War II with the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Feller heard about the bombing while returning from a visit to his terminally ill father at Des Moines to Chicago where he was to sign a new Indians contract.[5] Two days later, he volunteered for the United States Navy, becoming the first American professional athlete to enlist.[31] Originally he tried to enlist as a fighter pilot but failed hearing tests. Feller attended basic training at Norfolk Naval Base and served as a physical fitness instructor there. He also pitched in baseball games hosted by the military. Although he had received a military exemption owing to his father's failing health, he wanted to serve in combat missions.[32] Feller said, "I told them I wanted to ... get into combat; wanted to do something besides standing around handing out balls and bats and making ball fields out of coral reefs."[33] Feller was assigned to the USS Alabama;[8] he had hoped to serve on the USS Iowa, but nearly all servicemen from Iowa had requested a place on that ship, and Feller was not selected.[2]:119
Shortly before Feller left for combat, his father died of brain cancer in early January 1943. Five days later he married Virginia Winther whom he met while in Florida for spring training; she was a student at Rollins College.[12] After the marriage, Feller returned to service as Gun Captain aboard the Alabama and kept his pitching arm in shape by throwing near a gun turret.[34] Feller and the Alabama crew spent most of 1943 in the British Isles along with USS South Dakota, but in August were reassigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations.[2]:119 Feller's first taste of direct combat was at Operation Galvanic in November 1943. The Alabama also served during Operation Flintlock while primarily being used as an escort battleship in 1944. Feller participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea before his combat duty ended in January 1945; he spent the rest of the war at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station as an instructor.[2]:124–127"
CPL Dave Hoover CW5 Jack Cardwell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. SFC Shirley Whitfield Maj Marty Hogan LTC Greg Henning Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen MAJ James Woods SPC Woody Bullard Sgt Wayne Wood
"The United States entered World War II with the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Feller heard about the bombing while returning from a visit to his terminally ill father at Des Moines to Chicago where he was to sign a new Indians contract.[5] Two days later, he volunteered for the United States Navy, becoming the first American professional athlete to enlist.[31] Originally he tried to enlist as a fighter pilot but failed hearing tests. Feller attended basic training at Norfolk Naval Base and served as a physical fitness instructor there. He also pitched in baseball games hosted by the military. Although he had received a military exemption owing to his father's failing health, he wanted to serve in combat missions.[32] Feller said, "I told them I wanted to ... get into combat; wanted to do something besides standing around handing out balls and bats and making ball fields out of coral reefs."[33] Feller was assigned to the USS Alabama;[8] he had hoped to serve on the USS Iowa, but nearly all servicemen from Iowa had requested a place on that ship, and Feller was not selected.[2]:119
Shortly before Feller left for combat, his father died of brain cancer in early January 1943. Five days later he married Virginia Winther whom he met while in Florida for spring training; she was a student at Rollins College.[12] After the marriage, Feller returned to service as Gun Captain aboard the Alabama and kept his pitching arm in shape by throwing near a gun turret.[34] Feller and the Alabama crew spent most of 1943 in the British Isles along with USS South Dakota, but in August were reassigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations.[2]:119 Feller's first taste of direct combat was at Operation Galvanic in November 1943. The Alabama also served during Operation Flintlock while primarily being used as an escort battleship in 1944. Feller participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea before his combat duty ended in January 1945; he spent the rest of the war at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station as an instructor.[2]:124–127"
CPL Dave Hoover CW5 Jack Cardwell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. SFC Shirley Whitfield Maj Marty Hogan LTC Greg Henning Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen MAJ James Woods SPC Woody Bullard Sgt Wayne Wood
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CPL Dave Hoover
It is men of such character that I have great admiration for, thank you much for sharing a precious moment brother.
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