Boxers in World Wars/Vietnam

amazing story, wish I had one to share but ill just have to spectate on this one. just found this little fact on barney, apparently he Testified at Jack Ruby's trial for the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald. seems quite a character.

 

Joe Louis was in the Army during WWII. He did not have to engage in combat. I believe he was in some sort of Entertainment Service. My father, who was in the United States Army 90th division did engage in combat after D Day. While on a break from combat, My dad saw Joe Louis in a Chow Line.

 

A huge number of American fighters served during at least one war during the 20th Century, especially during World War II. As someone in his early 60s, I don't remember knowing too many men born before 1930 who weren't veterans.

- Chuck Johnston

 

Max Schmeling. He was airborne, he got dropped by parachute during the German invasion of Crete. He got wounded and got a desk job. From his desk job he apparently helped with the escape of some jews.

 

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Saoul Mamby was in Nam.

 

Mac Foster was in Vietnam, If I remember correctly.

 

Garland (Rip) Randall - Two tours of Vietnam, Died a Hero over there.
Won Bronze and silver stars Medals for Gallentry.

 

Is this really true or a post-war myth?

 

I'm sure I've seen clips of Schmeling just about to jump out of a plane???

 

Schmeling was airborne, and fought at Crete , he was invalided out when he damaged his knee
He hid two Jewish boys sons of a friend but it was prior to his being conscripted ,it was 1938 during Kristallnacht.

http://articles.latimes.com/1989-12-23/sports/sp-588_1_max-schmeling

Good guy old Max.:good

 

Hitler was furious that Schmeling lost to Louis.
He ordered him inducted and sent on suicide missions.
It didn't help matters that prior to losing to Louis, Schmeling was a national hero who refused to join the Nazi Party and rejected several invitations to dine with Hitler.

 

Schmeling was never sent on any suicide missions.
He was already 36 years old when the invasion of Crete took place.

After being injured during the invasion of Crete 1941 , Schmeling spent the rest of the war in hospital,and giving some boxing exhibitions to the troops.
He never joined the Nazi Party, it was believed by Goebbels that he was of more propaganda value if he was seen as "independant".

Schmeling never refused to dine with Hitler he was never extended an invitation.He did take afternoon tea with him , accompanied by his wife Anny Ondra, she and Hitler spoke about gugelhupf cake.
Photo below 1936

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Photo below 1941.

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"After the loss [to Louis], the Nazis distanced themselves from Schmeling. His continued defiance of the Nazi brass persuaded Hitler to draft him into the service as a parachutist and send him on suicide missions..."

http://www.pittnews.com/news/article_c63dd102-0e89-5339-a049-b44f68eae05f.html?mode=jqm

"Hitler never forgave Schmeling for refusing to join the Nazi party, so he had him drafted into the Paratroops and sent him on suicide missions."

http://www.auschwitz.dk/schmeling.htm

"With the outbreak of war in 1939, Schmeling was forcibly drafted into the German army as a paratrooper (pictured) and, as a 36-year-old private, saw action during the Battle of Crete in 1941 where he was wounded. Schmeling believed that the particularly perilous assignment had been the Nazi Party’s revenge on him. No doubt they hoped he would be killed and provide them with a new martyr."

http://www.historyinanhour.com/2012/06/22/max-schmeling-summary/