‘ARMED GUARD UNIT
S$. S. SAM JACKSON
Armed Guard center (Pacific)
Traesure Island
San Francisco, Calif.
25 June, 1945

Dear "Phog",

I have just finished reading another one of your Jayhawk
Rebounds. I cant express how much enjoyment I receive from them. I look
forward to receiving each new issue. I wish to express my grayitude and
appreciation to you for placing my name on the mailing list.
i It has been better than fifteen years since I graduated from
/ good old Lawrence High and enrolled "on the Hill! However, it seems only
| a few years since I was playing football on that school's teams, first
| wnder Severt Higgins and then under Melvin Griffin, Two of the finest
| men and coaches I ever knew. I was indeed fortunate to have had them for
coaches. They stood as powerful examples of the success of the athletic
\. department of Kansas University.

As you know, due to some unfortunate circumstances, I did not
finish my athletic career at the University, but completed it at Pittsburg
Teachers. Yet Lawrence has allways seemed my home town and K.U. my Alma
Mater. By that I mean no disloyalty to Pitt. es she is my second love, so
to speak.

I was interested to hear about my former coach, Mel Griffin.
I had talked to Mrs. Griffin over the phone last Fall while in Long Beach
so knew he was an officer in the Marine Corps. There is no question but
that he is doing a lot to make that the splendid fighting outfit that it
is.

I am well pleased with my billet in the Navy. It is very
' similar to a coaching job. I have a crew of 27 enlisted men which I
must train, inspire, and weld into a machine-like fighting team for the
defense of this vessel in order to keep the supplies moving up. I find
that the psychology and the fundamental principles are very much the
game as coaching, with a few reservations.

| I am getting to see a great deal of the Pacific. Have visited
a great ports both in New Guinea and the Philippines. As a commanding
officer I have the good fortune to be allowed ashore in many places where
it would be impossible otherwise. I have not run across many of the fellows
I knew at K.U. but hope to do so. I went through Indoctrination at the
Universtgy of Arizona with Carney Smith and Bus Burchamn. Relpk Graham of
K. State was one of my buddies there also. I was surprised and pleased the
other day to bump into him on the street in a port in the Philippines. _
Ralph is doing an All American job as recreational officer at the Navy Base
there. I need not tell you, I guess, that he is a splendid athlete, a fine
sportsman, and an allround swell guy. We had a good visit and I hope to se
him again while out this way.

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a Sa Se a ae

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