FILE NO.

U.S. NAVY PRE-FLIGHT SCHOOL _ commtanoine'orricen

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE, CALIFORNIA

January 4, 1944

Dr. F. C. Allen

Head Basketball Coach
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

Bear "Doc"!

This is just a little note to let you know that we certainly
miss seeing some of those good basketball games that we use
to see. I noticed in last weeks paper that Kansas is still

whipping the pants offfof their opponents, and _ they always.
will as long as you are there. ( Hank Laieetti is one of the
@fficers on this base, I can easily see why John Sunn had
such a wonderful basketball team. Hank is playing om the

Pre Flight Basketball team. He sure has an eye for the basket ,
and a darn good team Man also.

C0 probably know by now that I was assignfled to the Athletic

Dept. and put into the swimming dept. consider myself very
fortunate to be put in the most important section of the Pre-
Flight Program, This is wonderful experience. Our Yept. Head,
Lt. Jack Torney is considered the best in the country. He used
to coach at the University of Washington. “e is just completing
the swimming manual for this program. e really believes in
passing around the responsibilities in the Dept. esides teach-
ing at least 4 hours per day, I have had the assignment of keep-
ing up permanent records for approximately 1700 Cadets who have
to pass at least 8 tests to graduate. Some pass as high as 17
tests; the additional tests better their grades, This month I
Have been given the head of the Swimming Sports Program Dept.
This consists of handling about 125 Cadets every aftermoon
from 4:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. These Cadets are divided into five
platoons. Each platoon has a coach. We have competition for
these Cadets in individual events, relays and water polo. os

    

nearer ee

We had a swell visit with Murray 5rown an& his wife last evening.
They were in San Francisco during the day. They drove out here
toward evening and then we all went to Oakland for dinner. He

is being transferred to Hutchinson, Kansas. The Yel Monte Pre-
Flight Schoot is closing up. I am expecting some more of our
schools to fold up before long. You see we are training so

many Cadets that the Gov. is getting more than they can handle.

I found out the other day that we have had over 11,000 Cadets go

i 7
_ a Sia

> i "7 * i Dagar eee eh Aaah Dy i ee : ii
25 ; pa oh ad aaa eae Sih ge EIS Re atte eal SR ha ea ee ie Sai me
cA Riser cad ¥ hes ys Ne ae is Sistas ese a setian) gtRehS LA es fe ea os 4

Gop iAe Sa LS arate es SL