U.S.ARMY AIR FORCES

March 7, 1944

Dr. F. C. Alien,

Varsity Basketball Coach
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

Dear Sir:

I appreciate the "Rebounds" increasingly with each issue I receive and

I know the same may be said for anyone on your mailing list. Knowing

of the many feats of others on that mailing list, both in their days

at the University of Kansas and now on the worlds far-flung battlefields,
‘I cannot help but feel humble and fortunate to be included.

I had hoped by this time to be something more than a "USO soldier" and
when I saw you for a few minutes in December I believe I told you I soon
would be starting cadet training. I was to have shipped out to start
cadet training January 8, but 10 days previous to that I dislocated my
left shoulder, a trick shoulder that I have dislocated several times since
I "knowked it down" in high school football. [I had failed to mention
anything about my shoulder in entering the army or in making application
for cadets. As a result the medical officer promptly. disqualified me
for cadet training and subsequently would not pass me on a physical exam
for overseas service. JI feel rather keenly about this when others are
giving so much and I am giving so little.

But as to matters which I am sure will be of more interest to you, I share
the "Rebounds" with Norval Kline, a brother of Johnny's. Norval was able
to get a short furlough recently and see John: when he oes out to this
coast.

I got to see Hank Luisetti and Jim Pollard in one of their duels in
Sani Francisco early in the season.

We had a pretty good squadron basketball team this year, undefeated in
competition among the enlisted ranks on the post here. High scorer of
the team was a former Salina high player, Robert Van Gundy, who did not
go on to college anywhere. He was a good shot, a splendid ball-hawk and
a very good all-around man. We stepped into geliese competition a gainst
Chico State and lost two of a three game series. The "rubber" game was
a thriller, being decided in the last minute of play. day influence I
may have had as manager of the team must correctly go back to you. I am
enclosing a picture of the team.

Let me congratulate you on the showing of the Kansas team this year as I
feel it was very good in view of the comparative material available at

Ke U. in comparison to the other Big Six Semel yee