Letter Comes From Advanced Base

I know this because I have at hand a letter from Logan which
evidently traveled a lengthy and circuitous course in getting here.
It was written several weeks ago. :

we BAe been intending to write you for a long time,” writes Lieuten-
ant Logan, “but out here we are as busy as hell all of the time. Am
starting on my seventh month out here, and frankly it doesn’t seem
that long as I keep busy in work that I like a lot. Four months
ago I took over as officer in charge at this Fleet Recreation Center.
I took Jim Crowley’s place. Jim was put on Admiral Halsey’s staff
as chief of all-recreation in the South Pacific. Crowley has done
a really remarkable job and you hear him praised wherever you go.

“Here we have 40 acres of play activities such as football, basket-
ball, boxing, soccer, swimming, tennis, handball, horseshoes, softball,
badminton, volleyball and golf. I just finished laying out a neat
nine-hole course. We are short of golf equipment, however, and are
hoping to get some soon. _

“we also have a big stage where I warble and act as master of
- ceremonies in my spare moments. Also a large refreshment hall and a
nice ice cream parlor. Five thousand men or ‘thereabouts visit this
large center each day. It’s a terrific boost to their morale (fighting
men off ships) te come here and ‘play, relax, eat ice cream and
rest up. Admiral Nimitz said the place was worth five battleships.

“Jim Crowley did a grand job in getting this place organized and|
set up. He deserves a lot of credit. I’m carrying on and. enjoying
the work immensely. It’s seven days a week and as much as 15)
hours a day. The men come as early as 5:30 for a pre-breakfast
- workout and often come back at night. Tell Len Walsh, Max
Farrington, Jack Espey, Jim Pixlee, Tuffy Leemans and all the rest}.
fon for the old Indian. Keep your left hand held high!—Roland

gan. re

Navy Considers Sports Important

Whether or not you. know Roland Logan, I think the foregoing
letter is interesting because it brings home first hand the fact the
Navy considers sports of utmost importance—important enough to
plant elaborate sports programs far up front in the Pacific battle
areas. It’s nice to know, too, the youngsters out there are having):
everything done for them in the way of relaxation and diversion.

‘It’s not difficult to imagine the lift it gives a sailor, after under-
going a.rough experience at sea—to get back and take a bat in his
hands, or play baseball or basketball, or sit around with his buddies
in a leisurely and wholesome atmosphere.

Incidently, this gentleman Roland Logan is a tonic, himself.
When he was with the Red Sox he led the dressing room quartets.
So it was in the Pullman washrooms when the team was/on the road
at night. I recall Logan a decade or so ago when he staged a one-
man show at the George Washington football training camp near,
Annapolis. It got so the football young men wouldn’t let a night
‘ pass without Logan holding forth with his singing and vaudeville
routines. The Navy could use a lot of men such as Roland Logan.
es a wonder he has been stepped up to an important place in the