4e

cause I kmew lots of the guys from K.U. I expect to be home before Sent and I
will make a point of looking you up, and telling you all about a swell guy. I
 @an't tell you how much I miss Tepe, + I guess a Marine isn't supposed to have much
feeling, I just wanted you to know that I have heard all about you, and I mow |
you are anxhous to hear about S Rate I live & Ke Coy so when I come home I'll be.
by to gee you," | ae |

We are looking forward to Corporal Lear's coming to learn the story of the
last great heroic struggle,

This brings to two thé number of degen Rebounders who have given their
lives for you and for me = Wayne Nees and T. P,. Hunter, Wayne lost his life at
Kiska on May 18, 1943, He was the son of Mrs and Mrse A, By Nees of Brazil, Indiana,
You will remember that he was a star in basketball and track, He also played foot-
ball but his time allowance for work and study would not permit his football competi-
tion, Capt, Jack Andrews said of Wayne ="Mrs. Nees showed me the letters from Wayne's
company and regimental commanders, a captain and colonel respectively, They priased
Wayne as an office and for his gallantry in action. Beside the Purple Heart medal
he was awarded the Silver Star," |

In my private office will be a place for these immortal heroes, Of course,
I would like to have a photograph of every Jayhawk Rebounder that is fighting the
atrocious Japanagis, but every one of you are in my mind, I assure yous

As an attestation to T. P. Hunter's wonderful popularity and the deep
affection that his friends had for him, I am quoting from some of his buddies'
letters asking about T. P.'s exploits and expressing good wishes for his welfare.

Lt. Clint Kanaga, USMCR (c/o Pleét Postof fice, San Francisco) wrote me on
September 1, as follows: :

“Dear Does

Dad has probably informed you of our great less in a very dear
mutual friend in T. P, I just got ithe sad news today from Norma Falconer and its
hard to find words to express my grief, You see, Teep and I spent many nights in
May, June, and July «= just chewing the fat and rehashing good old K.U. days. There
wasn't anyone he thought any more of than yéu, Doc = and having similar feelings
myself, we played out a, lot of basketball games, Remember the night Teep got 5
goals to help nail a Creighton team that had beaten Great Lakes by 15 points, and
the night Teep beat the great frosh team of Evans, Black, et al 38637 in an over-
time with a long shot? Eleanor and I were there. We went over those and many more.
games, We both felt that K.U, had the finest _—— in the U, Se, and as Teep said
Ne me, "Ree alone is worth fighting for.!

Teep was a great Marine and a real leader = his men were crazy
about him. He had shown them leadership and bravery on Bougainville. The last
night I was with him = a short time before he was killed « he said to me, ‘Well,
Clint, its liable to be tough but I have a swell gang of men and we'll give them
hell.' He added, 'I*1]1 be OK. If something happens, its part of this game.'

Teep paid the supreme sacrifice « and I believe he would have
wanted it that way, inasmuch as it's happened - fighting for the country, and the
ones he loveds for the things he valued in life which the aggressor nation of Japan
has tried to change and master. There never was a finer man or sweller guy than
Teepe He was tops. « « «