at

gave everything they had. Iowa State was just a better ball club that night.

I just received a letter from Louie lMenze this morning, in which he says:
"We hed the best night of the season against you. It wasn't that Kansas was play-
ing poorly, we simply were hitting for cnce in the season. ‘We made 35% of our
attempts, against a season's play of 24%. We would have been tough for anybody
that.night." You will remember that Louie Iienze was one of my stars in early
days, and if we couldn't win I was tickled pink that Louie could do the jode

I am happy to receive a comaunication from Capt. Mel Griffin written from
the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D. C. Captain Griffin, Mel to me, has been on
a tour of duty at Edenton, N. C., for fourteen months. The highlight of his course
wes a letter of commendation from the Commandant of the Marine Corps Aviation on
the Recreation department, which was Mel's department. Congratulations, Hel! You
have always been a winner, whether playing, coaching, teaching or fighting.

Hel states that he is hoping his next orders read west, and he hopes it is
further west than California. Much to the contrary of what we hear about VYiashing=
ton, I quote what Mel says: "Washington, D. C. is a very nice city. Even with
all the big business and politics represented here it has ao very caln, friendly
and unhurried attitude that is felt as one goes about this business of war. The
trees are at the height of their beauty and the well-kept lawns and parkways have
an inviting look." ‘when a mon lives in Washington and can give’such a beautiful
description, my verdict is that he is at peace with the world = with everyone ex-
cept the Japanazis. ‘po ONE

I head the extreme pleasure of speaking in Burlington, Kansas, the old home
town of Mel Griffin and Clarence Douglas, at their football and basketball banquet.
Ray kierson, an outstanding barrister of the law (but in Burlington he calls: him-
self a lawyer) called me up and said that I was dated’up for this banquet. Ray.
and the men cooked the meal and they did a swoll job. The banquet was held -at the
Methodist Church anda group of 150 men turned out to honor these boys who’ had done
themselves proud in a football and basketball way. It was 4 pleasure for me to re-
call the wonderful record that Mel Griffin made upon the fislds of friendly strife
and in the class room, as well as out among the affairs of men. 7

when I have experiences with some pampered athlete I like to go back to the
days when Hel came up here without any money and a lot of ambition, and finished
with a great athletic record as well asa fine scholastic record. He made a great
reputation here ut Lawrence High School where he had championship teams in several
sports, and since he has been at Long Beach, California, with Bert Smith, anothe
Kansas stellar athlete of other cays, he has done a wonderful job in the Junior
College out there on the coast. liel's name is associnted with winning teams and

fine morale among his boys. I am alwoys proud of sueh'men. .

Ens. Ilichaol Gubar, APA 163, San Francisco, writing from somewhere in the
East China Sea, gives a newsy account of the USS Eastland in the Olcinawa invasion.
Miko reports something of tne suicide tactics used by the fanatical Japs in the
Pacific. He says, "Pilots deliberately attempt to drash dive shins, rather than
make a bombing run, strafe and scram. To meet such an attack you literally have
to knock 'em out of the skies, otherwise they keep’ on coning. Happy to report that
the APA 163 is still undamaged and afloat. ‘We have experienced muny close calls,
but are still fighting! . . . I just had a visitor - Alvin MeCoy who is covering
the racific war for the K. C, Star dropped in for a visit, » » - You might also be
interested in knowins that I ran into Lyle Armel, who is skipper of APA‘210, which
is operating in our transport division, Visited with hin recently. Boy, it was
“Sure good to-see'a familiar face from ou. ; ee ee