15.

The great love that T. P.'s college chums had for him is evidenced
by the fact that I received a letter from one of his dear friends, enclosing a
check for $100.00, the same to be used as a living memorial in honor of this
great Marine. A committee will be named to work out this memorial.

T. P. Hunter, in every mants language, was a first class fighting
man, @ practical Christian, an athlete that any coach would qualify as tops in
his book, He was afraid of nothing. Men followed him for the power that he
possessed and for the tenderness and kindnesses that were his.

"His life was gentle, and the elements
So mix'td in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all of the world, ‘This was a man!'"

When I see so many boys from the battle fronts who drop in my office
here in Robinson Gymnasium, I feel very much as Frances Burns did in describing
a Lt, Jones when he said that he would be sitting at 12:30 talking to one of
his squadmen and at 2 o'clock he wuld be deadj ~"In all, 72. of those 94 tid ‘died
in action, “They meant more to me than anybody I'd ever known, and now when I
dream I get all mixed up. They are the living and I am one of the dead. I have
to turn the light on and look at their pictures to know where I belong." As I
look at T. P.'s picture each morning on my dresser, I wonder if this isn't the
state of mind of most of our boys who have been in mortal combat. A thousand
times more do I realize how you boys on the many fighting fronts, in those bitter
battles, count the living and the dead and be confused. ihen you come back you
will want to be left alone to work out your own adjustments. The men who are
fighting are only concerned with getting home again. They will get back in the
groove if the home front will give them plenty of time,

Of course, you will want your old job back, as good or even better
than the one you had when you left, It is up to the Selective Service boards
to show the same fidelity in serving you now as you showed to your country when
you served them and the rest of us here at home. Of course, most of you boys
will want to continue your education, and rightfully so, The G. I. Bill of

Rights has taken care of that in admirable fashion. And how eager you will be

after the first restlessness wears off, to specialize and take your part on
the field of friendly strife. )

All of our commanding generals and admirals are still saying it is a
long war, but what football coach or what basketball coach would tell his men
that the game they were about to play was going to be easy? There is a certain
psychology in our commanding generals in telling us that it is going to be a long
war. I am looking at it the way a coach would talk to his men. The harder we
hit tem the quicker we are going to get the job done. And I know that you boys
realize that because that is exactly the thing that you have voice in your letters
to mee So hit 'em with everything you have got so that your return will be the
speedier, So, in the words of your commanding officer and your coach - Up and
at ‘em, boys. God bless you, and good luck,

Faithfally,

 

FCA:AH Varsity Basketbgll Coach,