Jk PHASE REBOUNDS

 

 

TIE OUT | ~ TIME .OUT June 1943

FOUL 1 HALF 2 PvP '

“te all of you Rebounding Jayhawkers I want to pass on the very proud yet
sad note from the family of Wayne Nees: "The family of Lt. Charles Wayne Nees
acknowledges with deep appreciation your kind expression of sympathy."

 

 

 

On June Sth we received the depressing news of the passing of one of our
splendid athletes and jmmortal soldiers. His father wrote me as follows:

"T am writing to tell you of a wire just received ‘yesterday from the War De- |
partment advising us that my son, Charles Wayne Nees, was killed in action in
the North American area on May 18th last. oe

"we have no further details, but presume that his death occurred in the Attu
drive in the Aleutians. He was graduated from the Infantry School as a 2nd
lieutenant in November 1942 and had. been at Fort Ord, California, until: about
the first of April. - Z

"Since Wayne, or ‘'Gus', as ho was ‘known on your campus, held such dear momorics
of his associations in basketball and track when he was at Lawrence from 19355-

140, I would like for you-to-s6e that the University is properly notified for

their records, I am today writing his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and would
appreciate your checking with thom to be sure that they get the letter, as I do
not know whether thoy are still in their chapter houso, due to present day dis-
ruptions on college compusos."

[It is difficult, of course, for all of us to realize thot Wayne is gonee
fhe-Aloutian Islands represent to us 4 spot that is difficult to visualize,
even though we have read so much about the place. Wayne Nees is the first of
our Jayhowker Rebound boys who will not return. Like Flanders Field, Attu now
becomes a part:of America's consecrated ground -- consecrated with the blood of
one of our Jayhawk Rebounders. . In future days it is thinkable that we will —
traverse Attu and other’ battle grounds to:pay homage to American boys who are

not afraid to dice

Out: of this wor will come ‘another great memorial enshrining the names of
these men and women who made the supreme sacrifice for their country and the
University. You will remomber in the Memorial Union Building there is a bronze ~
plaque honoring the 129:-men and women. who gave their lives in the first World
War. The Memorial Stadium and the. Memorial Union Building are edificos built
as a great war memorial for World War One.

My uppermost desire is to ondeavor to:koep you informed of the glorious
achicvoments and whereabouts of you boys in the service, and I will be here