Saturday, November 11, 2006

Thanks to all the Veterans on this Special Day

The Paul Harris / Mike Jones era has officially begun, with the Orange winning easily (if not sometimes sloppily) over St. Francis 83-51. Harris had 11 rebounds and 10 points in his varsity debut, and the Orangemen displayed some balanced scoring (though perimeter shooting was suspect).

On this Veterans day, I would like to thank all those who have served our country, putting their lives on the line to do those tasks that need to be done.

The Orange basketball team has had its share of veterans over the decades. And I would like to recognize those former basketball Orangemen who did serve. I acknowledge this is not a complete list; only those I know of. I image more Orangemen around World War II were in the service that I am omitting; if so, please post a recognition here!

In World War I, the following served:
Courtland Sanney
Billy Rafter
Ed Cronauer
Russ Finsterwald
Ken Lavin

In World War II, the following served:
Andy Mogish
Charles Taggart
Dan DiPace
Billy Gabor
Larry Crandall
Roy Peters
Joe Glacken
Ed Glacken
Bob Shaddock
Saul Mariaschin
Tom McTiernan
Jim Ackerson
Jim Emerich
Dick Casey
Red Stanton
Paul Ferris
Mike Stark
George Jarvis
Bob Felasco
Wilbur Crisp
John Schroeder
Wilmeth Sidat-Singh
Jim Konstanty
Hank Piro
Les Dye
John Balinsky
Marc Guley
Lew Hayman
Phil Rakov

In Vietnam, the following served:
Rick Dean

Two of the aforementioned players deserve special note, as they sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

Wilmeth Sidat-Singh was a member of the Tuskegee Airman, and was killed in a training accident when his plane crashed into Lake Michigan in 1943.

Charles Taggart was a member of the US Navy serving aboard the USS Frederick C. Davis, and was killed when his ship was torpedoed by a German U-Boat on April 24, 1945. Taggart and 115 crew members perished.

Please remember to honor these veterans and all other veterans who have done more than just their duty for us. My thanks to you all.

RY

1 comment:

OrangeRay said...

Addendum: Elias Raff, who was on the 1913-14 Syracuse Basketball team, and manager of the 1916-17 squad, was in the infantry in World War I