The Forgotten Athletes of the American Forces Far East - Paperback

by D. Goodrich Kingrey (Author)

This book is primarily a resource and record of the American Forces Far East full-contact American-style football in 1950s post-war Korea; however, basketball, baseball, boxing, and mention of other recreation sports are included, based on availability of historical information.

The Far East Service Sports level of play was often very high, and was in some cases at a semi-professional level, or at least a semi-major collegiate level. Team rosters frequently included future and past college sports stars; it was also not uncommon to have future and past professional athletes on team rosters, and it was not unusual for Far East championship and Service All-Star football games played in Japan to sometimes attract tens of thousands of fans.Far East Service Sports leagues mimicked major-college-level sports in many ways, including by organization, talent, rosters, coaching, and by regular skills clinics given by visiting United States major-college coaches and officials, such as Paul "Bear" Bryant and James Cain. This exhaustively researched resource and record highlights a very robust period of time for Far East Service Sports in Japan and Korea. You will recognize some names and learn others. You will discover surprising connections between players of that era and players of more recent times. But most of all, you will honor heroes of the past by helping to bring attention to their accomplishments and service. Thank you, veterans, for your service!