Jim Noles

Undefeated (eBook, ePUB)

From Basketball to Battle

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

"A provocative, arresting, put-you-there account of a forgotten 1940s Army basketball team that we now realize shouldn't be forgotten" (Lars Anderson, New York Times-bestselling author). In 1943, the West Point basketball team, the Cadets, had only managed a 5-10 record, and for the 1944 season, coach Ed Kelleher's hopes of reversing Army's fortunes rested on his five starters. They consisted of three seniors-team captain "Big Ed" Christl, John "Three Star" Hennessey, and class president Bobby Faas-and two juniors, Dale Hall and Doug Kenna. As the new season opened in January of 1944, Kelleher's strategy paid handsome dividends. By the end of January, West Point was 6-0; by the end of February, the team boasted a 13-0 record. Of course, during those weeks, it only took a glance at the newspaper headlines to be reminded that there were far bigger contests than intercollegiate basketball afoot in the winter of 1944. The world was at war. The US Army needed its finest on the front line more than on the court, and the three seniors were soon destined for other battles... In the years that followed, the Army's basketball team would never again have a chance to play in the NCAA tournament, and in the modern era, few remember West Point's perfect 1944 season. Although West Point's home basketball court is named the Edward C.Christl Arena, and the National Invitational Tournament's trophy is named after his coach, Edward A.Kelleher, too few people fully appreciate why. But after reading Undefeated, they will. " Hoosiers meets Band of Brothers." -Col. Scott Maytan

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Casemate
• Seitenzahl: 272
• Erscheinungstermin: 10. Januar 2020
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781612005126
• Artikelnr.: 54671034

Autorenporträt

Jim Noles graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1990 with a degree in International History. Commissioned in the Army's Aviation Branch, Jim served at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he became a pilot-in-command in UH-1H Huey helicopters. Jim is a prolific author and his books include two WWII histories Mighty by Sacrifice: The Destruction of an American Bomber Squadron, August 29, 1944, and Twenty-Three Minutes to Eternity: The Final Voyage of the Escort Carrier USS Liscome Bay (University of Alabama Press). In addition to his books, Jim's articles and opinion pieces have appeared in such publications as the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Birmingham News.