22nd Medical Company sports

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

22nd Infantry - Medical Company 1950-1951

Sports

Hail The Conquering Heroes! Medics Win 4th
Division Touch Football Championship In
Frankfurt, Germany.

These were the headlines for the Medical Company team which, led by the quarter-backing of John Morey, sparked by such
back-field stalwarts as Alvin McGee, Bobby Wilson, Albert Engebretson, Lavon Powell, Bob Harrison, and John Cooper,
supported by a line of Bob Waterman, Bob Russell, Hugo Thompson, Alien Elder, Jim Stewart, Bill Stephens, Bob Stevens,
Bernard Sennstrom, Jesse Webb, Lawrence Ramalay and Floyd Bass, won the Division Championship
in a Single Elimination Tournement in Frankfurt,

Despite the rain, mire, and a rough schedule, the team copped the Division Championship by winning three games in three
consecutive days with the final game against the 8th Regiment Champions being played under the watchful eyes of General Harper.

The high scoring Medics ran into hard and rough opposition when playing the 8th Regiment, but continued to play excellent ball
by coming from behind to win 15 - 12 as they had in previous games, Rough play was prevalent in this game, more so than
any of the earlier games, and was highlighted with two of the 8th's players being banished from the game along with our own
Bernard Sennstrom. The scoring started early in the 1st quarter with the 8th intercepting one of our passes deep in our own
territory and driving to score. The Medics came back with two points on a safety when the 8th dropped a ball behind their
own goal line in an attempt to punt. John Morey broke through to make the tag. Bob Russell, on a succession of long pass plays,
scored the first touchdown for the Medics leaving the half time score at 8-6 in favor of the Medics. With General Harpers
appearance on the Medics side of the field for the second half the tide again changed to the favor of the 8th and they scored
their second touchdown early in the 3rd quarter to go ahead 12-8. However, the Medics, playing under pressure went ahead
to stay, when in the last quarter, Bob Waterman received a long pass from Morey and turned it into a 70 yard touchdown play.
Alvin McGee caught the pass on the conversion play to make the final score 15-12.

The Medics earned the right to represent the 22nd Infantry Regiment in the Campionship Finals by first running over
Service Company 42 - 0 and Regimental Headquarters 36-6 to win the Provisional Battalion Championship. The Regimental
Championship was clinched by beating Fox Company, champions of the 1st and 2nd battalions, 13-7. This game exemplified
the "never say die" spirit of the team when, with five minutes left to go in the game and the score reading 7-0 against the Medics,
the team was able to come from behind to win.

After copping the Division Championship the team entrained for Bremerhaven, Germany to represent the 4 th Division
in the EUCOM Finals. In Bremerhaven the team was to find out that previous foul weather conditions had been very mild
compared to the conditions to be found there. At times rain came down in torrents and most of the time a 25 mile
an hour wind had to be contended with.

The Medics drew the 1st Division MP's, winners of the 1st Division Championship, as their first opponent. The weather
didn't change for the first game and it started with it almost impossible to toss a pass against the wind. The game turned into
a short pass game with many of the long passes either being intercepted or wind blown out of the hands of the possible receiver.
In score the game ended in a tie, 12-12, with the Medics tying it up with less than 30 seconds remaining, but with the necessity
of determining a winner the 1st Division MP's took the verdict by having penetrated inside the Medics 20 yard line one more time
than the Medics had been able to penetrate the 1st's. This eliminated the Medics from any further competition in the EUCOM Finals.

Upon the team's return to Schweinfurt a Regimental Parade was held in their honor. General Harper was on hand
to present each member his individual trophy A successful season had come to an end.

Tournament Touches

Regimental Headquarters and Service Company games played in one afternoon — Morey's onside kick catching Fox Company flatfooted —
Waterman's block of pass in final minute judged outstanding defensive play in Regimental Championship game — Thomson's missing game
for dame in Frankfurt — Infractions cause eight touchdown callbacks in Special Troops game — Little Sennstrom being bounced for
unnecessary roughness in 8th Regiment game — Bass offering General Harper plug of Beech-Nut between halves of 8th Regiment game —
Harrison's Hideout play of ash tray on train to Bremerhaven — Elder's circus catch of touchdown pass in Bremerhaven — Steven's
continued play with injured ribs — Wilson acquiring nickname of Lightfoot — Engebretson's black and blue body after 8th Regiment game —
Webb and Ramaley score big in Bremerhaven - act as guides for Lt. Calmes — Powell's taking blame for cancellation of trip to Bremen at SAM
with everyone quoting "Machs nichts to me" — Cooper turns on speed on end run at rankfurt — Iron gate throws block to McGee's advances
on and off field — Lt. Calmes splurging by giving team steak dinner out of Slush Fund — Stewart's walking off with pool championship at
Bremerhaven Service Clnb — Russell's losing battle with a bottle of beer after game in Bremerhaven —
Stephens drops first coached game in Bremerhaven.

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Track was held on a Regimental level. The 4th Division, after being in EUCOM only a month, got it's name in the sport spotlight
by taking an active interest in Track and Field events.

The 22nd Regiment was late in getting its entry into the Division Tournament. It had only two day's practice. However it was quick
to round into shape and when the Division Tournament in Frankfurt was over the 22nd Regiment held a second place trophy.

Many companys from the 22nd Regiment were represented on the Regimental Team with the medics placing strong with three men.
John Ybarra ran third in the Division Meet in the 1600 Meter Run. Pint size Homer Johnson ran the 100 Meter Dash, 200 Meter Dash,
plus a leg on the 400 Mtr. Relay Team which ran second in the meet. Donald Mc Adams participated in the 800 Meter Run and the
Hammer Throw, winning third place in the Hammer Throw.

Individual trophies were presented at a Regimental Parade to Homer Johnson for being on the second place Relay Team,
John Ybarra for running third in the 1600 Meter Run and Donald Mc Adams for placing third in the Hammer Throw.

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The Medics, in quest of another championship team, had a big turnout for the 51 - 52 basketball season. Practicing at the
Ledwards Barracks Gym, the men, at the printing of this issue, are rapidly rounding into team material. Such a thing as the
slickness of the floor in the Gym is making it hard for the players to maneuver without encountering spills. Each player is
taking it in his stride however, and is gradually getting accustomed to the floor. Twenty Two companies, alternating on the
allotted time for practice has created another obstacle. The men have met with these, giving the Company confidence in them,
knowing that when the season gets underway they will be able to overcome similar obstacles in a like manner.

As far as history goes, there isn't much behind the team, but with the coming season it is hoped that there will be plenty of history
written on the hardwood floor by the Medical Company Team. Running through the lineup at this time finds Bob Waterman,
John Morey, John Hirai, Bill Obata, Al Engebretson and Phil Simon in the guard slots; Dick Marvel and Bernard Sennstrom
in the pivot post; and Bob Russell, Mike Dowling, Hugo Thompson, Ken Austin, Jim Van Dyke, Bob Harrison, and Tom Yates
in the forward positions.

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Starting with softball as its first company sport, the 22nd Medics soon compiled a fine record of 23 straight wins in the
Regimental round robin tournament staged in three different training areas from March 28th to August 16th. In this period
of time games were played in Fort Benning, Georgia, Camp "Y 79" Mannheim, Germany and Wildflecken, Germany,
to decide who would represent the 22nd Regiment in the 4th Division Tournament. Fox company of the 2nd Battalion and
our Medical Company were picked, because of the undefeated season for both teams in league play

Frankfurt, Germany was the site of the 4th Division Tourney In the opening game against the 12th Regiment, our team took
its first beating by a score of 10 to 9 in ten innings. The game was lost mainly due to bad weather conditions and the loss
of two first string men, Mike Dowling and Alvin McGee, who were away from the company on duty assignments. The loss
however was taken in stride, because the following day we beat the 44th Field Arty, and continued our win streak by downing
the 8th Regiment by a score of 7 to 4 behind the fine pitching of Albert Engebretson and the timely hitting of Alien Elder,
Curtis Tolbert, Phil. Simon, and John Morey. Also high-lighting the win over the 8th was the excellent fielding of Bob Russell,
who played a whale of a ball game in left field, and made some of the finer catches of the day to help win the victory.
The two wins left us with a 2 and 1 record in the tournament, and carried us into the semifinals of the Championship,
where we met the 4th Quartermaster Corps, and dropped a heart breaker by the score of 2 to 1. Our ace, Hugo Thompson,
pitched one of his best games of the year as he matched the 4th Q M.'s star pitcher with a two hitter, but it just wasn't enough,
as the Q.M. boys put together a walk, an error, and a single in the 3rd inning to rack up 2 runs and clinch the hard fought
contest, leaving us with a 4th in the Tournment out of a 10 team entry. One of the big deciding factors in the loss to the
4th Q.M. was the fact that our starting first baseman Curtis Tolbert injured his hand while warming up before the game and
didn't see action at all. In the opinion of most of the boys on the team, if we could have fielded our first string in all the games
the Championship might have come to us. Just the breaks of the game.

Highlighting the "51" season were the two fine one hit, pitching performances of Hugo Thompson, and the power switch hitting
of Mike Dowling. The toughest game played in the 22nd Tournament for us was the hectic battle against Tank company, which
ended in a 2 to 1 victory for us, coming in the 7th inning, when with two out and men on second and third, Mike Dowling hit
a smashing double into the hole between center and right field to drive the winning runs across and give us our hardest earned
win of the season.

Good pitching, timely hitting, and heads up field play were the three big assets that keep the Medics on top throughout the season.
On the mound Al Engebretson and Hugo Thompson were unbeatable in league play. Behind the plate Clyde Prentice and Lt. George
Framton did a swell job, and this coupled with a well rounded infield of Curtis Tolbert and Lt. Turner Johnson at 1st base,
Bill Obata and Harold Tamkin at 2nd, Phil Simon and Joe Konchalski, at 3rd, and Mike Dowling and Alien Elder at ss. proved
to be tops in our league. In the outfield our team put together some good combinations of Bob Russell and "Red" Urda in left:
Irving Weinshel and John Morey in center: and John Hirai and Alvin McGee in right. Our utility infielders, Bob Watermann and
"Peanuts" Huston, added extra strength to complete our team.

John B. Morey

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Early one Sunday morning October 13,1951, an unusual sight was witnessed by the members of the 22nd Infantry Regiment.
Moving out from the Medic Company billets was a small group of Medics armed with 22 cal. Target Rifles instead of their usual
Aid Kits. This sight brought forth many a teasing remark from the Line Company men who saw them, but the Medics,
ignoring their remarks continued on their way to the Rifle Range.

It was from this group that the Medical Company's Rifle Team was formed, under the guidance of Lt. Van Home and Lt. Mitchell.
Yes, these men who hadn't touched a weapon since the days of their Basic Training, almost a year ago, were going to enter into
competition against the other companies of the Regiment, who had been constantly training for the last year with M-l Rifles and other weapons.

Little hope was given to the Medical Company's Team in such competition since they were allowed only one practice session
before each match, but the Medics were determined to show that they to could handle a weapon well and were out to give the
Line companies a run for their money

In the first warmup match the team placed ninth out of twenty-three competing teams. In the following two warm-up meets the team
showed much improvement and raised itself to seventh and then to sixth place by firing scores of 1041 and 1144 respectively.
This steady improvement brought high hopes that the team might possibly win the 22nd Infantry Regiment Championship.
These hopes were soon dashed to the ground, for the team had to fire in the Championship Match without having the opportunity
to have a practice session prior to the Match. On the day of the Match they were further handicapped by the absence of three
of their best shots, who were away at Grafenwohr with the 2nd Battalion on a Firing Problem. The team was only able to come up
with eight men to fire in the Match instead of the usual ten, and fired a score of 1103, which placed the team once again in ninth place.
This unexpected blow did not lower the spirits of the team members in any way and they are more determined than ever to show up
the Line Companies in the forthcoming matches.

Individual honors for the team go to Freddie Lawrence, who fired a high score of 245, and to Milton Freeman,
who fired the second highest score for the team with a 238.

The present team roster along with Lt. William Van Home and Lt. John Mitchell includes the following men: Pasquale Giuliano,
James Kennedy, John Lain, Stanley Piehler, Freddie Lawrence, Milton Freeman, Lawrence Ramaley, Alvin Me Gee,
Earl Beech, Clarence Dutton, James Stewart, and Jay Allen.

Pasquale Giuliano.

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Once again, when word came down from Headquarters that the Regiment was organizing a Bowling League,
the Medical Company jumped at the oppurtunity, and were duly represented.

To this date, the Medical Company has been undefeated champions in the Regimental Softball and Divisional Touch Football
Tournaments. The team is now stressing to achieve another trophy which they can proudly display in their evergrowing showcase.

All members of the company were invited to try out for the team and in true Medical Company spirit a large number of men turned out.
After the tryout session was over a team of five men was picked to represent the company Due to the possibility that all five men might
not be able to be present at all the matches, a group of alternates was chosen to suppliment the first five.

At the time of this writing, the "Keglers" have completed about half of the season's league games and have proven themselves
worthy bowlers. The Regiment is operating on a two league schedule with 10 teams in each league. Winners of each league
will play off for the Regimental Championship. The final winner will enter the Division Tournament. The Medics are now in
third place in their league with a record of 14 wins and 4 losses and are confident of passing the league leaders soon.

Team honors go to the Medics for their record game score of 901 pins in league play Individual honors go to Joseph Konchalski,
who leads the team with a season's average of 162. Also worthy of honorable mention are the single game scores of over 200
bowled by the team members. These games include a 231 score by Garland Bockey, a 211 score by Peter Colaizzo,
and a 201 score by Joseph Konchalski.

The team's roster includes Wayne Trout, Capt, Joseph Konchalski, Peter Colaizzo, Paul Bramhall, Jesse Webb, Fred Rahar,
Garland Bockey, Clarence Treadway and Donald McAdams.

Peter Colaizzo Pasquale Giuliano

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Organized Athletics

Separate from the company teams; Softball, Touch Football, Basketball, and Bowling, there were two hours each Tuesday
devoted to organized athletics. This provided each member of the company the chance to participate in sports. Equipment,
such as footballs, softballs, and bats, was furnished, and even though a large blacktop parade field was the only playing area available,
everyone looked forward to the hours they could spend in such activities.

Organized athletics was regiment wide and it played its part in raising the morale of the troops. Each person who took part
played for the sheer joy of playing. Some of the men developed their skill in bowling, some relaxed themselves by getting into
the fray of football. Whether stiff, sore, scratched, or bruised there was a satisfaction received from playing and everyone was ready
to start anew the following week.

Lavon J. Powell.

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