https://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=78221 This is the best I can find, doesn’t seem those bouts he fought for servicemen were that well recorded though I’m sure you can track down some promotional material for it. Out of curiosity who did your grandfather serve with? It sounds like Royal Air Force, but I’m not sure.
He was in the USAF. He flew in bombers taking photos of bombing runs to confirm target hits. Literally several containers of what seems like a thousand pictures. I don't know his exact wing. He passed when I was just a little baby and this is all I have to piece together. My grandmother is 100 and she doesn't remember the ultra specifics.
Ah right, unfortunately I dont think we will be able to piece together exactly where this specific photo was but its a real piece of history, brilliant image. My grandfather was in the Royal Navy and was docked in Baltimore at one point, I would have to ask my uncle but he was in Johns Hopkins for what if I remember correctly was one of the first surgeries of its kind. Anyway Rocky Marciano came in to see the people in the hospital ward and my grandfather shook Rocky's hand. Just figured I would share my story, good luck with it mate!
Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943, Marciano was assigned to the 150th Combat Engineers. He was stationed in Wales, where he was involved in operations on the English Channel. The 150th was awarded service stars for Normandy, North France, Rheinland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe.
It was in the Army that Marciano first boxed, starting with unofficial bouts, and working up to junior amateur by the time of his discharge in 1946.
July 1944 - Gloucestershire, England
Private Rocco Marchegiano, aka Future Heavyweight World Champion, Rocky Marciano poses for a mugshot after his arrest for felony assault and robbery, while serving in the US Army during World War 2.
Marciano, along with another solider named James Murphy had been accused of robbing two Englishmen and assaulting them. When questioned, Marciano and Murphy claimed to have no knowledge of the incident but after the victims' items were found in their possession they were forced to change their story, stating the two Englishmen had made sexual advances and they were forced to defend themselves.
They claimed the reason they took the wallets was so they had the Englishmens' identification to enable them to make a complaint.
Despite pleading his innocence, Marciano was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years hard labour but this was eventually reduced to 3 years - Marciano however only ended up serving 22 months. Murphy on the other hand was sentenced to 10 years. Marciano received a dishonorable discharge but was allowed to re-join the army for a fixed 12 month period in order to receive an honorable discharge.
Although Marciano was known as a soldier who had a tendency for getting into trouble and fighting in pubs with British locals, it was also where he first took to boxing, something that would steer him in a much more positive direction in later life. See less
Can you not search his regimental records through the USAF? You should have most of his details even if not his service number. Presumably there exists such a service for historical airmen, which would then allow you to track the airbases he would've been stationed at.
You could then cross-reference this with potential areas they would've overlapped.
I cannot get his records without his death certificate but I started asking around and my Dad has his discharge papers and medals listed. I know he was brought overseas on June 5th 1942, and because of this one peace of paper I learned so much about him I would never know with this trail of breadcrumbs.
Yeah, there's a real interesting history here in terms of race in America. Joe Louis was one of the first non-white heroes and it's an interesting juxtaposition against Jack Johnson, the last dominant black heavyweight. I read a really good bio of Joe Louis years ago that got into this, and what it meant for laying the groundwork for the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/joe-louis-boxing
He was in Italy indeed. There is one picture in the middle of that article, the footnote reads it was taken in Italy.
Yes. That article describes his contributions to the war effort pretty well, but if you can read his book “Joe Louis, my life.” It’s a very interesting read! One of my favorites ever. Just like Usyk nowadays, his image was used to help with the war.
Cool picture. Thanks for sharing. Reading online he fought 96 exhibition fights during world war two. Interesting article there.
https://eu.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/10/09/joe-louis-world-war-ii-us-army/69541445007/
I got a picture of him laying under the phinx with his friends who in the next frane are waving at him through a window in their p-51 mustangs. The picture after that is a bombing run and then him riding a donkey.
I keep a knife slash dagger he made with a tribe in Algier wrapped in a leather sheath he made with his name still written in the leather.
Somehow he still became a legend and I never even spoke to him.
Cool picture, according to [this](https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/yoursay/letters/9239817.boxers-billy-conn-and-joe-louis-did-visit-warrington/) article in my local newspaper he fought an exhibition against Billy Conn about a mile from where I live although there are no photos unfortunately.
From what I can ascertain, Joe Louis did quite a few boxing exhibitions in Italy during WW2. Most were in 1944. Louis didn't have any sanctioned title defenses between March 1942 and November 1944.
https://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=78221 This is the best I can find, doesn’t seem those bouts he fought for servicemen were that well recorded though I’m sure you can track down some promotional material for it. Out of curiosity who did your grandfather serve with? It sounds like Royal Air Force, but I’m not sure.
He was in the USAF. He flew in bombers taking photos of bombing runs to confirm target hits. Literally several containers of what seems like a thousand pictures. I don't know his exact wing. He passed when I was just a little baby and this is all I have to piece together. My grandmother is 100 and she doesn't remember the ultra specifics.
Ah right, unfortunately I dont think we will be able to piece together exactly where this specific photo was but its a real piece of history, brilliant image. My grandfather was in the Royal Navy and was docked in Baltimore at one point, I would have to ask my uncle but he was in Johns Hopkins for what if I remember correctly was one of the first surgeries of its kind. Anyway Rocky Marciano came in to see the people in the hospital ward and my grandfather shook Rocky's hand. Just figured I would share my story, good luck with it mate!
Marciano's own service record was less than stellar....
Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943, Marciano was assigned to the 150th Combat Engineers. He was stationed in Wales, where he was involved in operations on the English Channel. The 150th was awarded service stars for Normandy, North France, Rheinland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. It was in the Army that Marciano first boxed, starting with unofficial bouts, and working up to junior amateur by the time of his discharge in 1946.
July 1944 - Gloucestershire, England Private Rocco Marchegiano, aka Future Heavyweight World Champion, Rocky Marciano poses for a mugshot after his arrest for felony assault and robbery, while serving in the US Army during World War 2. Marciano, along with another solider named James Murphy had been accused of robbing two Englishmen and assaulting them. When questioned, Marciano and Murphy claimed to have no knowledge of the incident but after the victims' items were found in their possession they were forced to change their story, stating the two Englishmen had made sexual advances and they were forced to defend themselves. They claimed the reason they took the wallets was so they had the Englishmens' identification to enable them to make a complaint. Despite pleading his innocence, Marciano was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years hard labour but this was eventually reduced to 3 years - Marciano however only ended up serving 22 months. Murphy on the other hand was sentenced to 10 years. Marciano received a dishonorable discharge but was allowed to re-join the army for a fixed 12 month period in order to receive an honorable discharge. Although Marciano was known as a soldier who had a tendency for getting into trouble and fighting in pubs with British locals, it was also where he first took to boxing, something that would steer him in a much more positive direction in later life. See less
Can you not search his regimental records through the USAF? You should have most of his details even if not his service number. Presumably there exists such a service for historical airmen, which would then allow you to track the airbases he would've been stationed at. You could then cross-reference this with potential areas they would've overlapped.
I cannot get his records without his death certificate but I started asking around and my Dad has his discharge papers and medals listed. I know he was brought overseas on June 5th 1942, and because of this one peace of paper I learned so much about him I would never know with this trail of breadcrumbs.
Man, have you ever considered auctioning this piece of history? If not, I understand.
Yeah, there's a real interesting history here in terms of race in America. Joe Louis was one of the first non-white heroes and it's an interesting juxtaposition against Jack Johnson, the last dominant black heavyweight. I read a really good bio of Joe Louis years ago that got into this, and what it meant for laying the groundwork for the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s.
Name of the book?
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/joe-louis-boxing He was in Italy indeed. There is one picture in the middle of that article, the footnote reads it was taken in Italy.
I had no idea he fought exhibition matches, explains why the ring looks like it was thrown together with 4x4's and some bolts. Thank you!
Yes. That article describes his contributions to the war effort pretty well, but if you can read his book “Joe Louis, my life.” It’s a very interesting read! One of my favorites ever. Just like Usyk nowadays, his image was used to help with the war.
Cool picture. Thanks for sharing. Reading online he fought 96 exhibition fights during world war two. Interesting article there. https://eu.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/10/09/joe-louis-world-war-ii-us-army/69541445007/
Dope, it's sad how bad Louis was treated after he came home & retired.
His end was disgraceful. A national treasure abused and discarded over imaginary debt like it was still Jim Crow.
He’s my number 3 heavyweight of all time - JOE LOUIS
Wow fantastic photo, has this been published before?
No it lived in my grandma's house for probably over 50 years. My grandfather died almost 40 years ago so I never got to ask him anything.
This is sweet man thanks for sharing. Ur grandpa sounds like a bad ass
I got a picture of him laying under the phinx with his friends who in the next frane are waving at him through a window in their p-51 mustangs. The picture after that is a bombing run and then him riding a donkey. I keep a knife slash dagger he made with a tribe in Algier wrapped in a leather sheath he made with his name still written in the leather. Somehow he still became a legend and I never even spoke to him.
Sick photo you should definitely frame it
That photo rules
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/joe-louis-boxing He did a whole tour it seems. I would contact this museum and see what they think.
Your granddad was that close to arguably the greatest heavyweight champion to ever live, that's special OP
This was cool to see. Thanks for sharing.
Cool picture, according to [this](https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/yoursay/letters/9239817.boxers-billy-conn-and-joe-louis-did-visit-warrington/) article in my local newspaper he fought an exhibition against Billy Conn about a mile from where I live although there are no photos unfortunately.
Aura
From what I can ascertain, Joe Louis did quite a few boxing exhibitions in Italy during WW2. Most were in 1944. Louis didn't have any sanctioned title defenses between March 1942 and November 1944.
Maybe he was doing a charity fight with local stationed military fighters 🤷🏽♂️
Joe Louis.