Evening star., 1942-12-02
District Welcomes
1t. March, Air Hero,
Home From Pacific
Former Tennis Champion
Boeeed Two Jap Planes
In GuodoIconuI Bottle

Home from the Southeastern
Pacific battle zone where he bagged
two Jap planes in aerial action over
Guadalcanal, 1t. g.. g Harry
March, jr., well known District
athlete, received a hearty official
welcome today from Commissioners
Guy Mason and Charles w. Kutz
in brief ceremony at the District
Building .-. ..... -.
Naturally lean and fried a deep
tan from his sojourn in the Pacific,
1t. March already has spent two
weeks OF a 30-day furlongh in Wash
ington, more than happy for the
brief respite from his official chores.
At the expiration of his leave he
will report to the West Coast for
further orders.
District junior tennis champion
in 1887 when he blasted Davey john
sen, reigning mems singles title
holder, and a crack netman and
trackman at the University of North
Carolina, 1t. March enlisted in the
Navy Immediately after his gradua-
alton last year and was assigned to
Anacostia for temporary duty. Sue
cessive steps led him to Jacksonville
and then Miami, where he Won his
wings.
Bagged Torpedo Plane First.
The rigid training of his cadet
days stood him in good stead the
morning he took his Grumman
Wildcat fighter aloft for a slap at
the Japs. He picked out a torpedo
plane first and aced it with a shot
right down the middle. The he went
after q fat bomber and brought it
down.
What were you thinking of dur
ing the fight?" he was asked.
Mostly wishing I was back
home" he said with a grin. But in
a situation Of that kind you don t
have time to think about much more
than scoring hit. We're trained to
do certain things in certain emer-
gencies and just followed the book
The instructions were pretty good,
too"
1t March encountered several
other men well known in sports cir
cles during his tour of duty, among
them Harold and Royce Jennings
from North Carolina, Fred Bishop,
a softball player and brother of
Hazel Bishop, ranking local woman
tennis star, and Lou Ennis, former
football star at the University of
Maryland.
1t. March is as we'll known on
Maryland's campus as at North Car
olina and almost enrolled at College
Park. But once established in the
Tar Heel camp" he proceeded to
keep Maryland out of the Southern
Conference track championship two
consecutive years by his individual
prowess In the broad jump and high
Jump events.
A. A. L. PentathlOn Champ.
Later, competing under the Wash
ington A. A. banner. 1t. March
won the National AAU pentathlon
championship in a test that included
the 200 and 500 meters runs. javelin
and discus throws, and broad jump.
1t. March was accompanied by his
wife, the former Elsa Winters, and
Richard S. TennySon, assistant
supervisor of District Fairgrounds,
in charge of mems activities, who
was 1t March supervisor the sum-
mers he served as director of the
playground at Janney and Bur-
roughs Schools. 1t. March also in
structed aspiring young tennis
players in the finer arts of the game
during that time.
1t. March lived with his father
at 1911 Monroe street NE. before
joining the colors. His wife, native
of North Carolina, lived with her
parents at 5000 Thirty second street
NV. before their marriage less than
a year ago.