The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-07
DEMPSEY, AT 46, SEEKS GUN AND
 ARMY UNIFORM
"The Champ" Discusses Stacker" Charges of
 Last World War
BY JACK CUDDY
United Press Staff Correspondent

United Press Staff Correspondent)
 New York, January 2. - (UP) - Jack Dempsey, wrongly advised "slacker" of World War No. l, was begging Uncle Sam today to give him a gun and uniform so that he could fight as a buck private in the Army of World War No. 2.
 Dempsey, former heavyweight championship, who is remembered generally as the greatest fighting man that ever lived, was pulling every string possible to make his surprise enlistment in the Army stick, despite his age of 46.
 War Department officials at Washington were expected to decide today whether Dempsey would be accepted as buck private at $21 month, tossing away a $50,000-a- year-job as operator of flourish ing Broadway tavern.
 The old manaSSa maIller marched into the downtown Army recruiting office yesterday after listening to President Roosevelt's stirring ad- dress to Congress.
 He had made his decision as President Roosevelts voice faded out on the radio. He asked the re- cruiting attendants to keep it quiet until he was accepted as a full fledged private. But old Johnno had scarcely passed his physical exam including his bothersome eyes - before the place was crowded with reporters and photographers. Some one at recruiting headquarters thought Dempsey's enlistment at- tempt would be good publicity for the Army. He wasn't wrong.
 Wants Uniform
 As Dempsey eagerly awaited the Washington decision at his tavern last night, he explained, T want to fight in this war wearing uniform. That uniform is all i'm portant. Sure, I'd like to meet Max Schmeling with or without a gun = or any other so-and-so on the Axis side.
 "I've been a fighter all my life, but the damndest thing happened to me in the other World War a thing that made people think was a stacker and gave me a bur- den that I've carried ever since. Well when get that gun and uniform now, I'll make the world forget the Dempsey of the last war. I'll bring home the decorations - or else"
 Dempsey discussed frankly his position in the last war. He said, T wasn't champion then. but was coming along and had good chance to win the title. I was told that I could do more good for my country by fighting ill benefit bouts for the Army and giving exhibi- tions at the camps and assisting ill selling war bonds. I fought for the Army whenever I was asked, even losing to Willie Meehan ill a benefit bout at San Francisco. Who was to blame for tllAs advice? We'll why start accusing somebody now?
 After I won the title from Jess Willard, after the war was over, l got mixed up in a four-way news paper fight in San Francisco, and l was tried in United States court as a 'slacker'." The jury was out only five minutes, and I was declared innocent. But the odor of that trial has fingered on with the pub lie, particularly with veterans of the last war.
 Own Boss Now
 "No one is advising me now. I'm doing what my own heart tells me. I have wife and two children. They will be well taken care of. That's why I crossed out 'depend- ents' at the recruiting office. told my wife, Hannah, about 1t, some time after I enlisted. She patriot ically remarked, who ever head Of that guy, Sergeant York?' She's a good soldier"
 Jack was elated because he had passed the physical examination His weight was 210 pounds, only 20 more than when he fought Gene Tunney the second time at Chicago in 1927. He's positive that month in the Army will bring him down to 200.
 But no matter what weigh" he said, "it doesn't matter. Be- cause I'm not looking for a boxing instructors job or anything like that. I just want them to give me A uniform and a gun-any kind of a gun - so can fight"