The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-08-02
By Commander Jack Dempsey

As I take over WW's chair for a day I find myself at disadvantage. I have seen so little of Broadway in the last couple of years that I really don't know the score. My ab- Sence from the old street is only temporary. Like every sailor I am looking forward to wearing a wide-brimmed Panama again, com plete with a loud sports jacket and the brightest necktie I can find. That should be matter of no more than eight months for the Nips are hanging on the ropes and the bell isn't going to save them.
 In the meantime I am in the Coast Guard for the duration, or as long as Uncle Sam has 8 job I can do. By the time this reaches you expect to be somewhere in the Pacific. My assignment is that of military morale officer for the 11th, 18th, 18th and 14th Naval districts. Included in this group Is Pearl Harbor and my duties may take me farther westward as our Fleet hammers at the very doors of Hlroh1to'S hoVel.
 If I can only have the privilege of holding the Mikado's white horse when Admiral Halsey mounts him for his victorious ride through down. town Tokyo it will be bigger thrill than experienced when Jess Will lard failed to answer the bell for the 4th round on that sunbaked day in Toledo, 25 years ago.
 Speaking from experience I can assure you that morale officer hasn't a tough assignment. Not with the Navy and the Coast Guard. I have trained thousands of seamen and went ashore on Okinawa dur ing that bloody campaign for the sole purpose of observing what bene- fits, if any, the men had received rom our training program. I am pleased to say what I saw was most gratifying. There isn't a sailor out there who doesn't dream of con- Ing home, but none of them want to return until the shooting stops. II you could talk with them at their battle stations you would be proud of just being with them.
 As for myself, the war has been wonderful, though hardly a pleas ant experience. It has been anus ing, too. was in England the day Jack London won the British Elm pire heavyweight championship from Tommy Mills. A British re- porter asked me what I thought of Jack London and I replied that l had enjoyed reading his books and that I thought he was one of the truly great American writers.
 T am so sorry" replied the startled and polite Englishman. T was referring to Jack London, the British prize fighter and not Jack London, the American author"
 had to confess that I had never seen London fight and had no opinion to offer on the subject. I Eavo since met London, a bald headed veteran of 32 years. His de- feat by Bruce Woodcock recently came as no surprise to me, as l Judgde from London'S appearance that he was well past his prime. A New Fighter from South America 1 Oo 0Aoy 41ofC SdGA1C1 C0 ny IlOW that am still interested in the fight game. I am, and I expect to ] be active in it during the years that will be left to me after the war. The other day there arrived from the Argentine Abel Cestac, a young South American giant, sent to me by ay old friend and foe, Luis Angel Firpo. If you know Firpo you will realize that he didn't lay out the money for his passage un- less he was convinced Abel can fight.
 Cestac hasn't been thoroughly tested yet, but I'm willing to take 8 chance. Hes big, strong and rough.
 Of course I can't be active in handling the South American. While am in uniform, Max Waxman is looking after him. Waxman has managed several champions and he has been my personal manager for