Football and the US ARMY
Ever hear of the Fort Benning Doughboys?
People have had a fascination with round and oval objects and turned them into games that were at first entertaining and then became the added attraction of betting on the outcome. The evolution has sad to say become somewhat infused with politics because of certain protest actions taken before the “game”.
Back when … over sixty years ago, football was a sport that the US Army welcomed to provide recreation and sport for the troops. Each post fielded a team that competed with other posts or nearby colleges and universities.
One post, in particular, Fort Benning had its Fort Benning Doughboys that provided some outstanding results. Specifically the 1962 Doughboys team
Every Team Needs a Stadium
Fort Benning Doughboy Stadium
Fort Benning had its own stadium named of course “Doughboy Stadium” located at 153 Sigerfoos Rd, Fort Benning, GA 31905
Who was Brigadier General Edward Sigerfoos?
Brigadier General Edward Sigerfoos
He has the distinction of receiving a promotion from Lieutenant Colonel to Brigadier General posthumously by an act of the US Congress, and the highest-ranking officer killed in World War I.
The 1962 UNDEFEATED AND ALL SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
I John Michael, have a connection to the team since one of them, #42, Wallace Johnson was the “second older brother I never had“. Wally loved to tell of his escapades with the Fort Benning Doughboys, most specifically he would pound his chest and say in a very confident voice “WE BEAT QUANTICO!’
Wally Johnson’s service in the US Army was varied but after decades he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel spending many years in Special Forces. I met him when he was President of the local chapter of the Special Forces Association – Chapter XI.
Based upon the fine work that I had done capturing the final honors of Special Forces veterans who were laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, I was made an honorary member of the Special Force Association – Chapter XI
BUY THE BOOK …
Fort Benning (Images of America)
by Kenneth H. Thomas Jr. (Author),
Deputy to the Commanding General Don Sando (Foreword)
ALL ABOUT THE BOOK:
Established outside Columbus, Georgia, in October 1918 by the United States Army as Camp Benning, the base was moved to its permanent location, nine miles south, in June 1919. In 1922, the post was made permanent and was named Fort Benning. Created as the new location of The Infantry School of Arms, Fort Benning became the training post for many of the country’s future leaders, as well as a major part of the military experience for hundreds of thousands of American soldiers.
The post’s current size, more than 180,000 acres, has long made it recognized as one of the largest infantry bases in the world. Named for Gen. Henry L. Benning of Columbus, the installation has had a major impact on the economic and social life of nearby Columbus. Images of America: Fort Benning features vintage photographs and postcards, mostly from 1918 to 1978, showcasing the first 60 years of the base’s 85-year history. Included are scenes of the temporary encampment on Macon Road and the early wooden encampment on the Main Post. The permanent buildup from the late 1920s to the early 1940s is shown in photographs of The Infantry School, the Officers’ Club, Main Post Chapel, Doughboy Stadium, Gowdy Field, the Jump Towers, Lawson Field, the Cuartel Barracks, and the officers’ quarters, as well as Riverside, the Commandant’s Home, formerly the Bussey Plantation. Activities and events include military reviews, visits of presidents, and the National Infantry Museum’s dedication. Generals who served there and are featured include Bradley, Eisenhower, Marshall, and Patton. This centennial edition features a new foreword by Don Sando, deputy to the commanding general.