Joe Louis
Joe Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) was a professional boxer who was nicknamed the "Brown Bomber". He is widely considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions of all times, with 25 successful title defenses. In 1938, he fought what is regarded to be his most famous fight, which was a rematch against the German Max Schmeling. The fight was being hyped by the media falsely portraying Schmeling as a Nazi, pitted against Louis as the defender of the free world. Louis, although losing in the original fight, won with a first round knockout. [1]
Louis served in the United States Army during World War II, from 1942-45. He did not see combat, however, and primarily put on boxing exhibitions for the troops.[2] He served along side Jackie Robinson, the man who would eventually break the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Robinson has stated that Louis was extremely influential within the then segregated army, including helping get Robinson and other blacks into officer training school.[3] He is burried in Arlington National Cemetery.
