TENNIS NEWS FOR VETERANS DAY: THE GREATEST GENERATION. BY JOE HUNT AT THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY

Written by: on 11th November 2016
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TENNIS NEWS FOR VETERANS DAY: THE GREATEST GENERATION. BY JOE HUNT AT THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY  |

10sBalls editors note: we decided to share this Joe Hunt story for Veterans Day

10sBalls_com Editors note: The team here at 10sBalls are so proud to be the part of this…. We may even be called the “vermouth” in the martini…. (Lovey’s)

We came into the scene by finding JOE’S long lost Ojai trophy on eBay. We bought it! From there we saw to it that it made its way back “Home” to JOE’S Grand Nephew Joe Hunt of Seattle Washington (in Americas North West).

From there the MAGIC just kept (KEEPS!) growing. First there was the USA today article. Then the USTA honored JOE in its Hall of Champions…

Then the Naval Academy named a court after him as well as this fantastic annual tennis tournament…. And there’s still more coming but that news is still TOP SECRET. Around here that Ojai trophy is called the little lost trophy that was like finding a magic Jeanne’s lamp….

Joseph Raphael Hunt was the best tennis player that most people never ever heard of.

 

The past two days, I have had the privilege of attending the 75th Reunion of the great class of 1942 of the United States Naval Academy. These classmates of Joe, like Joe entered the Academy in 1938 at 18 or 19 not knowing that 3 years later, they would be accelerated through the Academy to graduate 6 months early due to the urgent need for more sailors and servicemen aboard an expanding fleet of ships. They graduated 12 days after Pearl Harbor and left immediately to each serve where they were sent, many to do battle in the Atlantic or Pacific theaters. The class of ’42 lost more men in war than any other USNA class ever.

 

The Naval Academy is a living memorial of our nation’s history. Anyone near Annapolis MD, should not miss the opportunity to tour these hallowed grounds and experience the sense of tradition, ritual, service, duty, respect and honor. It is a national treasure.

 

Yesterday’s activities began with a rededication of the Battle of Midway Memorial where 75 of Joe’s classmates served and fought. One died. The Class of ’42 erected this monument and has been its custodian for decades. Yesterday the class ceremoniously passed the duty over to the class of ’92, who will one day pass it over to the future class of 2042. And so on it goes.

 

Below are the men, now in their mid-90’s who attended the reunion and with whom I was able to speak. They all knew and remember Joe, and spoke of him with twinkled eyes. I heard comments, like “everybody loved Joe,” “he was very happy all the time,” “you would have to break his arm to get him to tell you he was a famous tennis player,” “he was a star athlete, but never used it to gain anything in any way or to get out of any duties,” “he did everything all Plebes had to do,” “even though he was way out of my league, he would even play tennis with me – but I could never get a game,” and maybe the finest complement a Navy man could be paid – “he was a good shipmate.”

 

Meeting these men was an opportunity of a lifetime, and probably the last I will have. Below are a few photos of these great heroes. One with Vice Admiral Ted Carter who attended the Tribute for Joe in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open on September 1, 2014. I have attached a photo of that moment on center court before the Andy Murray – Jo Wilfried Tsonga match.

 

Below are some pictures from the 2nd Annual Lt. Joe Hunt Invitational

 

 

 

 

A very successful 2nd annual Lt. Joe Hunt Invitational concluded yesterday on the Joe Hunt Court at the US Naval Academy. Thank you to Coaches Chris Garner and John Moreland, their tournament staff, and the Navy Athletic Department for hosting and running such a terrific intercollegiate tennis event. Julius Tverijonas of George Washington University, coached by David Macpherson, defeated Artem Kapshuk of Temple University, coached by Steve Mauro, in an outstanding, hard fought battle, 7-5, 7-5. The young men represented their schools honorably with exceptional tennis and great sportsmanship.

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