http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1405631/Barney-Ross
Encyclopædia Britannica
Barney Ross
Primary Contributor: Neil Francis Milbert
ARTICLE from the Encyclopædia Britannica
Barney Ross, original name Dov-Ber Rasofsky, also called Beryl David Rasofsky and Barnet David Rasofsky (born Dec. 23, 1909, New York City, N.Y., U.S.—died Jan. 17, 1967, Chicago, Ill.), American professional boxer, world lightweight (135 pounds), junior welterweight (140 pounds), and welterweight (147 pounds) champion during the 1930s.
Two years after Ross was born, his family moved to Chicago’s Maxwell Street ghetto, where they opened a small grocery. Misfortune soon struck the family, however. By the time Ross was age 14, his father had been murdered by gangsters, his mother had suffered a nervous breakdown, and his ... (100 of 538 words)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Ross
Wikipedia
Barney Ross
Barney Ross (December 23, 1909 – January 17, 1967), born Beryl David Rosofsky, was a world champion boxer in three weight divisions and decorated veteran of World War II.
World War II
In retirement in his early thirties, Ross enlisted in the United States Marine Corps to fight in World War II. The Marines wanted to keep him stateside and use his celebrity status to boost morale. Most of the athletes of the era like heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey had ceremonial roles in the military, but Ross insisted on fighting for his country.
Before he was to go overseas, Ross decked a non-com who had made an anti-semitic remark. He was to be court martialed at the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot, San Diego. The other board members wanted to throw the book at Ross, but Captain Berthol E. Davis, who was also Jewish and knew of Ross' achievements, convinced the rest of the board to allow Ross to go overseas and avoid punishment. So, he was sent to the Pacific theater.
He was sent to Guadalcanal in the South Pacific. One night, he and three other comrades were trapped under enemy fire. All four were wounded; Ross was the only one able to fight. Ross gathered his comrades' rifles and grenades and single-handedly fought nearly two dozen Japanese soldiers over an entire night, killing them all by morning. Two of the Marines died, but he carried the third on his shoulders to safety; the other man weighed 230 lb (104 kg) compared to Ross' 140 lb (64 kg). Ross was awarded America's third highest military honor, the Silver Star, as well as a Presidential Citation. As one of America's greatest "celebrity" war heroes, he was honored by President Roosevelt in a Rose Garden ceremony.
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60812FA3C5B167B93C6A91789D95F468485F9
The New York Times
Article Preview
Barney Ross Wins a New Title In Fierce Battle on Guadalcanal; Former Ring Champion Is Made a Marine Corporal for Killing 10 of Foe While Defending 3 Wounded Men Under Fire
[ DISPLAYING ABSTRACT ]
WITH AMERICAN FORCES ON GUADALCANAL, Nov. 22 (Delayed) (U.P.) -- They bounced thirty bullets off his tin hat and kept him ducking lead punches all night in a shell-hole, but the fighting heart that never quit in the ring stood up to the Japanese on Guadalcanal, and Marine Private Barney Ross emerged winner and still champion.
