Sunday, July 19, 1998

A certain mile run that has been enjoyed many times over

By Elvin Mathis

These days of hot weather remind me of a time during World War II when I had an unforgettable experience during very warm temperatures.

I was in the Marine Corps, and for 10-1/2 months in 1944 and 1945 we were stationed on the island of Angaur, six miles south of Peleliu, in what is now the Republic of Palau.

We were seven degrees north of the equator. I was told that the temperature got up to 120 degrees most afternoons. It would go down some during showers and at night.

We were in an anti-aircraft artillery battalion, and there were no Japanese planes around to shoot at. The captain in charge of recreation had run track in New York. He planned a track meet for the enlisted men with races from 100 yards to one mile. There were no hurdles or pole vault contests.

When he submitted his plans, the battalion commanding officer, Lt. Col. Woods, said there would be no mile run because it was too far to run in that weather.

Since several of us had planned to run that race, the captain got us together and told us what the lieutenant colonel had said. But the captain said he thought it would be all right to run if we didn’t try to do too much. “How many would like to run it anyway?” he asked.

Fourteen of us said we would. He told us there were three rules we would have to go by if we ran.

n Quit the race if we didn’t feel well.

n Nobody shows up at sick bay!

n If anyone above the rank of captain shows up, we were just practicing for the next day’s meet.

So that evening, just after sunset, we lined up to run. It was on a 220-yard track, the only one I ever saw. Seven runners finished. The winner won in five minutes, 31 seconds. He had been practicing for a boxing match.

His prize was a wrist watch. I don’t recall what second place got, but the next three all got $25 war bonds. The prizes came from the PX funds.

I claimed eighth place because I was the last one to drop out. I worked in the colonel’s office, and I doubt he ever found out.

I have enjoyed that race many times. I had then great respect for the commanding officer, the captain in charge of the meet and the U.S. Marine Corps. And I still do.

Elvin Mathis of Abilene is a retired longtime Lincoln Middle School history teacher.