Small House of Everything

Small House of Everything

Friday, May 5, 2023

JOE PALOOKA FIGHTS HIS WAY BACK (1945)

 In this one-shot dedicated to "the hospitalized buddies of PFC. JOE PALOOKA," the famous fighter is returning home after the war.  Joe had been seriously wounded in his left shoulder and was immediately transferred to an army hospital for treatment and rehabilitation.  As with many wounded combatants, Joe found himself more and more depressed as the days and weeks went on.  He was in pain and felt that he would never truly heal, that his left arm was useless.  The nagging doubt that he would never fight again rose to the surface.  His buddy, Jerry, staged an accident in the swimming pool.  Joe dove in to rescue him, but Jerry, faking confusion, fought him off.  Fearful that his friend would drown, Joe knocked him out with a left punch and swam him to safety.  Joe realized that his arm was completely healed and that Jerry had tricked him.  Despite his sore jaw, Jerry was glad his ruse had worked.

Joe felt he was good to get back in the ring.  His doctors agreed.  Knobby Walsh, Joe's manager, arranged an exhibition match against Brick Renshaw, a churlish fighter who had no love for either Joe or Knobby.  The match was to be refereed by Commander Jack Dempsey.  During the match, Renshaw kept digging his jaw into Joe's left shoulder any time they were in a clinch.  By the final round, this dirty trick was having an effect on Joe, weakening his arm, and Renshaw felt he could take him in the last round.  But a solid hit to Renshaw's midsection put the dirty fighter down for the count.  

A radio reporter asked joe to say a few words.  Joe said. "I just wanta say to all my soldier buddies who, like me, almost got kayoed.  KEEP PUNCHIN!"


This one-shot was delivered to wounded military as a promotional piece.  Throughout the story, there is a strong argument made for the quality of medical care these wounded receive from the government, as well as services offered to veterans.

No comments:

Post a Comment