Undefeated: From Basketball to Battle: West Point’s Perfect Season, 1944

The story of West Point basketball team’s perfect season of 1944, and the fate of its Seniors in the battles of World War II. In 1943 The West Point basketball team, the Cadets, had only managed a 5-10 record, but as the new season opened in January of 1944, things changed dramatically. By the end of January, West Point was 6-0; by the end of February, the team boasted a 13-0 record. But the world was at war, and battles would soon take place outside of the court. Although West Point’s home basketball court is named the Edward C. Christl Arena, after one of the players who was killed in the war, too few people are aware of this powerful and tragic story. But after reading this book, they will. AUTHOR: Jim Noles graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1990 with a degree in International History. Commissioned in the Army’s Aviation Branch, Jim served at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he became a pilot-in-command in UH-1H Huey helicopters. Jim is a prolific author and his books include two WWII histories Mighty by Sacrifice: The Destruction of an American Bomber Squadron, August 29, 1944, and Twenty-Three Minutes to Eternity: The Final Voyage of the Escort Carrier USS Liscome Bay (University of Alabama Press). In addition to his books, Jim’s articles and opinion pieces have appeared in such publications as the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Birmingham News. 8 pages of b/w photographs