The Boys In The Boat: Heroes Of Wwii

The Boys in the Boat is a book and film that tells the true story of the University of Washington rowing team's journey to winning a gold medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The story follows the team's challenges of rowing and studying during the Great Depression. The book and film centre around Joe Rantz, who, along with his teammates, did not fight in World War II due to their age. Instead, they contributed to the war effort by working in engineering and construction.

The boys' post-Olympic lives

The boys from the University of Washington rowing team, who won a gold medal at the 1936 Olympics, went on to live pretty normal lives after their win. Joe Rantz, the main character in the book and film, married his girlfriend Joyce in 1939 and worked as an engineer for Boeing. The rest of the team members, who were mostly from lower-middle-class families, also went on to have good, solid middle-class lives. They were spared from fighting in World War II as they were a little older than the usual draftees. Those with engineering degrees were put to work designing and building aircraft for the war effort.

The boys remained close throughout their lives, having reunion rows every few years at Lake Washington and informal reunions in each other's backyards. They were bonded together for the rest of their lives, and their families remained in touch. Charles Day died of lung cancer in 1962 at 47, but everyone else lived into their 80s and 90s. Roger Morris was the last surviving member of the crew, dying in 2009 at 94, two years after Rantz died in 2007.

The 1936 Olympics as Nazi propaganda

The 1936 Berlin Olympics were a powerful tool for Nazi propaganda, used to present an image of a peaceful, tolerant, and united Germany to the world, while masking the regime's true nature.

The Olympics were awarded to Berlin in 1931, before Hitler's rise to power, but by the time of the Games, Nazi Germany was a dictatorship persecuting Jews, Roma (Gypsies), and political opponents. The country had begun operating the Dachau concentration camp, and anti-Semitic signs and publications were removed from Berlin to conceal this persecution from the world. The Nazis also temporarily removed anti-Jewish signs and ordered a police roundup of Roma in Berlin, so most tourists remained unaware of the regime's true nature.

The Olympics were promoted with colourful posters and magazine spreads, drawing a link between Nazi Germany and ancient Greece. This imagery symbolised the Nazi racial myth of Aryan superiority and their claim to be the rightful heirs of classical antiquity. The Olympic torch relay, which has now become a staple of the Games, was also a Nazi invention, with the first torch made by Krupp, the German steel company that produced weapons for the Nazis.

The Olympics were a significant propaganda victory for the Nazis. Most Americans returned from the Games with a positive view of Germany, believing it to be a clean, modern, and efficient nation. The Games legitimised the Hitler regime in the eyes of the world and domestic audiences, and soon after, Germany accelerated its expansionist policies and persecution of Jews and other "enemies of the state", leading to World War II and the Holocaust.

The University of Washington rowing team's journey to winning a gold medal at these Olympics is depicted in the book and film "The Boys in the Boat". The film portrays the challenges faced by the young men, who came from lower-class families and competed to afford their college fees. Their victory turned them into national heroes.

The boys' rowing careers after the Olympics

The boys from the University of Washington rowing team went on to have fulfilling lives and careers after their Olympic win. Their gold medal win brought them a lot of applause and support, and they remained bonded together for the rest of their lives, reuniting almost every year. They were inducted into the USA National Rowing Hall of Fame in 1970 and the University of Washington Hall of Fame.

Joe Rantz

Joe Rantz, the main subject of the film and book, returned to the University of Washington to finish his degree in chemical engineering. He married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Simdars, and they had five children. Rantz worked at Boeing for 35 years and is credited with creating the "safe room", a dust-free workspace. After retiring, he started a business making posts and shakes from cedar. He died in 2007 at the age of 93.

Don Hume

Don Hume, a talented athlete and musician, is said to have been unwell during the Olympic race, but his teammates showed faith in him, and he helped them win the gold. Hume enlisted in the merchant marine during World War II. After the war, he worked in the oil and gas drilling industry and served as the President of the West Coast Mining Association. He died in 2001 at the age of 86.

Robert Moch

Robert Moch, the coxswain of the team, became the assistant crew coach at the University of Washington and later the head crew coach at MIT. He also graduated from Harvard Law School and worked as a lawyer in Seattle until his retirement in 2000. Moch was married twice and had three children. He died in 2005 at the age of 90.

George "Shorty" Hunt

George Hunt, nicknamed "Shorty" due to his tall stature, worked in construction firms in Seattle before enlisting in the Navy Seabees during World War II. After the war, he established his own construction firm, Collins-Hunt Construction, and later became the head of George Hunt Constructions. He worked on several notable projects, including the Carmelite Monastery and the Burien Library. He died in 1999 at the age of 83.

Jim McMillin and Gordon Adam

Jim McMillin, the captain of the rowing team, went on to work at MIT as a lab engineer during World War II, conducting classified research. He then worked at Boeing as an engineer and later as a supervisor manager for the commercial airplane group. He married Olga in 1970 and had one daughter. McMillin retired in 1976 and died in 2005 at the age of 91.

Gordon Adam, another member of the team, also worked at Boeing for 38 years as a mechanical engineer. He married Margaret after returning from Berlin, and they had two children. Adam enjoyed gardening and golf. He died in his sleep in 1992 at the age of 76.

John White and Charles Day

John White received a degree in metallurgical engineering and worked as the General Manager of Sales at Bethlehem Steel. He was married to Mary Elizabeth Egbert, and they had four children. White died in 1997 at the age of 80.

Charles Day received a medical degree from the University of Washington and served as a Naval Doctor in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, he worked as a gynecologist. Unfortunately, he died at a young age, passing away in 1962 at the age of 47 due to lung cancer.

Roger Morris

Roger Morris, the first to cross the finish line in the Olympic race, returned to Seattle and worked as a mechanical engineer. During World War II, he enlisted in the Navy and worked on dredging projects. He married Reba June Mott in 1938 and had two daughters and a son. Morris was the last of the team to pass away, dying in 2009 at the age of 94.

The boys' personal lives before rowing

The boys in the University of Washington rowing team, who were the subjects of the book and film "The Boys in the Boat", had difficult personal lives before they took up rowing. The main character, Joe Rantz, was born in 1914 in Spokane, Washington. His mother died when he was three or four years old, and his relationship with his father and stepmother was strained. When he was a teenager, his family abandoned him, leaving him to fend for himself. Rantz had to use soup kitchens to eat and lived in a shelter while attending school. Despite these challenges, he was accepted into the University of Washington and joined the rowing team, eventually becoming an Olympic athlete.

The other members of the rowing team also came from lower-middle-class families and struggled to earn their way through school during the Great Depression. They were the sons of loggers, dairy farmers, and fishermen, and many of them were often unemployed. For some, staying on the rowing team was a way to stay in school, as the university provided part-time jobs to those who were on the team. The team provided a sense of camaraderie and unity, with Rantz noting that it was important to him that the book written about them focused on what they had accomplished together rather than on any individual.

The team's diverse backgrounds and experiences came together to form a strong and successful rowing crew. They overcame adversity and hardship to represent the United States in the 1936 Olympics, winning a gold medal in Berlin. Their victory brought them national recognition and put Seattle on the map. The boys in the boat demonstrated perseverance, determination, and teamwork in the face of challenging personal circumstances, and their story continues to inspire people even today.

The boys' legacy

The Boys in the Boat is a story of determination, teamwork, and triumph over adversity. It is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the ability to overcome challenges. The legacy of the boys in the boat is a lasting one, not only in the world of sports but also in the hearts and minds of those who have been inspired by their story.

The University of Washington rowing team of the 1930s faced many obstacles on their journey to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Coming from lower-middle-class and working-class families, they competed not just for glory but also to earn an education and a chance at a better life. Their dedication and hard work paid off as they rowed their way to a gold medal, defeating the Italian and German teams in front of Hitler himself.

The boys in the boat became national heroes, their victory resonating with a country struggling through the Great Depression. They represented the underdog spirit and the power of perseverance. Their success put the University of Washington on the map and inspired future generations of rowers. The team's diverse backgrounds and their ability to come together as a cohesive unit embody the values of teamwork, unity, and sportsmanship.

The legacy of the boys in the boat extends beyond their athletic achievements. Their influence can be seen in the fields of engineering, medicine, law, and business. Many of the rowers went on to have successful careers, using the skills they learned on the water to excel in their respective fields. Their story also highlights the importance of education and how it can be a pathway to a better life. The rowers' academic achievements are a testament to their dedication and the support they received from their coach, Al Ulbrickson, who ensured their success both in the classroom and on the water.

The boys in the boat also left a lasting impact on popular culture. Their story has been immortalized in Daniel James Brown's bestselling book, "The Boys in the Boat," and the subsequent film directed by George Clooney. The book and the film have brought their story to a wider audience, inspiring people around the world and showcasing the power of the human spirit. The team's legacy continues to be honoured through reunions and memorials, with the last surviving member of the crew, Joe Rantz, passing away peacefully in 2007.

The boys in the boat embodied the spirit of resilience, determination, and unity. Their journey and triumph over adversity continue to inspire and motivate people from all walks of life, leaving a lasting legacy that will be remembered for generations to come.

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