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TOKYO (SS) — A group of six National Football League players made a four-day visit of American military hospitals and NCO clubs in Japan and are slated to meet servicemen in Okinawa, the Philippines and Guam.The touring NFL group includes* wide receiver Danny Abramowicz, New Orleans Saints; running back Donny Anderson, Green Bay Packers; center Bill Curry, Baltimore Colts; defensive back Ken Houston, Houston Oilers; wide receiver Otis Taylor, Kansas City Chiefs, and guard Gene Upshaw,Oakland Raiders.The group headed by New Haven (Conn.) Journal Courier sports writer Bill Guthrie, president of the Football Writers of America', met and spent some time with U.S. servicemen.Asked how the players viewed the tour, Guthrie said it could be summed up in one word: “Great,”“Their attitudes have been great. Fifty-six players volunteered to go on the tours and these six players were chosen. They have been more than cooperative and have done everything asked of them,” he said.How have the servicemen responded? “Surprisingly well,” said Guthrie. “According to the management of NCO clubs and hospital staffs, the turnout hasbeen far better than any other recent tour here,”Guthrie and his six-man team will spend one day with the troops on Okinawa before moving on to the Philippines for a four-day visit. They will wrap up their tour with a four-day stopover in Guam.Two other six-man NFL groups are scheduled to meet with American GIs in Vietnam.Members of the first unit to tour Vietnam are defensive tackle Manny Fernandez, Miami Dolphins; running back Mike Garrett, San Diego Chargers; defensive end Jack Gregory, Cleveland Browns; defensive tackle Charlie Krueger, San Francisco 49ers; linebacker Marlin McKeever, Los Angeles Rams, and Bill Granholm, unit manager and special assistant to NFL Commissioner Pete Ro-zelle,Members of the second unit to tour Vietnam are corner back Roger Wehrli, St. Louis Cardinals; running back John Fuqua* Pittsburgh Steelers; defensive tackle John Elliott, New York Jets; wide receiver Marlin Briscoe, Buffalo Bills, and unit manager Grady Alderman, Minnesota Vikings tackle.These representatives of the NFL will talk with the men, autograph pictures and show movies of the Super Bowl game in New Orleans. Photos will also be taken of the players with the servicemen.During 1971, the USO sent 224groups comprising 1,008 individuals to entertain the American military at bases around the world. These groups comprise a large number of outstanding figures in the world of sports.
Newspaper Details
Pacific Stars and Stripes
Tokyo, Tôkyô, JP
Thu, Feb 10, 1972
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Marc H.
VA, USA 25 Apr 2023
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