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December 7, 1941. It was “a date that will live in infamy,” said President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to a joint session of congress.

The United States then declared war with Japan, and two days later Germany declared war on us, and we reciprocated. World War II became a reality. The most horrific multi-years in the history of humankind.

The axis powers were then constituted by Germany, Japan, and Italy, led by, respectively, Adolf Hitler, Hideki Tojo (nominally Emperor Hirohito) and Benito Mussolini.

Now, a different, but not unlinked story, emerged.

As most of you surely know, the annual Rose Bowl (before the surfeit of so-called bowl games came into existence many years later) was played in Pasadena, California. It was always there, except for one year.

You may know the story, but I’ll recount it en breve.

Fearing that an event, gathering, that draws tens of thousands of people together on the west coast, might seem an inviting target to the Japanese, who were invading much of the Asian Pacific area, inflicting a horror of death and destruction, a decision had to be made.

So, it was decided not to cancel the January bowl game, but to relocate it instead.

Where was it then slated to be played? You know. At Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

And who were the two teams selected? The Duke Blue Devils and the Oregon State Beavers.

Duke was no late-comer to college football’s elite. Their record back in 1938 was unblemished. All victories, no losses and no ties.

In rain and mud the Beavers won, 20-16, on a last-second touchdown pass. It was a rare loss for Coach Wallace Wade, who left Duke shortly thereafter for duty in the war. He had been a captain in the Great War, known as World War I. He was now 49 years old. He had been the Alabama football coach in the 20s and won three national titles there.

During the war, at his request. Wade was deployed overseas in command of the 272nd Field Artillery Battalion. He and his men advanced across France, Belgium, and Germany. They participated in every significant battle during that time, including the Battle of the Bulge.

Many of the young men who played in that transplanted Rose Bowl served their country during the war. Players from both teams, some who made the ultimate sacrifice. They answered the call.

The stories of these men could stand alone in powerful and poignant heroism. It is truly worth telling, but space limitations preclude so doing in today’s column. Perhaps another time.

They fought for freedom. It is sad to think, to know, that so many know so little of our country’s history.

Note: The main source for this column came from the feature “Fields of Honor” in “Our State Magazine,” as well as the other sources, including my memory.