Sgt. Joe Louis · Victory by Valor

Sgt.U.S. Army · Special Services

Boxing · Heavyweight Champion 1937–49

b. 13 May 1914 · LaFayette, Alabama · d. 12 Apr 1981

The heavyweight champion of the world enlisted as a private in January 1942 and spent the war boxing for the troops.

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, 1937–49TECHNICAL SERGEANT, U.S. ARMY · LEGION OF MERIT, 1945PURSES DONATED TO THE NAVY RELIEF SOCIETY AND ARMY EMERGENCY RELIEF

Joe Louis standing over a fallen opponent in the ring — TWO UNIFORMS
The Brown Bomber · in the ringSgt. Louis · U.S. Army

Joe Louis in U.S. Army uniform — TWO UNIFORMS
The Brown Bomber · in the ringSgt. Louis · U.S. Army

Service record

01
Enlisted January 1942 as a private, at the height of his reign as heavyweight champion
02
96 exhibition bouts for the troops at installations around the world — more than two million service members saw him (U.S. Army)
03
Donated title-fight purses to the Navy Relief Society and Army Emergency Relief · promoted to technical sergeant and awarded the Legion of Merit, 1945

Did you know

22 June 1938, Yankee Stadium: Louis stopped Max Schmeling in the first round — 124 seconds — in a rematch the whole world read as democracy against fascism.

BIRTHDAY

May 13

FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS

Observances

MAY 13Joe Louis born, 1914
NOV 11Veterans Day
LAST MON · MAYMemorial Day

Personal timeline · birth → service → career → honors

13 May 1914
Born Joseph Louis Barrow in LaFayette, Alabama.
1937–49
Heavyweight champion of the world — the longest reign in the division's history.
22 Jun 1938
Yankee Stadium: stops Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch, 124 seconds.
Jan 1942
Enlists in the U.S. Army as a private, still the reigning champion; fights title bouts for the Navy Relief Society and Army Emergency Relief.
1942–45
96 exhibition bouts at installations around the world; more than two million service members see him.
1945
Promoted to technical sergeant; awarded the Legion of Merit for his "incalculable contribution to the general morale."
12 Apr 1981
Dies in Las Vegas, Nevada; buried at Arlington National Cemetery.