NIU's Albert Riippi-- Part 2: A Game and the Navy

That year NITC (NIU) was undefeated going into the last game versus Southern Illinois.  Before the game, Chick Evans and college president Karl Adams told Riippi that he had been ordered to report to duty the next morning in Chicago.  The game was being played in Carbondale.

The Huskies won 13-12.  Mr. Riipi missed the celebration party the next day in DeKalb.

He was named All-Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team (he played both offense and defense).

After training, he served on the USS Columbia, the "Gem of the Ocean.  He joined the ship while it was in Long Beach, California, where it had gone for repairs after being struck by a kamikaze.  The ship participated in the Borneo invasion and he returned to DeKalb in time for his mother's funeral.

An Interesting Life.  --GreGen