An underdog Navy boxer's last fight in World War II

At the age of 17, Joseph “Joe” Spotswood falsified his paperwork to enter the Navy in 1944, when World War II was in full swing. He was aboard the USS Augusta during the invasion of Normandy and participated in other battles during the war.

But those weren't the only fights Spotswood took part in during his time in the military.

Spotswood had a passion for boxing, and as a brawler, the sailor sometimes fought stronger and tougher opponents – and at least once he did so in front of a seated U.S. president on the deck of a Navy warship as World War II came to an end.

On August 7, 1945, Spotswood participated in a Navy “smoker” off Truman aboard the USS Augusta, a Northampton-class cruiser, who was aboard the ship for his return from Europe, according to the sailor's son, Chase Spotswood.

“He met with Truman, shook his hand, and Truman grabbed a napkin and wrote on it, 'Thank you Joe Spotswood for a wonderful fight,' or something like that, and signed it as president [Harry] Truman,” Chase Spotswood said of his father.

According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, smokers were boxing events held aboard naval vessels, whether in port or at sea. The fights began as informal brawls between sailors, but over time became more frequent, although not officially regulated.

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The Navy said smokes served to boost morale, which is why Spotswood came to fight before Truman.

Spotswood's smoking event occurred after the Potsdam Conference, where world leaders discussed terms for the end of World War II. As the summit concluded, Truman and other dignitaries boarded the USS Augusta for their return trip to the United States.

According to memos and newspaper clippings about Spotswood's fight, provided to Task & Purpose by Chase Spotswood, it wasn't just boxing that provided entertainment for the 33rd President of the United States, but also a Navy band. However, as part of the main event, four boxing matches in different weight classes served as “prize fights” for the evening.

Spotswood faced an opponent with the last name Coulson. Task & Purpose was unable to confirm the full identities of the other service members involved. Spotswood had told his son that he would not like going into battle.

“The guy was bigger than him and had more reach, but Dad outran him, ran around the ring and ended up knocking him out,” Chase Spotswood said. “He was very proud that he won that game. I think he probably even surprised Truman.”

Perhaps even more surprising, according to Chase Spotswood, was that the boxing exhibition ended abruptly after the ring collapsed during the final bout.

Although boxing matches aboard ships are rare today, Spotswood's fight in 1945 provided something he and his fellow sailors desperately needed.

“The smoking events were a stress reliever,” Chase Spotswood said. “I’m sure some kind of liquor or something was being made and passed around on board – it was like being on vacation on the ship.”

Spotswood was aboard the USS Augusta at the start of American involvement in World War II when Operation Overlord began in the early hours of June 6, 1944. He was aboard the same ship when the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan August 6, 1945.

“They were on the ship and were the first people to know that the atomic bomb had been dropped because Truman was on board when it was dropped,” Chase Spotswood said. “He announced [it to] the men on the ship. I think that’s his part of the story.”

Spotswood's time aboard the Augusta was close to his heart, long after he hung up his uniform and entered the civilian workforce following the end of World War II on September 2, 1945. He was a Honda motorcycle dealer for years and had a joint introductory sales meeting with potential customers, Chase Spotswood recalled:

“He greeted people in the exhibition room with the words: 'Shake the hand that shook the world.'”

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