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Jan 31, 2016

Mike Lacche Boxing Magazine: February, 2016

Mike Lacche, 102th Birthday Anniversary!



February 13, 2016 -- Happy 102th birthday anniversary, Mike Lacche! We all can look back at when we were very young and find those people who in such a natural and giving way inspired us to dream big, be proud of our own histories and to believe we too are a part of a greater journey.

I'm confident if Mike Lacche were alive today, he would say something to the effect of, "write about someone important." My grandfather had no idea that he was important, that like many from the Greatest Generation, jumping out of an airplane in WWII into enemy territory was bravery that no medal can capture. My grandfather could have no idea that everyday getting up to work until the stars were at night, just so his family could have a better life, was a gift that is alive and well three generations later, and counting.

Mike Lacche always described himself as a "simple man" but I stand here, now one year from his 103rd birthday anniversary, to tell you that he was a great man because anyone willing to repeatedly risk their life, dreams, and golden years to help enable the next generations is simply a hero. I proudly spend every day of my life sharing his story.

Mike Lacche -- thank you, Sir. Happy birthday.

Jan 1, 2016

Mike Lacche Boxing Magazine: January, 2016


Happy New Year! Mike Lacche Boxing welcomes you, one of the more than 5,216 unique readers in more than 10 countries. 

We begin our countdown for the 102nd anniversary of the birthday of  S/Sgt. Michael "Mike" Anthony Lacche, United States Army Welterweight Base Boxing Champion, Fort Kamehameha, Hawaii, 1942.
S/Sgt. Jack Q. McCary (Waltham, Mass).

 S/Sgt. Michael "Mike" Anthony Lacche (La'Kay) 1914 -1989 represented the fighting spirit that our service men and women take every day when defending our freedom.


Joseph "Joe" N. Ermer 1918 - 2012 was a wonderful role model, artist, friend and true competitor. Joe Ermer was a WWII Veteran with the United States Navy and spent every day after his military service helping those around him. Joe was a passionate billiards player and always brought the best out of everyone.

Dec 6, 2015

Mike Lacche Boxing Magazine: December, 2015

Happy Holidays! Mike Lacche Boxing welcomes you, one of the more than unique 5,059 readers in 10 countries. 

This month in our family has two very important anniversaries: 

December 26: Joseph N. Ermer (WWII veteran, athlete: billiards), 95th birthday anniversary (centennial is 2018).

December 31: President Truman Proclamation WWII cessation of hostilities (centennial is 2046).

Joe Ermer's legacy remains alive, strong and vibrant in many people today and we celebrate a true mentor, friend and leader who lived by example and brought out the good in everyone around him.

Like many of those who serve in war, Joseph "Joe" N. Ermerlooked at every day after returning home as partially having a responsibility to honor those who didn't come home. Joe Ermer's memoirs, in part, were his way to keep light on those years and those greatest of American heroes. Click here for audio version.

"I was at a Health Seminar yesterday and the moderator asked the crowd 'do you know what day tomorrow is? 'I piped up, 'Pearl Harbor Day'. She was looking out at us and said, 'Um, I was thinking more of the last day to  change your HMO,' "Joe Ermer wrote December 7, 2011. "I remember those day, very vivid, just like it was yesterday. Faces -- all very clear. Still makes me think why I got to come home and others didn't."

By the early 1940s, Joe Ermer was a young man doing well: he had his parents and brother Bobby, friends, health and hope for a better future. But turmoil was growing in Europe; Joe, like many of his generation, had a deep sense of duty and gratitude to his country; this also was strengthened coming out of the Great Depression. "Everyone was tired of being tired."

"War clouds were beginning to gather. There was a draft lottery. I wound up with a very high number, but wanted some experience, while still keeping my job at the bank; so I joined the (New York) State Guard," Joe Ermer wrote. "I really enjoyed the experience: lots of drills, some firing practice, a few maneuvers on the beach (hunting saboteurs). The main benefit was getting military experience. That may have been a reason that the Navy put me right on active duty and bypassed Boot Camp. I made Corporal in the Guard and joined the Navy as a 3rd class PO, equivalent to a Buck Sergeant.""I was inducted into the Navy in March '42. My first duty assignment was at Floyd Bennett Field. I was only there long enough to get my uniform and gear when orders came to transfer three (men)...to D.C. for further assignment. That 'further assignment' worried the rest of the guys, so they gave it to the last three on board: Egan, Eschbacher and Ermer. The three Es. We got traveling money and went to DC on the old Baltimore and Ohio. When get got there, the chief told us we would be the night shift and we'd get a living allowance and to go get a place to stay. This was wartime Washington DC. We were riding a trolley out the NW area, when the motorman heard us talking and said he might have something for us. 

He gave us the address and a note to his wife. They had an extra furnished bedroom with twin beds and a connecting closed-in sun porch with a couch. We took it gladly. They were nice people with a little girl. Our work was in the Precedence Section, which had to do with Officer Promotion. I learned so much about politics and the ins-and-outs of officer promotions that, later on, I was fairly popular with the Officers on the Elmore. 
Ruth A. Ermer
Ruth A. Ermer
It turned out also that Phil Egan was engaged to another Ruth, who had also gone to Bayridge High School about a year ahead of my Ruth. We decided that the opportunity was too good to pass up and we collaborated in writing persuasive letters to our Ruths (identical letters). Phil had been a newspaper man in a small midwest town and between the two of us, we really put on the pressure. Ruth and I got married on August 23rd. I think Phil and his Ruth got married a week later.

I managed to find a furnished apartment with a nice old southern landlady. She would bring fruit cobblers. Ruth and I had a great honeymoon in the Poconos. We got pretty friendly with some of the other sailors and their wives. We'd picnic on the Potomac, go to amusement parks and eat out. Obviously, it couldn't last.

When we were advised that if we volunteered for Sea Duty, we might get what we asked for - I requested Destroyer Escort in the North Atlantic. I figured that I'd make it back to Brooklyn once in a while. I got it alright: Attack Transport in the South Pacific. Except for knowing my chances of getting home were now nil, I had always been fascinated  by the islands of the Pacific: read everything I could get on them.

Soon, Joe Ermer would see the best and the worst of 1942 South Pacific. Stay tuned for more on the life of a true friend, mentor, artist and role model: Joseph "Joe" N. Ermer. 
Joseph "Joe" N. Ermer Memoirs (click links below to view/hear):
Celebration of Life: Joseph N. Ermer
Celebration of life: early childhood: Joseph N. Ermer
Celebration of Life: sports in the early years: Joseph N. Ermer
Celebration of Life: early years: Boy Scouts: Joseph N. Ermer
Celebration of Life: WWII part one: Joseph N. Ermer
Celebration of Life: WWII part two: Joseph N. Ermer
Celebration of Life: WWII part three: Joseph N. Ermer
Celebration of Life: WWII part four: Joseph N. Ermer

Nov 1, 2015

Mike Lacche Boxing Magazine: November 2015

November 11: Veterans Day

Welcome to Mike Lacche Boxing: we honor all our veterans, community volunteers and those who give to help others this month which includes relief efforts around the world.

We honor all veterans throughout the history of the United States for their commitment to freedom. We share the story of our veteran hero, 

Oct 4, 2015

Mike Lacche Boxing Magazine: October 2015

Mike Lacche Boxing welcomes you, one of the more than unique 4,294 readers in 10 countries. 

Armed Forces athletes are preparing to continue their respect athletic seasons this month in the face of the Federal Government shutdown. This includes the Armed Forces Championships the first week of February 2016. 

Memories of Mike: Long before Mayweather, Ray Leonard, Mosely and De La Hoya was the World Welterweight Champion, Freddie ' Red' Cochrane.  The pride of Elizabeth, New Jersey, Cochrane and was the reigning Welterweight champion in 1942 but would not get to defend his title until the war ended.  

The WWII and Korean War eras marked a unique time in American sports history where many professional athletes joined the Armed Forces and would compete there in the sports they championed. This was perhaps the greatest unified venue of American athletics in our country's history.

Mike Lacche was an amateur but trained with the knowledge the Fort Kamehameha Boxing Championships could be his last. At the end of his journey, Mike would be an Army Champion - and then join his soliders overseas in the real fight of his life.
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