USS HOUSTON CA 30

“The galloping Ghost of the Java Coast”

LEONARD

“DUTCH”

WILLIAM KOOPER

Born March 1, 1920 to immigrant parents, Dutch grew up in Chicago during the Depression. His father was a laborer and mother a maid for a wealthy family. Dutch used his talents of fighting on the streets and began a career as a professional boxer at an early age. Dutch was one of America’s first professional football players. In November 1940 he joined the Navy leaving behind his true love. At war’s end, he returned to find she thought he had died and had married. Dutch never married & retired from the Navy and settled in San Diego, CA. Learning that his one time sweetheart was now widowed, they began to correspond. Due to their age and the distance between them, they remained fast friends but did not become romantically involved. Dutch health began to fail and died December 9, 2003.