Wooden’s replacement killed on Navy ship
While Powers was serving in the Army Air Forces, Coach Wooden was serving in the Navy.
He was commissioned as a Lieutenant J.G. and taught physical education from 1943-45.
Wooden had received orders to serve on the USS Franklin, an aircraft carrier that saw duty in the Pacific. But an attack of appendicitis kept him from leaving with the ship.
The USS Franklin was later attacked by Japanese aircraft in March of 1945, killing 800 of the sailors on board. Including the officer that was Wooden’s replacement.