Bill Combs: podcast appearances and interviews

Billy Burk Combs was an accomplished wrestler and a United States Marine who served during World War II. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he attended the University of Michigan where he was a prominent member of the wrestling team. Combs competed under coach Cliff Keen and was elected captain of the 1941 team as well as president of the university's M Club of varsity lettermen. His wrestling achievements included a second-place finish in the 145-pound class at the national Amateur Athletic Union championships in 1940, a victory at the 155-pound Midwest AAU tournament in 1940, and the Western Conference championship at 175 pounds in 1941. Combs left his studies before graduation to enlist in the United States Marine Corps following the attack on Pearl Harbor. During his military service, he was wounded in 1942 during the invasion of the Solomon Islands and was hospitalized in San Francisco. An account in the media highlights his bravery during a clash with Japanese soldiers, where he reportedly killed multiple adversaries and disarmed another. For his service, Combs received a presidential citation and a Purple Heart. After recovering from his injuries, he returned to combat in the Pacific theatre but was killed during the invasion of Iwo Jima in February 1945. In recognition of his athletic accomplishments and military service, Combs was posthumously inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1986.