Dear Senior Service College Athletes and students, Family and friends of historic Carlisle Barracks and the U.S. Army War College, and fans and admirers of Jim Thorpe:

Welcome to the U. S. Army War College’s Jim Thorpe Sports Days (JTSD) 2011. This annual event, which began over 35 years ago, continues today as a culminating joint event amongst our Nation’s Senior Service Colleges to share perspectives and engender camaraderie and friendly, but spirited, service competition.

JTSD is held to honor the life of a great American, Jim Thorpe. Born in the Oklahoma Territory into humble beginnings, Jim Thorpe attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School at Carlisle Barracks, from 1904 through 1913. He brought his athletic excellence and insatiable drive to succeed to the same track and playing fields upon which JTSD athletes will compete.

Jim Thorpe set 12 school records in track and field and football. He competed with the U.S. Olympic Team at the Summer Games in Stockholm in 1912, winning gold medals in both the Pentathlon and the Decathlon, the only athlete in history to accomplish this feat. Jim Thorpe later played professional football for 15 seasons and professional baseball for 6 seasons. Sportswriters of America named him the greatest athlete of the first half of the 20th Century. It is in tribute to the memory and legacy of this great American athlete and graduate of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, that we celebrate Jim Thorpe Sports Days each year.

This year Carlisle Barracks will host nearly 1,000 of our officers and senior civilians from our sister Senior Service Colleges, April 14-16, 2011. The U.S. Army War College is dedicated to making JTSD 2011 one of the great highlights of the Senior Service College year.

The competitions and social events give the Carlisle Barracks Community an opportunity to share sportsmanship and comradeship. We hope Jim Thorpe Sports Days 2011 will be a competitive and enjoyable event. Our JTSD 2011 Committee has been working all year to that end. This year Jim Thorpe’s grandson, John Thorpe, will join us for JTSD 2011. Additionally, Mr. George Yuda has agreed to add to the heritage and dignity of this event.

Mr. Yuda’s father was the last Carlisle Indian Industrial School graduate to make his home in Carlisle and was a baseball teammate of Jim Thorpe. We look forward to seeing you on the historic fields of Carlisle Barracks. Enjoy!