Football teaches resourcefulness. It develops initiative, demands quick thinking under pressure, and requires courage." Also in April 1943, it was reported that Michigan's 1940 Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon was missing in action. Harmon was serving as a bomber pilot in the Army Air Corps and disappeared while flying a mission in South America. Harmon's bomber had crashed in the jungle in Brazil, killing the entire crew with the exception Harmon. Harmon survived after reportedly hacked his way through the jungle. On learning that Harmon had been found, Fritz Crisler called Harmon "the greatest competitor in the history of football" and added, "And I'll betcha he doesn't have a scratch on him." In August 1943, Albert Benbrook, an All-American who had starred on Fielding H. Yost's Michigan teams from 1908 to 1910, died in Texas. On September 18, 1943, Michigan opened the season with a 26-0 victory over the United States Army's Camp Grant Warriors. Camp Grant had opened its season the prior week with a 23-0 victory over Illinois and featured fullback Corwin Clatt, who played for Notre Dame in 1942 and later played in the NFL. In previous years, Michigan had opened its season against Michigan State, but Michigan State did not field a team in 1943. Camp Grant was coached by Michigan State coach Charlie Bachman and replaced the Spartans as Michigan's opponent for the season opener. The game was played in Rockford, Illinois before "a capacity crowd of 6,000 soldiers and 5,000 civilians." Elroy Hirsch was the star of the game for Michigan with a long kickoff return, two touchdowns and an interception. Hirsch had played for Wisconsin in 1942, but was transferred to Michigan as part of the V-12 Navy College Training Program. In his first game as a Wolverine, Hirsch returned the opening kickoff 50 yards "with some dazzling open-field running" to midfield. Hirsch capped the opening drive with a three-yard touchdown run, and Bill Daley, another V-12 transfer student, missed the extra point kick. In the second quarter, Jack Wink, another Wisconsin transfer student, took over at quarterback and completed a 30-yard pass to Art Renner at Camp Grant's three-yard line. Hirsch ran for his second touchdown, and Daley again missed the extra point kick. Paul White scored on a reverse from Daley in the third quarter, and Merv Pregulman kicked the extra point to give Michigan the lead at 19-0.