On February 17, 1943,. Joe DiMaggio enlists in the US Army, in his customary quiet style, gives no notice to the club drawing. He gives up his  $43,500 salary  from the Yankees, for the $50 a month as an army enlisted man. Although the Bronx Bomber outfielder asked for no special treatment, he will spend most of his time out of harm’s way playing baseball in America. DiMaggio will miss all of the 1943, 1944 and 1945 seasons before returning to play 132 games for the Yankees in 1946.