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We salute the NFL's war dead
Cold, Hard Football Facts for May 24, 2007
The scope of World War II smacks you in the face when you consider that 995 members of the NFL, mostly players, interrupted their careers and, in some cases, gave up their lives serving in the military.
Those who served in World War II included some of the biggest names in football history – George Halas, Wellington Mara and Cold, Hard Football Facts all-time greats Otto Graham and Chuck Bednarik. Imagine today if Denver owner Pat Bowlen, Indy GM Bill Polian, New England QB Tom Brady and Baltimore LB Ray Lewis all left their cushy NFL gigs to join the service, and you get an idea of the impact World War II had on professional football and on society at large.
Twenty-three of the 26 members of the NFL killed in wartime gave their lives in World War II. Their names are listed below.
One World War II veteran played a key role in the NFL until very recently. Former Buffalo GM Marv Levy served in the U.S. Army Air Corps – the precursor to the Air Force – from 1943-46.
Before Super Bowl XXVIII, after his Bills had suffered three straight title-game defeats, then-head coach Levy was asked if the upcoming contest was a “must-win” game.
No, he said.
“World War II was a must win.”
WORLD WAR II
- Cpl. Mike Basca (HB, Philadelphia, 1941) – Killed in France in 1944
- Lt. Charlie Behan (E, Detroit, 1942) – Killed on Okinawa in 1945
- Maj. Keith Birlem (E, Cardinals-Washington, 1939) – Killed trying to land combat-damaged bomber in England in 1943
- Lt. Al Blozis (T, Giants, 1942-1944) – Killed in France, 1945
- Lt. Chuck Braidwood (E, Portsmouth-Cleveland-Cardinals-Cincinnati, 1930-1933) – Member of Red Cross. Killed in South Pacific, winter 1944-1945
- Lt. Young Bussey (QB, Bears, 1940-1941) – Killed in Philippines landing assault in 1944
- Lt. Jack Chevigny (Coach, Cardinals, 1932) – Killed on Iwo Jima in 1945
- Capt. Ed Doyle (E, Frankford-Pottsville, 1924-1925) – Killed during North Africa invasion in 1942
- Lt. Col. Grassy Hinton (B, Staten Island, 1932) – Killed in plane crash in East Indies in 1944
- Capt. Smiley Johnson (G, Green Bay, 1940-1941) – Killed on Iwo Jima in 1945
- Lt. Eddie Kahn (G, Boston/Washington, 1935-1937) – Died from wounds suffered during Leyte invasion in 1945
- Sgt. Alex Ketzko (T, Detroit, 1943) – Killed in France in 1944
- Capt. Lee Kizzire (FB, Detroit, 1937) – Shot down near New Guinea in 1943
- Lt. Jack Lummus (E, Giants, 1941) – Killed on Iwo Jima in 1945
- Bob Mackert (T, Rochester Jeffersons, 1925)
- Frank Maher (B, Pittsburgh-Cleveland Rams, 1941)
- Pvt. Jim Mooney (E-G-FB, Newark-Brooklyn-Cincinnati-St. Louis-Cardinals, 1930-1937) – Killed by sniper in France in 1944
- Lt. John O’Keefe (Front office, Philadelphia) – Killed flying a patrol mission in Panama Canal Zone
- Chief Spec. Gus Sonnenberg (B, Buffalo-Columbus-Detroit-Providence, 1923-1928, 1930) – Died of illness at Bethesda Naval Hospital in 1944
- Lt. Len Supulski (E, Philadelphia, 1942) – Killed in plane crash in Nebraska in 1944
- Lt. Don Wemple (E, Brooklyn, 1941) – Killed in plane crash in India in 1944
- Lt. Chet Wetterlund (HB, Cardinals-Detroit, 1942) – Killed in plane crash off New Jersey coast in 1944
- Capt. Waddy Young (E, Brooklyn, 1939-1940) – Killed in plane crash following first B-29 raid on Tokyo in 1945
VIETNAM
- Lt. Bob Kalsu (G, Buffalo, 1968) – Killed in an attack while defending Base Ripcord on July 21, 1970
- Maj. Don Steinbrunner (T, Cleveland Browns, 1953) – Shot down over Kontum, South Vietnam on July 20, 1967
WAR ON ISLAMIC FASCISM
- Cpl. Pat Tillman (DB, Arizona, 1998-2001) – Killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004
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Pro Football Hall of Fame list of Korean War veterans – 200 members of the NFL served in the military in the Korean War, including Hall of Famers such as Ollie Matson and Night Train Lane.
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