List of National Football League players who died in wars

Last updated

This is a list of players who left the National Football League to join the military in a time of war, including those who were drafted, and died in wars. Fourteen died in World War II, two in the Vietnam War and one in the War in Afghanistan. In World War II, Jack Lummus and Charlie Behan were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross, respectively. All players listed below served in the United States military.

Contents

World War II

NameAgeYear
died		PositionTeamLast year
played		ServiceDetails of death
if available
Mike Basca [1] 271944 Halfback Philadelphia Eagles 1941 Army Killed when his tank was hit by a German 88.
Charlie Behan [2] 241945 End Detroit Lions 1942 Marines Killed in action during the Battle of Okinawa. Posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
Harry Benson [3] 341943 Guard Philadelphia Eagles 1935ArmyKilled in action in the Aleutian Islands campaign.
Keith Birlem [4] 281943End Washington Redskins 1939 Air Force While trying to land his combat-damaged B-17 heavy bomber, he collided with another aircraft. Both crashed, with no survivors.
Al Blozis [5] 261945 Offensive tackle New York Giants 1944ArmyLost in France when he went in search of two of his men who had failed to return from a scouting mission.
Young Bussey [6] 271945 Quarterback Chicago Bears 1945 Navy Killed when his landing craft was hit by a Japanese mortar while stuck on a coral reef.
Howard "Smiley" Johnson [7] 281945Guard Green Bay Packers 1941MarinesKilled by a mortar shell during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Alex Ketzko [8] 251944 Tackle Detroit Lions 1943ArmyKilled in action during the Battle of the Bulge.
Jack Lummus [5] [9] 291945 End New York Giants 1937MarinesStepped on a land mine during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Dave Schreiner [10] 241945End Detroit Lions 1943MarinesKilled by a sniper during the Battle of Okinawa.
Len Supulski [11] 221943End Philadelphia Eagles 1942Air ForceDied in a training flight crash.
Don Wemple [12] 271944End Brooklyn Dodgers 1941Air ForceHis airplane was shot down while flying over "the Hump".
Chet Wetterlund [13] 261944Halfback Detroit Lions 1942NavyDied when a training flight crashed.
Waddy Young [14] 281945End Brooklyn Dodgers 1940Air ForceDied in a mid-air collision with a damaged B-29 he was trying to protect.

Vietnam War

NameAgeYear
died		PositionTeamLast year
played		ServiceDetails of death
if available
Bob Kalsu [15] 251970Guard Buffalo Bills 1968ArmyKilled during the Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord.
Don Steinbrunner [16] 351967Tackle Cleveland Browns 1953 Air Force His Fairchild C-123 Provider was shot down while on a defoliation mission. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

War in Afghanistan

NameAgeYear
died		PositionTeamLast year
played		ServiceDetails of death
if available
Pat Tillman [17] 272004 Safety Arizona Cardinals 2001ArmyKilled by friendly fire.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Frank. "Veterans Day tribute to former Eagle Nick Basca, who died in WWII". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  2. ↑ "Charlie Behan Stats - Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  3. ↑ "Harry Benson Dies In Action". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  4. ↑ "A Memorial Day Memory Of QB Keith Birlem". SJSU Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  5. 1 2 Thomas Jr., Robert McG. (January 26, 1991). "Two Giants Were Heroes Far From Playing Field". The New York Times .
  6. ↑ "Bears Memorial Day Hero – No. 37, Ruey Young Bussey". Chicago Sports Nation. 2020-05-23. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  7. ↑ "Packers' Smiley Johnson gave his life for his country". www.packers.com. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  8. ↑ "Ketzko of Lions Killed; Ex-Member of Football Giants War Casualty in France". The New York Times. 1945-02-10. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  9. ↑ "Medal Monday: Honoring Jack Lummus and the Marine Corps Reserve". The National Medal of Honor Museum. 2018-08-27. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  10. ↑ "Dave Schreiner (1955) - Hall of Fame". National Football Foundation. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  11. ↑ "Leonard Peter Supulski (1920-1943) | Dickinson College". archives.dickinson.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  12. ↑ "14 NFL players who lost their lives in combat over the years". We Are The Mighty. 2020-04-29. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  13. ↑ Hopkins, Cedric. "Veteran's Day: A Tribute to the 26 NFL Players Who Died Defending Our Country". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  14. ↑ "Remembering Waddy Young". University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  15. ↑ Moriello, John (2020-07-25). "The Tragic Death of Bob Kalsu, the Buffalo Bills Player Serving in Vietnam". Sportscasting | Pure Sports. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  16. ↑ Repository, Jon Kendle / Special to The Canton. "Remembering NFL players Bob Kalsu and Don Steinbrunner who died in Vietnam War". The Repository. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  17. ↑ "Pat Tillman killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan". HISTORY. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
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