26 Former NFL players have lost their lives serving our country; Let’s remember them
Memorial Day is a tough day for many military families who have lost their loved ones while they were defending our country. The NFL is an amazing sport, but several former players have died serving our country. Here is a tribute to all the former NFL players that died serving our country.
Gil Brandt @Gil_Brandt
1) 226 men with NFL playing time served in the Korean war 2) 23 Former NFL players lost their lives in WW2
World War II
Cpl. Mike Basca (HB, Philadelphia, 1941)—Killed in France in 1944
Lt. Charlie Behan (E, Detroit, 1942)—Killed in Okinawa in 1945
Maj. Keith Birlem (E, Cardinals-Washington, 1939)—Killed in England in 1943
Lt. Al Blozis (T, Giants, 1942-1944)—Killed in France in 1945
Lt. Chuck Braidwood (E, Portsmouth-Cleveland-Cardinals-Cincinnati, 1930-1933)—Killed in South Pacific in 1944
Lt. Young Bussey (QB, Bears, 1940-1941)—Killed in Philippines in 1944
Lt. Jack Chevigny (Coach, Cardinals, 1932)—Killed on Iwo Jima in 1945
Capt. Ed Doyle (E, Frankford-Pottsville, 1924-1925)—Killed in North Africa in 1942
Lt. Col. Grassy Hinton (B, Staten Island, 1932)—Killed 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 in Leyte in 1945
Sgt. Alex Ketzko (T, Detroit, 1943)—Killed in France in 1944
Capt. Lee Kizzire (FB, Detroit, 1937)—Killed in New Guinea in 1943
Lt. Jack Lummus (E, Giants, 1941)—Killed on Iwo Jima in 1945
Bob Mackert (rank unknown) (T, Rochester Jeffersons, 1925)—location of death unknown
Frank Maher (rank unknown) (B, Pittsburgh-Cleveland Rams, 1941)—location of death unknown
Pvt. Jim Mooney (E-G-FB, Newark-Brooklyn-Cincinnati-St. Louis-Cardinals, 1930-1937)—Killed in France in 1944
Lt. John O’Keefe (Front office, Philadelphia)—Killed in Panama (date unknown)
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 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 Tokyo in 1945
Vietnam
Lt. Bob Kalsu (G, Buffalo, 1968)—Killed while defending Base Ripcord in 1970
Maj. Don Steinbrunner (T, Cleveland Browns, 1953)—Killed in South Vietnam in 1967
War in the Middle East
Cpl. Pat Tillman (DB, Arizona, 1998-2001)—Killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004
So today when you are barbecuing and drinking, remember the true war heroes that die daily fighting for our country and our independence. May God protect our Troops everywhere and ensure they come home alive. #ThankYou #TEAMDIAMONDHEROES