Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the military. Many athletes have spent time in the United States military. Here are some who served their country.
Tom Landry
Before coaching the Dallas Cowboys from 1960-1988, Tom Landry served in the 493rd squadron in the 8th Air Force. He completed 30 combat missions and survived a crash landing when his bomber ran out of fuel over Belgium.
Bob Kalsu
Bob Kalsu was a starting guard for the Bills in 1968. Following that season, to satisfy his ROTC obligation, he entered the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant and arrived in South Vietnam in November 1969 as part of the 101st Airborne Division. He was killed in action on July 21, 1970, when his unit came under enemy mortar fire.
Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1965 and immediately started serving his four-year commitment to the Navy, before joining the Dallas Cowboys in 1969. Staubach also served one year in Vietnam as a supply corps officer.
Pat Tillman
Pat Tillman played college ball at Arizona State and then went to the Arizona Cardinals. He enlisted in the Army as a Ranger in 2002 with his brother, Kevin. Pat Tillman was tragically killed in 2004 in an incident that was eventually labeled friendly fire.
Rocky Bleier
After playing a season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rocky Bleier was drafted into the Army and sent off to Vietnam. While on patrol in 1969, Bleier’s platoon was ambushed and his right leg was impaled by flying shrapnel. Doctors told Bleier, who had been awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, he would never play football again. He spent two years trying to regain a spot on the active roster, finally achieving his goal and becoming a starter in 1974.
Jack Lummus
After playing in nine games for the New York Giants as a rookie Jack Lummus enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on Jan. 30, 1942. In the first wave of troops to land on Iwo Jima on Feb. 19, 1945, he and his platoon remained on the island to continue to battle the Japanese. On March 8, Lummus helped knock out three enemy strongholds despite suffering injuries from grenade shrapnel before being mortally wounded by a land mine.
Caleb Campbell
Caleb Campbell played college football at Army and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2008, believing he could forgo his commitment to the Army. Campbell was ready to report to training camp when the Army informed him he needed to serve his two years before playing in the NFL. Campbell returned to the NFL in 2010.
Yogi Berra
Yankees great Yogi Berra put his baseball career on hold at the age of 18 to serve in WWII. On D-Day, Berra served on a boat as a gunner’s mate, protecting landing troops.
Ted Williams
In WWII, Ted Williams served as a Navy reservist as an aviator. Upon his release in 1946, he remained in the reserves with the Marine Corps. In 1952, Williams returned to service as a fighter pilot, taking part in an air raid in Pyongyang, as well as 38 other missions.
Bob Feller
Two days after Pearl Harbor was attacked, Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller became the first MLB player to volunteer for active duty in World War II. He spent four years as an anti-aircraft gun captain on the battleship USS Alabama,
Jack Dempsey
Accepting a commission as a lieutenant in the Coast Guard Reserve in 1942, Jack Dempsey had already retired from boxing. He was on board the USS Arthur Middleton during the invasion of Okinawa.
Hank Greenberg
After the draft board denied Hank Greenberg for flat feet in 1940, the five-time All-Star subsequently became the first player to be drafted. He was honorably discharged two days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and promptly volunteered in the Army Air Corps. He ended his service as a captain.
John Wooden
In 1942, John Wooden joined the Navy and served as a lieutenant in WWII. He served primarily as a physical education instructor.
Jackie Robinson
Per Jackierobinsonchangedsports: In 1942, Jackie Robinson was drafted into the military to a segregated cavalry unit in Kansas. There he also faced discrimination when he and other colored soldiers applied for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and were later accepted after much fighting and debate. After completing it, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutiant in the United States military. Later in his career, in 1944, he was confronted with another situation. While on a military bus, he was asked to move to the back (similiarly to Rosa Parks). After he refused, he was taken into custody and eventually transferred out of his unit. After being transferred, Jackie joined another unit but was court-martialed after false accusations by the prejudiced officer and jury that confirmed his removal from the military.
Jerry Coleman
Art Donovan
Art Donovan Jr. served with the U.S. Marine Corps as an anti-aircraft gunner during World War II. Also stationed on his ship, the USS San Jacinto, was future President George H.W. Bush. After spending 13 months from 1943-45 at seas, Donovan volunteered for the Fleet Marine Force and was sent to Okinawa.
Joe DiMaggio
On Feb. 17, 1943, DiMaggio enlisted in the Army Air Forces. While stationed in California, Hawaii and New Jersey as a physical education instructor, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. DiMaggio left the service in September of 1945.
Joe Louis
Joe Louis enlisted as a private in the Army. Assigned to a segregated cavalry unit, Louis continued to fight at charity events and was the focus of a military recruitment campaign aimed at encouraging African Americans to enlist. When released from military service in 1945, Louis was a Sergeant and had been awarded the Legion of Merit medal.
Hobey Baker
With World War I underway, Hobey Baker enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1917 and was trained as a pilot. As the commander of the 103rd Aero Squadron, Baker painted his plane in Princeton’s orange and black. Awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French government for his wartime actions, Baker was killed weeks after the war ended while flying a test plane
Shauna Rohbock
After graduating from BYU and playing professional soccer for the San Diego Spirit, Shauna Rohbock enlisted in the Utah Army National Guard.
Jesse Ventura
David Robinson
David Robinson was expected to have to serve five years after graduating from the Naval Academy. However, his 7-foot-1 height worked against him when it came to serving. Robinson was ”not physically qualified as an unrestricted line officer in the United States Navy.” He will be required to serve only two years of active duty because he was too tall.
Bobby Jones
From 1943-1945, Bobby Jones, an officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces, supported World War II efforts by raising cattle and turkeys on the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club.
Gene Tunney
Although he had received an exemption from military service due to an old elbow injury, boxer Gene Tunney still decided to enlist during World War I. During the war, he saw action in France.
Hank Bauer
After enlisting in the Marine Corps one month following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hank Bauer remained in service until 1945 when he was injured in the thigh by shrapnel during the Battle of Okinawa. It was his second injury in 32 months of combat, during which he earned 11 campaign ribbons, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.
Hoyt Wilhelm
Hall of Fame reliever Hoyt Wilhelm served three years in the United States Army. After fighting in combat such as the Battle of the Bulge, he earned a Purple Heart,
Warren Spahn
After finishing the 1942 season in the minor leagues, Warren Spahn enlisted in the Army. As a combat engineer who served in the Battle of the Bulge and at the Ludendorff Bridge, he received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
Steven Holcomb
The late Steven Holcomb served in the Army from 1999-2006, winning the Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Army Superior Unit Award and Army Service Ribbon.
Chad Hennings
Following his graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1988, Chad Hennings fulfilled his four-year Air Force commitment. Hennings flew 45 missions in support of Operation Provide Comfort in Iraq, providing relief and humanitarian aid to refugees.
Willie Mays
One year after winning 1951 Rookie of the Year honors, Willie Mays was drafted by the U.S. Army to serve in the Korean War.
Joe Bellino
Following graduation, Ensign Joe Bellino began his four years of active Navy service, until he was discharged to reserve duty. Bellino served a total of 28 years in the United States Navy and the Naval Reserve, and retired with the rank of Captain.
Bob Mischak
After earning All-America honors at Army, Mischak was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1954. But due to his three years of Army service, they had to wait until 1957 to get him on the field. Injured his first year, Mischak was traded to the New York Giants and played in the NFL championship game against the Baltimore Colts in 1958. He became one of the AFL’s best guards with the New York Titans and Oakland Raiders. He later was a tight ends coach for three Super Bowl-winning teams with the Raiders.
Glenn Davis
The 1946 Heisman Trophy winner was a first-round selection of the Detroit Lions, but three years of Army service delayed his pro football debut until 1950.
Phil McConkey
A receiver and return specialist for the Midshipmen from 1975-78, McConkey served in the Navy for five years after graduation.
Alejandro Villanueva
After graduating from the United States Military Academy, Alejandro Villanueva was commissioned into the United States Army in May 2010 as a second lieutenant. It was with the 10th Mountain Division he deployed for the first time for 12 months to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan as a rifle platoon leader. As a result of his actions during this deployment he was awarded a Bronze Medal Star for rescuing wounded soldiers while under enemy fire. Villanueva volunteered for the 75th Ranger Regiment’s Ranger Orientation Program in 2013. He deployed two more times to Afghanistan.
