List of National Football League players who died in wars

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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.

World War II[edit]

Name Age Year
died 		Position Team Last year
played 		Service Details of death
if available
Mike Basca[1] 27 1944 Halfback Philadelphia Eagles 1941 Army Killed when his tank was hit by a German 88.
Charlie Behan[2] 24 1945 End Detroit Lions 1942 Marines Killed in action during the Battle of Okinawa. Posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
Harry Benson[3] 34 1943 Guard Philadelphia Eagles 1935 Army Killed in action in the Aleutian Islands campaign.
Keith Birlem[4] 28 1943 End 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] 26 1945 Offensive tackle New York Giants 1944 Army Lost in France when he went in search of two of his men who had failed to return from a scouting mission.
Young Bussey[6] 27 1945 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] 28 1945 Guard Green Bay Packers 1941 Marines Killed by a mortar shell during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Alex Ketzko[8] 25 1944 Tackle Detroit Lions 1943 Army Killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge.
Jack Lummus[5][9] 29 1945 End New York Giants 1937 Marines Stepped on a land mine during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Dave Schreiner[10] 24 1945 End Detroit Lions 1943 Marines Killed by a sniper during the Battle of Okinawa.
Len Supulski[11] 22 1943 End Philadelphia Eagles 1942 Air Force Died in a training flight crash.
Don Wemple[12] 27 1944 End Brooklyn Dodgers 1941 Air Force His airplane was shot down while flying over "the Hump".
Chet Wetterlund[13] 26 1944 Halfback Detroit Lions 1942 Navy Died when a training flight crashed.
Waddy Young[14] 28 1945 End Brooklyn Dodgers 1940 Air Force Died in a mid-air collision with a damaged B-29 he was trying to protect.

Vietnam War[edit]

Name Age Year
died 		Position Team Last year
played 		Service Details of death
if available
Bob Kalsu[15] 25 1970 Guard Buffalo Bills 1968 Army Killed during the Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord.
Don Steinbrunner[16] 35 1967 Tackle 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[edit]

Name Age Year
died 		Position Team Last year
played 		Service Details of death
if available
Pat Tillman[17] 27 2004 Safety Arizona Cardinals 2001 Army Killed by friendly fire.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  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. ^ a b 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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