Athletes Who Served in the USA Army: 10 Inspiring Stories

Many athletes who served in the USA army have shown their patriotism and bravery by joining the military and fighting for their country. Some of them have even sacrificed their prime sports years or their lives to serve their nation. In this post, we will share 10 inspiring stories of athletes who served in the USA army and how they balanced their sports and military careers.

Pat Tillman: The NFL Star Who Became a Ranger

Pat Tillman was a professional American football player who played as a safety for the Arizona Cardinals. He was known for his passion, intelligence and leadership on and off the field. After the September 11 attacks, he decided to leave his lucrative NFL career and enlist in the Army with his brother Kevin. He became a Ranger and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal. He is widely regarded as a hero and an inspiration for his sacrifice and service.

Roger Staubach: The Navy Quarterback Who Won Super Bowls

Roger Staubach, also known as Captain America and Captain Comeback, is a former American football quarterback who played for the Dallas Cowboys. He is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, winning two Super Bowls and being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Before his NFL career, he attended the U.S. Naval Academy and won the Heisman Trophy in 1963. He then served in the Navy for four years, including a tour of duty in Vietnam as a supply officer. He joined the Cowboys in 1969 and played for them until 1979.

Bob Feller: The Pitcher Who Volunteered for the Navy

Bob Feller was a legendary pitcher who played for the Cleveland Indians for 18 seasons. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers of all time, holding several records and being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also a patriot who volunteered for the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He served as a chief petty officer and a gun captain on the USS Alabama, earning eight battle stars and five campaign ribbons. He returned to baseball in 1945 and continued to dominate until his retirement in 1956.

Jackie Robinson: The Soldier Who Broke Baseball’s Color Barrier

Jackie Robinson was a baseball pioneer who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. He was an outstanding player who won the Rookie of the Year award, the MVP award and six All-Star selections. He also helped the Dodgers win their first World Series title in 1955. He was also a civil rights activist who fought for racial equality and social justice. Before his baseball career, he served in the Army during World War II as a second lieutenant with an armored unit. He faced discrimination and racism while serving and was court-martialed for refusing to move to the back of a bus. He was acquitted of all charges and received an honorable discharge in 1944.

Ted Williams: The Hitter Who Flew Combat Missions

Ted Williams was an outfielder who played for the Boston Red Sox for 19 seasons. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest hitters of all time, being the last player to hit over .400 in a season and holding the highest career batting average of anyone with 500 or more home runs. He was also a decorated pilot who served in the Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War. He missed five seasons of his prime baseball years to serve his country, flying 39 combat missions and earning several medals, including the Air Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Warren Spahn: The Engineer Who Built Bridges Under Fire

Warren Spahn was a pitcher who played for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves, the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants. He is the winningest left-handed pitcher in MLB history, with 363 victories and 17 All-Star selections. He was also a veteran who served in the Army during World War II as a combat engineer. He fought in the Battle of
the Bulge, where he was wounded by shrapnel and received a Purple Heart. He also received a Bronze Star for his bravery in helping to build a bridge under enemy fire.

Hank Greenberg: The Slugger Who Fought Anti-Semitism

Hank Greenberg was a first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was one of the most powerful hitters of his era, leading the American League in home runs four times and RBI four times. He was also a two-time MVP and a five-time All-Star. He was also a trailblazer who faced anti-Semitism as one of the first Jewish stars in baseball. He also served in the Army during World War II, rising to the rank of captain and serving in China, Burma and India. He missed nearly four seasons of his baseball career to serve his country.

Buck O’Neil: The Negro League Legend Who Became an MLB Coach

Buck O’Neil was a first baseman and manager who played for and led several Negro League teams, including the Kansas City Monarchs. He was a prolific hitter and a charismatic leader who helped his teams win several championships. He was also a pioneer who became the first African American coach in MLB history, working for the Chicago Cubs in 1962. He also served in the Navy during World War II as a seaman first class. He was stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois, where he played baseball for the base team.

Joe DiMaggio: The Icon Who Married Marilyn Monroe

Joe DiMaggio was a center fielder who played for the New York Yankees for 13 seasons. He is one of the most iconic players in baseball history, setting a record of hitting safely in 56 consecutive games and winning nine World Series titles. He was also a three-time MVP and a 13-time All-Star. He was also a celebrity who married actress Marilyn Monroe and was immortalized in songs and movies. He also served in the Army during World War II as a sergeant with an athletics and recreation unit. He was stationed at various bases in California, Hawaii and Atlantic City, where he played baseball for the troops.

Chuck Bednarik: The Two-Way Player Who Tackled Jim Taylor

Chuck Bednarik, also known as Concrete Charlie, was a two-way player who played as a center and a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles for 14 seasons. He is considered one of the toughest and most durable players of all time, playing 58 minutes out of 60 in the 1960 NFL Championship Game, where he made a game-saving tackle on Jim Taylor. He was also a patriot who served in the Army Air Forces during World War II as a waist gunner on a B-24 bomber. He flew 30 missions over Germany and earned an Air Medal, four Oak Leaf Clusters and a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon with five Battle Stars.

These are just some of the many athletes who served in the USA army and made a difference in sports and war. They are examples of courage, honor and dedication that we can all admire and respect.

sources for the article Athletes Who Served in the USA Army: 10 Inspiring Stories

1. special-ops.org 2. nfl.com 3. defense.gov 4. defense.gov 5. defense.gov 6. cbsnews.com