List of National Football League players who died in wars

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 Name Age Yeardied Position Team Last yearplayed Service Details of deathif available Mike Basca 27 1944 Halfback Philadelphia Eagles 1941 Army Killed when his tank was hit by a German 88. Charlie Behan 24 1945 End Detroit Lions 1942 Marines Killed in action during the Battle of Okinawa. Posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. Harry Benson 34 1943 Guard Philadelphia Eagles 1935 Army Killed in action in the Aleutian Islands campaign. Keith Birlem 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 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 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 28 1945 Guard Green Bay Packers 1941 Marines Killed by a mortar shell during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Alex Ketzko 25 1944 Tackle Detroit Lions 1943 Army Killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge. Jack Lummus 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 24 1945 End Detroit Lions 1943 Marines Killed by a sniper during the Battle of Okinawa. Len Supulski 22 1943 End Philadelphia Eagles 1942 Air Force Died in a training flight crash. Don Wemple 27 1944 End Brooklyn Dodgers 1941 Air Force His airplane was shot down while flying over "the Hump". Chet Wetterlund 26 1944 Halfback Detroit Lions 1942 Navy Died when a training flight crashed. Waddy Young 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 Name Age Yeardied Position Team Last yearplayed Service Details of deathif available Bob Kalsu 25 1970 Guard Buffalo Bills 1968 Army Killed during the Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord. Don Steinbrunner 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

Name Age Yeardied Position Team Last yearplayed Service Details of deathif available Pat Tillman 27 2004 Safety Arizona Cardinals 2001 Army Killed by friendly fire.

See also

List of NFL players in World War II List of American football players who died during their careers

References