Football's Wartime Heroes

The following is a list of former NFL players, coaches, and team personnel killed in World War II and the Vietnam War.

World War II claimed the lives of 23 NFL men – 21 active or former players, an ex-head coach and a team executive. Listed below are the NFL personnel killed during the war.

Lt. Chuck Braidwood (E, Portsmouth-Cleveland-Cardinals-Cincinnati, 1930-1933) – Member of Red Cross. Killed in South Pacific, winter 1944-1945 Cpl. Mike Basca (HB, Philadelphia, 1941) – Killed in France in 1944
 

Lt. Charlie Behan (E, Detroit, 1942) – Killed on Okinawa in 1945

Maj. Keith Birlem (E, Cardinals-Washington, 1939) – Killed trying to land combat damaged bomber in England in 1943

Lt. Al Blozis (T, Giants, 1942-1944) – Killed in France, 1945

Lt. Young Bussey (QB, Bears, 1940-1941) – Killed in Philippines landing assault in 1944

 Lt. Jack Chevigny (Coach, Cardinals, 1932) – Killed on Iwo Jima in 1945

 Capt. Ed Doyle (E, Frankford-Pottsville, 1924-1925) – Killed during North Africa invasion in 1942

 Lt. Col. Grassy Hinton (B, Staten Island, 1932) – Killed in plane crash 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 from wounds suffered during Leyte invasion in 1945

Sgt. Alex Ketzko (T, Detroit, 1943) – Killed in France in 1944

 Capt. Lee Kizzire (FB, Detroit, 1937) – Shot down near New Guinea in 1943

 Lt. Jack Lummus (E, Giants, 1941) – Killed on Iwo Jima in 1945

 Bob Mackert (T, Rochester Jeffersons, 1925)

Frank Maher (B, Pittsburgh-Cleveland Rams, 1941)

 Pvt. Jim Mooney (E-G-FB, Newark-Brooklyn-Cincinnati-St. Louis-Cardinals, 1930-1937) – Killed by sniper in France in 1944

Lt. John O’Keefe (Front office, Philadelphia) – Killed flying a patrol mission in Panama Canal Zone

 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 plane crash 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 plane crash following first B-29 raid on Tokyo in 1945

The plaque describes how on July 21, 1970, following eight months of heavy combat, Lieutenant Kalsu was killed when his unit fell under heavy fire while defending Ripcord Base on an isolated jungle mountaintop. The Hall was pleased to receive the inscribed tribute plaque and proudly hung it in a prominent place for museum visitors to see and read.

Some 30-plus years since Bob Kalsu’s untimely death, the Hall of Fame learned of a second pro football player, Don Steinbrunner, who died while serving his country in Vietnam. Steinbrunner, an end from Washington State, played offensive tackle in 1953 for the Cleveland Browns.

Steinbrunner, who joined the ROTC while in college, was called to active duty following his rookie season with Cleveland. Upon completion of a two-year tour of duty as an Air Force navigator, the Bellingham, Washington native considered returning to the Browns, but instead opted to pursue a military career.

In 1966, Steinbrunner was called to serve in Vietnam. Not long after his arrival, he was shot in the knee during an aerial mission. Due to his injury, he was offered an opportunity to accept a less dangerous assignment, but declined, preferring to return to his unit. According to his family, the 35-year-old Steinbrunner reasoned that he was better suited to serve his country than many of the younger, less seasoned soldiers he’d observed. It was a decision that cost him his life. On July 20, 1967, Steinbrunner’s plane was shot down over Kontum, South Vietnam. There were no survivors.

Posthumously, Don Steinbrunner was awarded the purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross. His citation read in part, “Disregarding the hazards of flying the difficult target terrain and the opposition presented by hostile ground forces, he led the formation through one attack and returned to make a second attack. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Steinbrunner reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”