OT: UM Veterans

Submitted by UMgradMSUdad on

Since today is Veteran's Day, I got to thinking of Michigan football players who were veterans.  I remember watching Mike Lantry, the Vietnam Vet and FG kicker, on TV as a kid.  I know Tom Harmon also served following his career at Michigan.  Are there other veterans you can think of who played Michigan football (or other sports, for that matter)?

justingoblue

November 11th, 2011 at 8:20 AM ^

I don't know specifically, but I know the USMC talks up a good amount of former D1 athletes going into Officer Candidate School after getting their degree. Makes a lot of sense when you think about it.

justingoblue

November 11th, 2011 at 10:03 AM ^

Completely agree. That's not me though...yet (hopefully). I do pledge to return to MGoBoard with stories of any athletes from teams the board might be interested in, if I make it and if I end up in a company with them.

Edit: Capt. Craig "Encino Man" Schwetje from Generation Kill (great book/series, by the way) played football at Georgia Tech. Nathaniel Fick claims he was an All-American at one point, but I couldn't find anything on that. Since I hold Fick in such high esteem, I'm guessing that was high school, especially since he wasn't drafted after college.

Va Azul

November 11th, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^

According to his bio on One Bullet Away, he was captain of a national championship cycling team at Dartmouth.  While the picture of a D1 football player does fit the mental model of a Marine, surprisingly enough, when I went to OCS in Quanitco it was the football players who ended up taking the silver bullet during PT, while the harriers and wrestlers were running circles around everyone.  (Humps were a different story)

As for former D1 players, how about Heisman trophy winner, Rhodes Scholar and eventual Brigadier General Pete Dawkins?  Nate Fick reminds me of Pete Dawkins.  Someone who's just better than you at everything.  34 years old.  CEO of the Center for New American Security. 

justingoblue

November 11th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^

Plus the three Ivy League degrees, best-selling book and being successful in Recon. You're dead on though, he's someone who I've respected and followed quite a bit since reading One Bullet Away.

Honestly I only mentioned Encino Man because Fick called him an All-American in either his book or Generation Kill, and I was hoping that was college and would be recognizable, which it turned out wasn't the case. I haven't heard Dawkins story, but I will definitely be looking him up after I hit "save" here.

Also, after just reading the UConn chapter in Three and Out, thinking about people like Nathaniel Fick, and talking about OCS, I am about to punish the PT I'm doing in preparation for OCS. That track and pullup bar are going to wish I didn't come today.

justingoblue

November 11th, 2011 at 3:02 PM ^

I'm working on my application package for OCC right now. Hopefully I'll be in Quantico in the next year, so anything would really help, but I'm still a ways off from having a ship date. I know a few people who did the Bulldog Course, but not PLC or OCC.

Right now I'm just keeping my focus on getting to 300, and keeping grades/extracirriculars up. In the coming months it should get a lot more serious, so I'll keep a lookout for you around here when the time starts coming.

Until then, thanks again, happy (belated) birthday, and have a good veterans day.

Michigasling

November 11th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^

I know for a fact that at least one member of the 1948 team was a WWII vet, and I'm sure he's not alone in those teams pictured from the post-war years.  Young men whose studies were interrupted to go overseas or hadn't even started college, and were lucky enough to make it back to put on the other helmet (the one with wings). 

Moleskyn

November 11th, 2011 at 9:00 AM ^

Agreed. I don't know of any UM vets (other than Harmon, as you mentioned) but my brother just got back from his year-long tour in Iraq. When he left, his 1-year-old daughter wasn't walking or talking. She began doing both of those things during his deployment. Just drives it home to me what these guys are sacrificing, even if they aren't necessarily putting their lives on the line every day (I don't think he saw any combat action over there). So, to all of you who are serving now, have served, or will serve at some point in the future: THANK YOU. Your sacrifices and dedication to ensure our freedom are extremely appreciated.

TampaJake

November 11th, 2011 at 9:00 AM ^

How about the Commander in Chief?  Football player and President of the United States, Mr. Gerald Ford.

I would like to render a Hand Salute to all of my Brothers in Arms, especially 36 CAB, 11th ACR (Blackhorse) and 12th Cav.  Allons!

Baldbill

November 11th, 2011 at 9:06 AM ^

It is a day that I take some time to think about those that went before me and those that have followed me. I look in the mirror and wonder how many days do I have left? I wonder why I am still here and others are not. I want to make each day count.

A Marine I am

Trials of service I saw

Semper Fidelis

KAYSHIN15

November 11th, 2011 at 9:12 AM ^

I've served Active Duty in the AIr Force for almost 16 years and I can honestly say we have a great country and military corps across the board. Actually I just returned from Iraq last week and all the thanks and well wishes me and my troops received while traveling through the 4-5 airports on our way home was tremendous. I've been to approximately 20 different countries and nobody appreciates their military like the U.S. and I'm darn proud to be a part of it. Thanks to not only all my fellow Vets but thank you to all the great civilians that make this country worth serving.  GO BLUE!!!!!!

BlueAggie

November 11th, 2011 at 9:43 AM ^

My thanks go out to all the military personnel and veterans on the board.

On a historical note, Joseph Barss, Michigan's first Ice Hockey coach, fought for Canada in WWI and was seriously wounded.

FSPP-14

November 11th, 2011 at 9:45 AM ^

Thank you all for your sacrifice. I'm honored to say I have quite a few veterans in my family that I am very proud of. No matter what you did during your time of service, big or small, it's important to this nation and our way of living. Thank you veterans for doing what many of us could never do. We salute you

FSPP-14

November 11th, 2011 at 9:46 AM ^

Thank you all for your sacrifice. I'm honored to say I have quite a few veterans in my family that I am very proud of. No matter what you did during your time of service, big or small, it's important to this nation and our way of living. Thank you veterans for doing what many of us could never do. We salute you

 

EDIT: Double post sorry please delete

SalvatoreQuattro

November 11th, 2011 at 10:11 AM ^

For today is the day that the war to end all wars ended. It is also the reason why celebrate this holiday. 9 million dead. 20,000 British dead in ONE day at the Somme. Think about that. 4 times as men died in one day as have Americans have died in 10 years in the War on Terror. Truly ghastly numbers.

MichLove

November 11th, 2011 at 10:22 AM ^

I would like to say thank you to all of the veterans out there that visit MGoBlog - I am doing my best to thank every veteran that I come into contact with today so THANK YOU ALL!!

You are truly the best of us.

SWFLBlue

November 11th, 2011 at 10:23 AM ^

Luckily I was young and single when I served. I had many shipmates who had to leave wives and young children for months at a time. Every return was joyous, but every time we left again it was even more devastating. To me this is the biggest sacrifice that is also the hardest to measure. God bless our troops today and everyday.

dlanny22

November 11th, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^

I spent 6 years in the Air Force and was able to go to Iraq and Afghanistan.  There is so much I miss about being  a part of the military family.  However, with that being said I urge all vets who are out now to go back to school if they don't have a wife and kids.  I am trying to find part time or flexible full time work in order to go back to school and use my military benefits to finally obtain a degree.  The only way to make this goal happen is to quit my current job which pays very well.  This might sound crazy, but then again I did volunteer to go to combat zones, so take it with a grain of salt.

In summary, take advantage of all the benefits we've earned as vets.  They are all truly earned benefits and you/we deserve them.

Maizeblue6

November 11th, 2011 at 12:05 PM ^

Alvin "Moose" Wistert (June 26, 1916 – October 3, 2005) was an American football player in the United States. He played college football at the University of Michigan. He was the last of the three brothers—he was preceded by Whitey and Albert (Al)—who were named All-American tackles at Michigan and later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981. The World War II Marine Corps Veteran was the oldest college football player ever selected as an All-American at age 33.[1]   He and his brothers are three of the seven players who have had their numbers retired by the Michigan Wolverines football program.

Their father was a Veteran of the Spanish American War and was later killed in the line of duty while serving on the Chicago Police Department.

M Fanfare

November 11th, 2011 at 12:35 PM ^

Also, most of our astronaut alumni are veterans, as most astronauts have a military background.

Benjamin Pritchard was a Union Army general and commanded the cavalry unit that captured Confederate President Jefferson Davis. He earned a law degree at Michigan (1860).

Benny Friedman and Forest Evashevski (Harmon's lead blocker) served in the Navy during World War II.

Though not veterans themselves, several prominent military aircraft designers were Michigan grads. Robert Hall (BSE '27) of Grumman helped design the F4F Wildcat, TBM Avenger, and F6F Hellcat. Willis Hawkins (BSE '37) of Lockheed helped design the Constellation, P-80, F-104 and led the team that designed the C-130. Clarence "Kelly" Johnson (BSE '32, MSE '33), one of the real legends of aircraft design, was the first leader of the famed Lockheed "Skunk Works" and played a major role in designing the P-38, the U-2, the SR-71, and the F-117.

triangle_M

November 11th, 2011 at 7:13 PM ^

Fortuna Fortes Juvat (1/3 Bravo).  Semper Fi to all my leatherneck and devil dog brothers and sisters, especially to those away from their families today.  And thank you to the families of our war dead who gave their last full measure of devotion.