GIs of the Gridiron

The documentary will also pay tribute to Arizona Cardinals tight end flat Tillman, who left the NFL in May 2002 to join the Army and was killed in Afghanistan.

During World War II, 995 professional football players and others involved in the game served our nation, and 19 players died in action, including Jack Lummus, an end for the New York Giants, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his courage during the battle on Iwo Jima.

Two others, Detroit Lions end Maurice L. Britt, who lost his arm near Mignano, Italy, and Joseph J. Foss, who shot down 23 planes in the desperate air defense of Guadalcanal and later became a Commissioner of the American Football League, also received the Medal of honor for their World War II service.

Also among those who served during World War II were six NFL owners--George Halas, Chicago Beaks, Dan Topping, Brooklyn Dodgers, Dan Reeves and Fred Levy, Jr., Cleveland Rams; Wellington Mara, New York Giants; and Alexis Thompson, Philadelphia Eagles.

Donovan, who was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968, said he was honored to add his story to the DAV documentary. He began his wartime service as an anti-aircraft gunner aboard the aircraft carrier USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) just in time for the invasion of Saipan and the Marianas Turkey Shoot, a battle in which 300 Japanese aircraft were shot down.

 

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