What military vet who was also a professional athlete do you admire?

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 23:00:32 -0400

There have been many great American fighting men who were well know athletes. Who is your favorite?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2015 11:02 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 23:02:24 -0400

Rocky Bleier.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 5 at 2015 11:08 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 23:08:24 -0400

Don't know about many other than my Disbo (Disbursing Officer) USS California CGN-36. Mr David Robinson. I liked him. He was a good guy. He butted heads a few times witht he Skipper though.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Aug 5 at 2015 11:18 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 23:18:52 -0400

SSgt Alex Robinson, I always like to think of Yogi Berra, mostly because of his loose connection to my father. In 1943, my father, Jack Curlee, played for the Roanoke Red Sox of the Piedmont League (B) and Yogi played for the Norfolk Tars of the same league. Soon after that, they both entered the U.S. Navy, with my father serving in the Pacific and Yogi in the Atlantic! CPT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by James Jones made Aug 5 at 2015 11:28 PM

James Jones — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 23:28:18 -0400

Roger Staubach. Excellent professional.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Aug 6 at 2015 12:44 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 00:44:22 -0400

Wow, thought I had a few sports heroes with military history... Not so much once I fact checked myself...

Validated and verified...
Joe Louis & Jackie Robinson

Admittedly heroes from a different age, but still icons.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 6 at 2015 1:17 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 01:17:23 -0400

Pat Tillman

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 6 at 2015 8:47 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 08:47:06 -0400

While not a "professional" athlete, I think Louis Zamperini should be mentioned in this thread. While most people did not know his story until late last year, he truly set the bar as service with honor.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2015 9:01 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 09:01:03 -0400

I have a fighting woman Liz Carmouche. She's a professional UFC fighter and a Marine. She did three tours to the sandbox before fighting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Carmouche

Liz Carmouche - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Liz Carmouche (born February 19, 1984) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. Carmouche currently competes for UFC in the women's bantamweight division.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Aug 6 at 2015 9:10 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 09:10:10 -0400

Ted Williams. Gave up some of the best years of his professional career, TWICE, to fly overseas and never made a big deal about it.

Response by SSgt Charles Edwards made Aug 6 at 2015 9:23 AM

SSgt Charles Edwards — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 09:23:12 -0400

Pat Tillman.

He walked away from millions to play in the NFL to serve his country in the wake of 9/11. That's a rarity in the post-draft military. Tillman not only gave up a comfortable life as a professional athlete, he sacrificed his life in service to this great nation. Tillman may not have been known well outside Arizona, but in an era where the sport he played was gaining a huge boost in popularity, it spoke volumes about the man's character.