Greatest Athletes Who Served in the US Military

One of the greatest golfers of all time, Arnold Palmer paused his golf career in favor of a career in the Coast Guard. Following the death of his college roommate in a car accident, Palmer was upset and sought direction and purpose, which he found serving his country. After three years in the Coast Guard, Palmer began his legendary golfing career.

Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller recalled being “angry as hell” when he heard Pearl Harbor had been attacked by Japan. Feller decided to forego his seventh MLB season, enlisting in the Navy and serving as a gun captain and missing the 1942, 1943, and 1944 MLB seasons before returning.

While playing football for the U.S. Air Force Academy, Chad Hennings won the Outland Trophy as the best lineman in college football. Usually, that award is a one-way ticket to the NFL, but Hennings served his four-year commitment as a pilot before he played for the team that drafted him, the Dallas Cowboys. Hennings got there just in time, winning three Super Bowls in his first four years.

A member of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s first induction class, Christy Mathewson dominated baseball in the early 1900s. After his career ended, Mathewson enlisted in the Army at age 38 to serve in World War I, even though he was exempt. He served with fellow baseball great Ty Cobb in the Chemical Service department, training soldiers how to deal with gas attacks.

Chuck Bednarik was nicknamed “Concrete Charlie,” and for good reason. He was one of the last to play offense and defense in the NFL. Bednarik is remembered for his hard hits on the field. He was a tough guy in the service, too, flying 30 combat missions over Germany as a gunner during World War II.

David Robinson was not a highly touted high school basketball player, so he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Academy, where his dad went. While there, he hit a major growth spurt, going from 6’7″ to 7’0″, and he worked to become a dominant force on the court. Robinson was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs first overall in 1987, but he didn’t make his debut until 1989, after he had fulfilled his two-year commitment to the Navy.

Frank Brimsek was only the second American goaltender to man the net for a Stanley Cup champion, hoisting the Cup twice for the Boston Bruins in 1938-39 and 1940-41. He was nicknamed “Mr. Zero” for his many shutouts. Brimsek won the Vezina Trophy twice and led the Bruins to the playoffs in all nine years he played for them. After the United States entered World War II, he joined the Coast Guard and played one season with the Coast Guard Cutters.

Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander was one of the greatest pitchers of the early 20th century. A control specialist, Alexander averaged 30 wins a season from 1914 to 1917 for the Philadelphia Phillies. The Nebraska farm boy left for France in 1918 to fight Germany in World War I and came back scarred physically and psychologically. He had epileptic seizures, suffered from what is now called post-traumatic stress disorder, and battled alcoholism. He managed to return to the major leagues and helped the St. Louis Cardinals defeat the New York Yankees in the 1926 World Series.

Hank Greenberg was one of the greatest right-handed hitters ever. The Detroit TigerS slugger led the Bengals to the world championship in 1935. Greenberg was the first player in MLB history to win the most valuable player at two positions — first base and outfield. Greenberg, who battled anti-Semitism during his playing career, entered military service in May 1941 and was discharged Dec. 5, two days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He immediately re-enlisted and served until 1945, just in time to help the Tigers win another pennant.

Hobey Baker was a highly skilled hockey player for Princeton University in the early part of the 20th century. Baker was one of the first American players elected to the hockey hall of fame. Baker’s gallantry and grace extended to his military service as well. Before the United States entered World War I, Baker learned to fly and joined the storied Lafayette Escadrille, American pilots who flew for France. He was credited with shooting down three enemy planes before he was killed in a plane crash after the armistice.

College hockey’s most prestigious award is named after Baker, recognizing the top player for his skills as well as his sportsmanship and character.

By the time World War II took place, Jack Dempsey was already a boxing legend, having held the heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. He served in the Coast Guard for a decade, in active duty from 1942 to 1945, then was honorably discharged in 1952 after serving in the reserves.

Before he broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier, Jackie Robinson confronted racial bias in the military. He was drafted in 1942 and assigned to a segregated Army cavalry unit in Kansas. Robinson fought for African American soldiers to get officers’ commissions when they were denied them. Robinson would eventually become a second lieutenant.

Joe DiMaggio enlisted in the Army in 1943. During his time in the service, he played many exhibition baseball games to boost the morale of his fellow soldiers. He was stationed in California and Hawaii before he was hospitalized for stomach ulcers and eventually discharged in 1945.

Joe Louis held the world heavyweight title belt throughout the duration of World War II. He used his fame after joining the Army, boxing in exhibition matches to entertain troops. Louis also advocated for African American soldiers to receive equal treatment as white soldiers.

Chicago Bears tackle Joe Stydahar made four Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams throughout his career despite missing two full seasons in his prime when he was serving in the Navy during World War II. He would later go on to to coach the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Cardinals.

Hall of Fame center fielder Larry Doby possessed incredible courage. He fought in World War II’s Pacific Theater, serving in the Navy from 1944 to 1946. Just after returning, Doby was the first player to break the color barrier in the American League in 1947. The next year, he helped the Cleveland Indians win the World Series.

In 2001, Pat Tillman was about to sign a new multi-million dollar contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals. But when the United States was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, Tillman signed up to join the Army to fight the War on Terror. Tillman was killed by friendly fire in 2004. His friends and family created the Pat Tillman Foundation to provide scholarships and job opportunities to veterans and their families.

Pee Wee Reese was one of many future Hall of Fame players who paused their careers to enlist during the World War II era. Though he joined the Navy, Reese still played baseball. He played alongside other service members while stationed in Virginia, Hawaii, and Guam, even helping to coach.

As the man in charge of a gun crew during World War II, Phil Rizzuto faced much danger during his time in the Navy. But his most serious challenge came when he contracted malaria when he was stationed in New Guinea. While recovering in Australia, the Yankees shortstop coached a Navy baseball team.

Roberto Clemente is famed for his commitment to serving others. His charitable efforts are well known, but baseball fans may not know that he served in the Marine Corps reserves for many years while also playing pro baseball. Clemente served from 1958 to 1964, including a six-month active duty stint.

Rocky Bleier is best known as a four-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s. But the fact that he was able to play pro football at all is astounding. Bleier was injured by a grenade while serving in the Vietnam War. Doctors told Bleier his career was over, but he battled through the injury to become a key piece of the Steelers’ 1970s dynasty.

Rocky Marciano may have never become a heavyweight champion had he not been drafted into the Army. After dropping out of high school, Marciano worked a series of odd jobs before being drafted in 1943. He helped ship supplies to allied forces across the English Channel. Just before being discharged, he won the 1946 Amateur Armed Forces boxing tournament. He had his first professional fight the next year, and by 1952, he was heavyweight champion and won 49 straight bouts.

Though he won the Heisman Trophy at the Naval Academy, Roger Staubach nearly skipped pro football entirely. Staubach honored his four-year commitment to the Navy, including a year of service in Vietnam, and nearly stayed in the military full time, but he realized he missed playing football. He joined the Dallas Cowboys, leading the team to two Super Bowl titles.

Shauna Rohbock has dedicated her life to her country. In addition to a brief stint as a pro soccer player, she was part of the USA’s women’s bobsled team. She won a silver medal in the 2006 Olympic Games and competed in the 2010 games as well. These achievements all came while Rohbock also served in the Utah Army National Guard. She now coaches aspiring American Olympians while also serving on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.

Just after winning the NL MVP in 1943 and 1944 World Series, Stan Musial left behind his MLB career to enlist in the Navy. While stationed at Pearl Harbor, Musial helped bring damaged ships back into port and provide a diversion for battle-weary sailors by playing baseball in the 14th Naval District League. In 1946, his first season back from service, Musial picked up where he left off, hitting .365 and winning MVP.

After joining the Navy, Ted Williams wanted to get into the action. He told reporters, “I’m hoping I’ll get into the air quick to start some slugging against the Axis.” After extensive training, Williams got his wings, but the war ended soon after. Williams was recalled to active duty to fight in the Korean War in 1952. This time, he flew dozens of combat missions. Future astronaut John Glenn, who happened to serve in the same squadron, said Williams was an “excellent pilot.”

Tom Seaver loved to pitch in his early days but did not have the physical prowess to dominate his opponents. He joined the Marines after high school, and the fitness training he underwent after enlisting helped him in his baseball career. After a year of service, he was discovered by the coaches at USC and set off on his Hall of Fame baseball career.

Ty Cobb narrowly avoided disaster in his stint in the Army. After being promoted to captain and shipped off to France to fight in World War I, Cobb was tasked with preparing soldiers for chemical warfare. During one training exercise where troops would practice putting on protective masks, things went awry and Cobb and his soldiers were exposed to poison gas. Several died and Cobb fell ill for weeks, though he would recover and return to baseball after the war ended in 1919.

Warren Spahn won 363 games over a 21-year career, the most of any left-handed pitcher in baseball history. Spahn began his career in 1942 and was called up to serve in the Army that year. He was involved in the Battle of the Bulge and the fight to take the bridge at Remagen. Spahn won a Purple Heart after he was wounded by shrapnel. He returned to pitch for the Braves and helped them reach the World Series in 1948, 1957, and 1958.

Whitey Ford began his baseball career with the highest of highs, winning the clinching game of the 1950 World Series. After the season, Ford found out he had been drafted and joined the Army, working as a radar operator. He would later return and win five more World Series titles.

Willie Davenport honed his raw talent as a hurdler while on the Army’s track team in the 1960s. He eventually became the world’s top hurdler, winning the 110-meter event in the 1968 Olympic Games, following it up eight years later with a bronze. Davis later became one of very few athletes to compete at both the Summer and Winter Olympics, when he joined the U.S. bobsled team. He was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1991. Davis coached Army track teams and became chief of the National Guard Bureau’s Office of Sports Management.

Willie Mays could have been able to break the all-time home run record, which once stood at 714, had he not been drafted into the Army during the Korean War. Legend has it that Mays learned his famous basket catch while playing baseball for a military team.

Yogi Berra saw fierce combat while enlisted in the Navy. He fought in the D-Day invasion of Omaha Beach, launching rockets into enemy positions. Berra also served in North Africa and Italy before being sent home due to a hand injury. That injury clearly did not slow down his baseball career — Berra won three MVPs, a record 10 World Series titles, and became one of the most beloved baseball players of all time.