Gridiron Warriors

"They fought in the Battle of the Bulge and landed at Guadalcanal; they bombed Germany and bull-rushed Iwo Jima. Yes, these men were soldiers, but they shared something else vital in common: They were college and pro football players of the 1940s World War II era. Some carried guns and fought; some carried the pigskin and played, donning the gear they were most familiar with-leather helmets and pads-to join either of the service academies or one of the many military, naval, or marine bases engaged in playing service football. A few were physically deferred, enabling them to still compete on college teams or in the NFL. This work delivers a living history of a vanishing time in a collection of oral histories, all told by the players themselves in the first person. And the book boasts plenty of star power: Of the 35 storytelling players, 31 were selected All-America, named All-Pro or to the Pro Bowl, played on national champion teams, or