When you think of 10 outstanding athletes, the first images that come to mind might be bright lights, roaring crowds, and record‑breaking performances. Yet, beyond the glitz and glamour, a remarkable group of sports icons paused their careers and answered a far louder call – service to their country. Below, we celebrate ten extraordinary competitors who traded trophies for medals of honor, proving that true greatness can shine both on the field and in the theater of war.
10 Louis Zamperini
Zamperini, the intrepid distance runner who represented the United States at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, later enlisted for World War II. After his bomber vanished over the Pacific, officials mistakenly listed an “official death date” for him, even sending a condolence letter from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Defying that grim paperwork, Zamperini survived an astonishing 47 days adrift on a raft, only to be captured by the Japanese.
While marooned, he subsisted on rainwater and the occasional albatross, enduring relentless torture at the hands of Sergeant Mutsuhiro Watanabe—infamously nicknamed “The Bird.” His indomitable will may have been hinted at during his Olympic run, where his final 5,000‑meter lap clocked an incredible 56 seconds as he surged past his rivals.
The harrowing saga of his resilience was immortalized in Laura Hillenbrand’s bestseller Unbroken, later adapted into a feature film directed by Angelina Jolie.
9 Warren Spahn
Spahn, half of the legendary pitching duo that inspired the timeless rhyme “Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain,” holds the record for most wins among left‑handed pitchers (363) and ranks sixth overall in MLB history. Before his Hall of Fame career—highlighted by 17 All‑Star selections, two no‑hitters, and a Cy Young Award—he answered the nation’s call in 1942, joining the U.S. Army.
His wartime service was nothing short of gritty. Assigned to a unit that incorporated early‑release convicts, Spahn fought in both the Battle of the Bulge and the grueling Battle of Hurtgen Forest, where he recalled, “Our feet were frozen when we slept, and frozen when we woke up… We had no bath or clean clothes for weeks.” His brigade secured the historic Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, the sole Rhine crossing captured by Allied forces.
Spahn earned a Distinguished Unit Emblem, a Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart. Reflecting on his wartime experience, he remarked, “I matured a lot in those years… after what I went through overseas, I never thought of anything I was told to do in baseball as hard work.”
8 Bob Kalsu
If you stroll past the Ring of Honor at Ralph Wilson Stadium, you’ll see the name of Bob Kalsu—a name that never made it past a rookie season in the NFL. While many athletes of his era evaded the Vietnam draft, Kalsu volunteered for active duty, ultimately serving at the perilous Firebase Ripcord. When his commanding officer required evacuation for a neck injury, Kalsu stepped up as acting commander.
Firebase Ripcord endured a relentless barrage of 600 rounds daily, with the fiercest attacks coinciding with supply helicopter landings. Despite his rank, Kalsu exposed himself to intense fire, personally helping his men haul newly delivered shells up the hill.
Fellow soldier Philip Michaud described him as “a fearless, smart, and respected leader.” Tragically, Kalsu was killed by enemy mortar fire. An Army officer arrived at his home to deliver the news, only to find Kalsu’s wife absent; the officer later found her in a hospital, having just given birth to their second child.
7 Archie Williams
Archie Williams, like fellow gold‑medalist Jesse Owens, shattered Adolf Hitler’s myth of Aryan supremacy during the 1936 Berlin Olympics. While the myth of Hitler refusing to shake Owens’s hand is well‑known (in reality, no athlete was shaken hands after the opening ceremonies), Williams recounted a similar snub: “Hitler wouldn’t shake my hand either!” He set a world record of 46.1 seconds in the 400 m while competing for UC Berkeley.
After a hamstring injury prematurely ended his track career, Williams earned a pilot’s license and became a commercial aviator. He later served as a pilot in World II, receiving a commission in the Air Force in 1943, and spent over two decades training Tuskegee Airmen as a flight instructor.
6 Dwight F. Davis
The Davis Cup, the storied international tennis competition, traces its origins to 1900 when Harvard tennis players, including Dwight F. Davis, sought a United‑States‑versus‑Great‑Britain showdown. Beyond his tennis legacy, Davis earned the Distinguished Service Cross for “extraordinary heroism” during fierce fighting near Baulny and Chaudron Farm, France, on September 29‑30, 1918.
His citation details heroic actions: after three days of intense artillery and machine‑gun fire, Major Davis voluntarily moved across his brigade’s sector, reorganizing positions and reinforcing a line under a massive enemy counter‑attack. His cool courage inspired his troops to hold the ridge against overwhelming odds.
After the war, Davis served as Secretary of War under President Calvin Coolidge and later as Governor‑General of the Philippines. He rests in Arlington National Cemetery.
5 Charley Paddock
The silver‑screen legend “Chariots of Fire” introduced many to Charley Paddock, the brash American sprinter who bested Harold Abrahams in the 200 m at the 1924 Olympics. In reality, Paddock also captured gold in the 100 m and the 4×100 m relay, plus a silver in the 200 m at the 1920 Games, earning the moniker “World’s Fastest Human.”
Paddock’s Olympic triumphs bookended service in both World Wars. He served as a Marine Corps lieutenant of field artillery in World I and later joined the personal staff of Major General William P. Upshur during World II. Both Paddock and Upshur perished in a tragic plane crash while on duty.
4 Ted Williams
Ted “Teddy Ballgame” Williams is celebrated as one of baseball’s greatest hitters, boasting a .344 career average and 521 home runs. Yet, his legacy extends beyond the diamond: he missed several prime years to serve in the U.S. Navy during both World II and the Korean War.
During World II, Williams worked as a flight instructor. In Korea, he faced enemy fire, sustained multiple wounds, and even crash‑landed once. His service earned him three Air Medals, a Navy Unit Commendation, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Williams also flew as a wingman for astronaut‑turned‑astronaut John Glenn. Glenn praised Williams, noting that the same eye, coordination, and discipline that made him a baseball legend also made him an exceptional combat pilot.
3 Roy Gleason
Roy Gleason burst onto the major‑league scene at age 20 with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1963, earning a single hit in his debut and appearing as a pinch‑runner in seven additional games. The Dodgers captured the World Series that year, granting Gleason a championship ring despite his brief stint.
Blocked from further big‑league action by a star‑studded roster, Gleason returned to the minors before being called to active duty in 1967. As a sergeant in Vietnam, he led his unit during a fierce North Vietnamese attack, sustaining shrapnel wounds to his arm and leg. He fought on until evacuation became necessary.
During the hurried evacuation, Gleason’s 1963 World Series ring was left behind in Vietnam. The Dodgers later replaced the lost ring in a 2003 ceremony at Dodger Stadium. Gleason also received a Purple Heart and a Special Congressional Recognition for his valor.
2 Chad Hennings
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Chad Hennings, a 1988 Outland Trophy winner, postponed his NFL career to fulfill a four‑year commitment to the U.S. Air Force after graduating from the Air Force Academy. Once his service concluded, he returned to the gridiron, helping the Cowboys secure three Super Bowl titles over nine seasons.
During Operation Provide Comfort in the Persian Gulf, Hennings flew 45 missions over Iraq, earning two Air Force Achievement Medals, an Outstanding Unit Award, and a humanitarian commendation for aiding Kurdish refugees while neutralizing lingering Iraqi threats.
Even after rejoining the NFL, Hennings remained in the Air Force Reserve, balancing professional football with continued military service.
1 Chuck Bednarik
Known as “Concrete Charlie,” Chuck Bednarik epitomized the gritty, all‑purpose football player of yesteryear. He excelled on offense, defense, and even on nascent special‑teams duties, earning a reputation as a “bone‑jarring tackler” and a “rugged, durable, bulldozing blocker.”
Bednarik’s toughness was forged in World II, where he served as a teenage aerial gunner in the Army Air Corps, completing 30 combat missions over Germany. One of his most harrowing assignments involved delivering thousands of gallons of gasoline behind enemy lines to refuel 500 of General Patton’s tanks—an operation fraught with the constant roar of artillery and the ever‑present risk of a crash.
His wartime valor earned him the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, four Battle Stars, and the European Theater Operations Medal, cementing his legacy both on the battlefield and on the football field.