June 15, 2025 • 39 mins
Major League broadcaster and Vietnam Veteran Bill Brown has written an excellent book called “Wartime Athletes; Stories of Sports Stars Who Joined the US Team.” He shares some compelling and inspiring stories.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
We all owe them, but very few of us know them.
They are the men and women of our military and
first responder communities, and these are their stories. American Warrior Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Is on the air.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Welcome to American Warrior Radio. Lason, gentlemen, there's your host,
Ben buler Garcia. American Warrior Radio broadcast from the Silencer
Central Studios. They're the nation's largest suppressor dealer. They're ready
to make your silencer buying journey as simple and painfree
as possible. Call them today at eight six six six'
four zero three two seven zero to get the process,
started or Visit sallencercentral dot. Com be sure to Check
(00:47):
silencercentral dot com to confirm owning a silencer is legal
in your. State several years, ago we interviewed the gold
star mother Of Christopher, moon a standout high school baseball
player who walked away from both college scholarships and offers
Playing Major League. Baseball, instead he chose to serve our
nation in The United States. Army chris died In july
of twenty ten as a result of wounds received from
(01:08):
a roadside bomb In. Afghanistan of, course most are familiar
with the story Of Pat, tillman who eight months after
The september eleven, attacks turned down a three point six
million dollar contract extension from the NFL's Arizona cardinals and
instead chose to become an army. Ranger tillman was killed
by friendly fire In april of two thousand and. Four
the stories of patriots who walked away from fame and
(01:29):
fortune in order to serve our country in uniform has
always fascinated. Me we've had a couple on the, Show
Roger Staubach Nate boyer come to. Mind vietnam veteran and
Professional Major league play by play Announcer Bill brown has
written a book that profiles eighty professional athletes who wore
the uniform and fought alongside Other americans when their country called.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
It is Named.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Wartime Athletes stories Of Sports stars who joined THE Us.
Team bill is a Retired Major League baseball broadcaster who
called games for both The Cincinnati reds and The Houston.
Astros he's written several books on the subject of, baseball
and even a how to book for persons wishing to
pursue a career in. Sportscasting he's a member of The
Texas Baseball hall of Fame. Bell welcome To American Warrior.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Radio thank you so. Much, ben it's a pleasure to
be on with.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
You, Well, BILL i tell, YOU i Thought i'd been
at this business a long, time but you forty years
and you got your first radio gig at the ripe
old age of eighteen on the now world Famous kadiro And, Sedalia.
Missouri you, know it was.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Such a thrill for me because WHEN i was, FOURTEEN
i just wanted to be a baseball, broadcaster and as you,
know that's not a direct, path so working at any
level being on the air was just such a big,
deal and that was how it all started out of
one thousand and what Am radio. Station.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Ben now you're broadcasting high school games Than bill in,
retrospect which is more challenging doing high school play by
player or the.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
PROS i think high school is more challenging because it's
grassroots level. Broadcasting the broadcaster does not have media relations
people handing him reams of. Information he has to do
a little bit of his own. Legwork he needs to
talk to, coaches maybe get some name pronunciations from parents
(03:17):
and the, stands things like, that and it's great. Training
it is so much Fun.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
BILL i heard her in our previous. Conversation you also
you're veteran. Yourself you were a sportscaster for The Armed
forces Of vietnam Networking saigon from seventy to seventy. One
Mark yablanca has been on the, show and you acknowledge
him in your. Book but he wrote a great book
about THE Afn vietnam and talked about you and your.
(03:43):
Comrades AND i know it wasn't always screams and, giggles
but you shared with me in our pre interview about
a situation you had that got a colonel kind of.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Upset, well we would tape games FROM afn In, washington D.
C and so there was a twelve hour time, difference
and we had three of us in the sports department AT,
Afpn so it was either myself or one of the
other two gentlemen who would come on at midnight and
(04:13):
work until. Noon and at that, point usually about one a.
M sigon, time we'd be rolling the tape on some
sort of a sports. Contest and in this particular, CASE
i was working the next day at, NOON i came
in and the game had been taped and it was
The Washington redskins And Dallas, cowboys and so my job
(04:36):
was very. SIMPLE i just had to hand three old
one hour reel to reel tapes to the engineer and
he would play them and the troops could listen, to you,
know might be their favorite. Team there were a lot
Of cowboys fans, listening certainly as they played The redskins that,
day and we had a bit of a. Problem in
the third. Quarter we went to commercial and the announcer,
(04:58):
said here's a break with the. Score cowboys, Fourteen redskins,
seven and the next thing we heard Was alabama's driving
at The auburn fourteen yard. Line, well the guy who
recorded the games had not bulk erased the magnetic, tape
so therefore the game from the day before was on
(05:19):
because he hadn't erased it and he hadn't recorded. Properly
the rest of The Cowboys redskins, game which was AM
I A at that, point the phone started. RINGING i answered.
IT i was a specialist for a colonel was calling
and he was. Livid so he, said, soldier you better
get this game. ON i, said, well, sir we don't
have the. Game it wasn't. Recorded from this point on
(05:41):
to the, end and he was extremely. UPSET i thought
there might be a court martial, Coming, ben but, no
that wasn't the WAY i was going to get out Of. Vietnam.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Wow, okay well that was a near miss For. Bill
bill real, quick we got just a little bit for
the first. Break i'm always curious for, authors and particularly
in your, case why did you choose to write this.
Book most of your previous books have been about broadcasting
or about, baseball but this one is about eighty members
of the sports community who wore the, Uniform.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Right, BEN i thought it was done with, books and
then Last Veteran's, DAY i had a chance to speak
to a couple of, groups AND i did a little
research and started checking into some of the heroic people
who are in this book and just got fascinated and
did more and, more and then did a little writing
for My facebook. Page and then that turned out to
be interesting to some people who agreed that it could
(06:36):
be a book. Someday and that's the way the whole
thing got.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Started, Ben and, again, folks check it. Out you can
find this On amazon OR i. Building you have your own, website.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
No, sir Just. Amazon that's the only place it's available.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Okay and the title Is Wartime Athletes stories of sports
stars who joined THE us. Team AS i mentioned, Before,
bill there's eighty stories compiled in. There AND i tell
you one THING i joyed about the book as, THERE i,
say small. Bites you do a great job of introducing
us to these folks and telling their. Stories but it's
not Like Warren. Peace you, know you don't have to
(07:11):
work very hard to get to the bottom of these.
Stories and there's there's so many of them we can't
talk about them. All but let's start off before the
break with just kind of a teaser of some of
the ones that struck. Me the first is a fellow
by the name Of bob Cals. Wuh tell us About
bob's sports, background if you, Would, Bill.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Bob was a native Of. Oklahoma he went to The
university Of oklahoma and was An All american football. Player,
there he was an interior lineman big guy six three
two thirty. Five he was in rotc where he was
a cadet. Colonel then he was drafted in the eighth
round by The Buffalo, bills where he was Their rookie
(07:51):
of The year in nineteen sixty eight and his father,
was you, know just a blue collar, guy sheet metal
worker At Thinker Air Force base In. Oklahoma bob did
his basic At Fort, Sill, oklahoma so he didn't leave
the state Of oklahoma very. Much but he could have
gone to The Buffalo, bills as you, know with the
(08:13):
draft then in, effect and asked them to protect him
from the draft by putting him into a reserve. Unit
but he, said, NO i made a commitment THROUGH rotc
to serve and the fact That i'm a football player
doesn't make any. Difference i'm going to. Serve AND i
don't know if you want to pick it up after
the break or, not but that's how we get Into Bob.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Kelson, yeah let's do. That but real, quick you did
reference that fact in your. Book do you know as
part of your research how many of these athletes did
take the option of going into the reserves versus because
it seems to me it's you, know you talk About Roger.
Staubach he was A Naval academy graduate and you, know
he could have gotten a, deferment but he insisted that
they send him To. Vietnam now he you, know he
(08:55):
didn't see. COMBAT i think he was you know behind
the line somewhere because he was colorblind of all. Things
but do you, Know, bill was this a common? Thing
fifty went fifty? Percent didn't or any.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
IDEA i would, guess AND i would just be, Guessing,
ben that it was more than fifty. PERCENT i knew
a lot of guys In Major League baseball who were
in reserve, units and that was more common than.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Not, okay, well ladies and, gentlemen, again the book Is Wartime,
Athletes stories of sports stars who joined THE us. Team
we come. Back we'll finish telling you the story About Bob,
kyles who just a uninspiring but yet heartbreaking, story and
Then bill's going to share some other stories and we'll
talk about some of the things that jumped out of
me as. Well don't forget you can find over six
hundred podcasts At American warrior radio dot, com the most
(09:39):
recent episodes on your favorite streaming platform, iHeart, Pandora, spotify
or whatever you might. Use and please please share these
important stories with your friends and associates out. There, again
this is your, Host Ben Bler garcia will be back
With bill just a few. Seconds thank, You welcome back
(10:12):
To American Warrior. Radio Laser. Gentlemen this year Host ben Buler,
garcia we're talking With Bill. Brown bill has forty years
experience broadcasting play by play, baseball, particularly and he's written
a great book Called Wartime, Athletes stories Of Sports stars
who joined THE Us. Team bill before we had to
take a break where we were talking About Bob calso
and you introduced it to us to. Him he was
(10:34):
played at football at The university Of, oklahoma was drafted
by The Buffalo Bill's rookie of The, year but he also.
Served you, know he got through college on AN rotc.
Scholarship and at the, time many of the athletes had
the option or encouraged to join the reserves in order
to avoid going To. Vietnam But bob, said, NO i
made a. Commitment i'm going to live up to that
(10:55):
commitment and the word THAT i. Gave and so he
found himself at The hunter First airborne In.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Vietnam, yes he was with the Eleventh, artillery Second. Battalion
he was his acting he was Acting Field Artillery unit.
Commander at the, time there were about five Thousand North
Vietnamese army troops in that. Area they were firing about
six hundred rounds a. Day at his, firebase which was
(11:22):
Called ripcord near The Ashaw, valley and it was about
the size been of two football, fields so not a
huge situation there on that, firebase not a lot of
places to take. Cover the previous commander Before bob got,
there was airlifted via chopper about four days before he.
(11:44):
Arrived he had a shrapnel wound in his, neck so
it was a, dangerous dangerous place to, be And, bob
even though he was a unit, commander insisted on doing
a lot of the physical work. Himself he was advised
by his superior to take some to go into a
bunker and spend some minutes there out of the, fire
(12:04):
but he just didn't want to do, that and so
he would carry these ninety seven pound artillery shells over
to the big one hundred and fifty five meters guns
and typically would carry four of. THEM i got a
phone call from a guy who was in his, unit
guy Named, larry call From wisconsin and, said oh, yeah
most of us would carry two at a. Time he'd carry.
(12:27):
Four and he just thought he was. Invincible but he,
said you, know when we weren't in, battle he was
throwing a football around with, us just the greatest. Guy,
well he had left a wife back In. Oklahoma he
was twenty five years, old he had a young child
who was not even a year, old and another one
on the, way and the firepower on his unit was just,
(12:49):
intense and he was, killed killed in, action one of
only two professional football players killed in The Vietnam. War
and the firebase was evacuated shortly after. That it was
just too dangerous a place to even have. Troops and
so two days after he, died his, Son Bob, junior was.
(13:10):
Born and that's the life Of Bob. Calsu one of
the bravest guys you would ever want to serve.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
With and you, know it makes me think Of Chris
moon because what a promising. Athlete but BECAUSE i, mean
we'll never, know, Right we'll never know how Good bob
could have. Been who was the other football player killed In?
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Vietnam, BILL a guy Named Don steinbrunner was his? Name
and who did he play? For i'm trying to recall
he's mentioned briefly in the. BOOK i am not sure
what team he was.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
With, OKAY i tell. You going back To World War,
two now we talked a little bit About. Vietnam will
come back to. That but regular listeners know one of
my favorite words in The english language is the word,
grit and Lou brissey certainly falls under that. Definition he
dreamed of becoming a major league. Pitcher that was cut
short By World War. Two but The Philadelphia athletics were, interested,
(14:05):
correct oh they.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Were he was a big six' five Lefty From. South
carolina he threw hard and he wanted to get a tryout,
with them but the war intervened and he had talked
to the owner, Slash Coach, connie mack and so he
really kept that close in terms of being a motivator
for him when he was in, the service, that HEY
when i, Get out i'm going to be a major.
(14:28):
League pitcher and boy did he ever run the gauntlet
to get to. That point against, all odds he did
become a major. League pitcher but, oh man, you know
in forty four he was a SQUAD Leader g company
three hundred, and Fifty First infantry Division in Italy The.
Apennine mountains twenty. Years old just incredible heroic actions For.
(14:51):
Lou brissi he. Was wounded both of his feet, Were
broken he had a shattered left tibia, and shinbone broken
bones in, thirty places caught some shrapnel in his, right shoulder,
both thighs, both hands left for dead on, the battlefield
and then some medics found him and they could see
(15:12):
him stirring and realized they needed to. Act quickly so
one of the medics wanted to amputate his, left leg and, he,
Said no i'm a. BASEBALL player i need. That leg
and the, medics, said well you're possibly going to die
if we don't take your, left leg and, He said
i'll take, that risk but you can't have. My, leg
well they took it from below the knee on down
(15:35):
and then he had twenty three surgeries and forty blood
transfusions over the next. Two years doctors were able to
reconstruct that lower portion of his leg with some wire
and a. Metal plate and the guy got out of
the army and went into baseball and went Back To
connie mackett, SAID hey i want to, try out, Remember
(15:57):
Me and connie, mack, SAID yeah i. Think so and
during this tryout he had a crutch there with Him
and connie macis just saying, to himself this guy's never going,
to pitch but he. SIGNED him i think he felt
an obligation Because of brisey's heroism to. Sign him sent
Him TO Class, a savannah and at that point he was.
(16:17):
Just dealing he was a. Strikeout machine he got called
up to the majors at the end of. The season
he made his debut Ben At yankee Stadium On Babe
ruth day when they Had these hall of famers there To.
Honor babe Bruce cy young. Was There ty Cobb trist
speaker nineteen. Forty six he thought he had gone. To
(16:38):
heaven he lost, the game but nonetheless he proved he,
could pitch and then he came back in forty eight
to win. Fourteen games in forty nine he won. Sixteen
games he Was An. All star continued to pitch until
he retired in. Fifty three he Had A, bronze Star Two.
Purple hearts they wanted to do a movie. On him he.
(17:00):
Refused it, HE said i Don't think i'm anybody in
particular that you'd want to do a. Movie about and
then he worked with the soldiers who had been Wounded
in Iraq, and afghanistan and they were in pain, management
situations and if anybody was competent to deal, with pain
It Was.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Lou, brissy NOW as i understand from your book where
You Said, bob feller who's, you know no small name,
in baseball he really Believed that brissey would have been
gotten To the Hall of fame if it hadn't been
for his wounds in that.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Time off. That's Right and fellers another one of those
who were guys we could talk for a long time,
about him, but yeah he was certainly qualified to make,
that remark shall?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
We, say WELL and i tell you the other thing
that made me kind of smile a. Little bit you
tell the story in your book That when lou was
down in the, minor leagues they, you know, the story
his story was, well known and some of the opposing
TEAMS and i don't know if this is, completely ethical
but all fair and all's fair and baseball, ON war.
I suppose but, you know they were trying everything they
could to take advantage of his, reconstructed leg including doing
(18:03):
a lot, of bunting but apparently that didn't.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Serve, them, WELL well i understand these guys are. Such
competitors you've been, Around, them ben and they will stop
at nothing to succeed on the, baseball field, football. Field
whatever and, so yes they tried to bunt. On him
they figured that was. His weakness he couldn't display much
mobility with. That leg and yes they did attempt to.
(18:28):
Do that but this guy deserves, enormous credit and, you
know hopefully the story will will be told many decades.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
From, now bill when we, COME back i like to
talk to about a similar situation one of, my favorites
and that is the Football Legend, rocky blier who went
to Serve in vietnam and was also. Severely wounded ladies,
and gentlemen Your Host Ben. Biler garcia we're Talking With.
Bill brown check out. The book It's Called, Wartime athletes
stories of sports stars.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Who JOINED the. Us team we'll be. Right back.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Welcome Back To American. Warrior radio, laser gentlemen this is,
Your Host Ben. Buler garcia we're coming to you From
The Slencer. Central studios adding a silencer will make, shootings safer,
more enjoyable and improve. Your accuracy begin the process by
visiting silencercentral dot com to see if only a silencer
is legal in. Your state they can then walk you
through the permitting process and ship right to your. Front
Door Call silencer central today at eight six six four
(19:35):
zero three two seven zero or visit sallencercentral. Dot com
we're Talking With. Bill brown bill is a very experienced
which was. Retired recently spent forty years as a baseball
broadcaster at the. Professional level also As a. Vietnam veteran
you serve With The Armedforces network Saigon. In vietnam and
he's got a great book Out Called, Wartime athletes stories
(19:57):
of sports stars who JOINED the.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Us.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Team bell we just talked a little Bit About lou
brissey and has come back To Play major league baseball
after being severely wounded Fighting In World war Two, in
italy and it kind of reminded me of one of my,
favorite stories and that's the Story Of. Rocky blier he
also certain now was, He, Drafted, bill yes. He was
(20:22):
do you know if he was one of those guys
that could have gone to the reserves and didn't or.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
What happened was he was With The pittsburgh steelers who
drafted him in the sixteenth round nineteen, sixty eight, smallish player,
Five nine he didn't even know if he was big
enough to play, pro football and when they, drafted him
he looked At the, steelers' roster and, he wondered it
was anybody else five to nine on. This, team yeah
(20:47):
there was a Guy Named dick holk who was. Five nine,
of course they listed both of them at, five eleven
but that's common in sports rosterish and so he got
some encouragement from the, fact, that, yeah okay guys my
size can. Play here but the problem was the draft
and the fact that he was such a, low pick
(21:08):
sixteenth round meant that he wasn't very high up in the,
pecking order and so, you know they just didn't protect
him from. The Draft the steelers protected other players instead
of him and put them in. Reserve units so he.
Got drafted that's how he. Wound up then he Volunteered,
for vietnam so he went. All in now was he
(21:30):
an infantry manor. He was he was with the Thirty
First infantry regiment one and Ninety Sixth Light. Infantry brigade
he was a squad grenadier and he operated a forty
millimeter seventy nine Grenade launcher. Specialist four just an, incredible
(21:52):
guy and he was At heap duck In The Rice
patties august of sixty nine they got. Into battle he
was wounded in the left thigh by a. Rifle bullet
then he was, wounded again and then a grenade bounced
off another soldier and. Blew up he was trying to
jump out of, the way but he got him in the,
right foot the lower, right leg and for that he
(22:13):
was Awarded The, bronze star of course a. Purple heart but,
you know he still really wanted to play. Pro football
he was in the Hospital in tokyo and he asked
the doctor do YOU think i can play? Pro football
and the, DOCTOR said i don't. Think so and then
he Was At fort riley Where the Steelers' Owner art
rooney sent him a postcard, and, Said, hey rock the
(22:36):
team's not. Doing well we need. You well that was
very encouraging, to him and he was determined to come back.
And play but he had lost. Thirty pounds he was
down to one to eighty and. Got discharged, Nineteen Seventy
chuck nole was. The coach he came. Into camp noel
released him from injured reserve, and said come on back
(22:57):
and try out. Next year and this is a. Poignant
one so they had this Conversation and, chuck, says well
come back next year and so, you know that's. A
blow it's a crushing blow for any athlete to be
told you didn't make. The team but what he, said
was is it OKAY if i practice with the. TEAM
today i hadn't heard of that, One, Before ben and
(23:21):
so he went out and he practiced with the team
even though he had. Been cut but he got some
motivation from the Fact that noel did not completely. Dismiss
him but then in the next few years he was.
Waived twice he. Sold insurance he was ready, to quit
but His Teammate andy, russell, said no you. Can't quit
(23:41):
you need to force the coaches to make a move to,
cut you and don't leave that decision. To them you
need to get in the, weight room add, some weight get.
Some flexibility he had more surgery to remove more shrapnel
from his foot that gave him. Better mobility he started
running a little. Bit better he was running up. Stadium
(24:02):
stairs he, gained weight got up to, two twelve and
he made the team against. All odds and then, you
know he was on special teams for, a while but
they just kept using him more and more and he
winds up one year gaining one. Thousand yards So did,
frank o'harris and that had only been done one other
time in pro. Football history he played For Four super,
(24:25):
bowl winners and not too many days ago you might
have seen him on a Newscast Giving president Trump a.
Steeler's jersey so he is still doing things in, the
community and he does a lot. With veterans, right now
what a. Terrific Story rocky blyer.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Well in three eight hundred and sixty five rushing yards twenty.
FIVE touchdowns, i mean if anybody out there is struggling
in your life, right now let me tell you can.
Do it, you Know If rocky blyer can come back.
From that and now you know most of Us Aren't.
ROCKY bler i, get That but y very inspirational story
about what you can do if.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
You.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Focus bill the OTHER thing i want to, mention again eighty,
stories here and not all of them are are pro
baseball players or. Football players you had, you know you've
got a bowler. In there you Talked About bobby Jones And,
ben hogan who folks might recognize as, you know some
of the best. Golfers ever they both Served In World,
war two and, In Fact bobby jones Landed in normandy
(25:26):
the DAY After, d day which is appropriate given the
season that we're in. Right NOW and i think he
was an intelligence or he's an interrogator or something.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Like. That, great yes he was an attorney and they
used him as. An.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Interrogator, yes oh he was an attorney before he went.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Into. Golf yeah and you know he Owned. The masters
he's the one who Developed, the masters and they shut
Down the masters golf tournament for a couple. Of years
and he allowed some farmers to graze cows on his on,
his beautiful pristine golf course because that's what the country
needed at. That.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Point, wow, Next sir i'd like to introduce or have
you introduced our Listeners To warren span and the reason
his story jumped out at Me baill as you know
Baseball Great casey Stengel told, span, that well he was
trying To get span to throw brushback Pitches Against Pee
wee Recent and, span Refuse so stengal sent him down
(26:22):
to the miners and, he said, you know you have,
no guts and boy did he prove to.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Be. Wrong. Huh yeah warren Was another oklahoma guy and
he was in the two hundred and Seventy Sixth Engineer,
combat battalion and at first he just pitched in the
army led his team to a post championship in. Forty
three he had made his Debut With Stengele's boston braves
in forty two when they had that confrontation you, talked about,
(26:50):
And yeah stengele went to the mound when three times
he gave the catcher a sign to Give to warren
to Hit Pee wee reese with a pitch Because The
Dodgers Pee wee reese's team had been able to steal,
the signs and so this was the Payback that Stengel
wanted spawned, to Give but warren wouldn't, do it he wouldn't.
(27:12):
Hit him and so then came that line you, mentioned that,
you know, young man you've got, No guts and so
then years later Somebody asked, stengle, about well, you know
what did you tell spawn and then then what did
you say? After that, he, said well you CAN'T say
i don't miss HIM when i. Miss him and, you
(27:33):
know he turned out to be one of the most
heroic guys in the war and one of the best.
Pitchers ever no left hander ever won more games than
his three hundred and. Sixty three, so yeah he in
case he missed. That one he did a lot of.
Good things but he was at, the spawn was At
the Bridge of, vermagen which as, you, know collapsed twenty
eight people killed At that, ludendorp bridge and he was
(27:55):
there and lived. Through that he was wounded At the
battle Of the bulge Of the bulge and Got A,
bronze star thought to be The only major leaguer to
win a. Battlefield commission, and then as we've been talking
about with, these athletes it's a. Short career he missed
three years of his career and so he came back at,
(28:16):
you know a later age than many did and still
won more games than. Any Other south paul had thirteen
years of at least twenty wins and pitched until he
was forty four, years old and he was absolutely fine
with the way his. Life went people, asking well couldn't
you have won four, hundred games and, He said i'm
not worried, about THAT but i hold.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
THAT thought i want to come back and wrap Up
With warren span and Talk About pat tillman and some.
Other things in the, Next segment ladies, and gentlemen there's
Our host Ben bler garcia Talking With. Bill brown he's
got a great book Out Called Wartime athletes stories Of
sports stars who JOINED The Us Team. Stick ground welcome
(29:14):
Back To American.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Warrior.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Radio, lasion gentlemen there's, Your Host ben blagarcia having a,
wonderful chat very informative Chat With. Bill brown bill has
had an extensive career as a professional baseball play by.
Play broadcaster he's written a really. NICE book i encourage you.
To read It's, called well it's not a nice, it's
Good But wartime stories of sports stars who JOINED the.
Us team, you know some of these stories are, Very.
Sobering bill you know many many of these athletes didn't.
(29:38):
Make IT but i want to wrap Up With warren
span the baseball great, player who again without that three
year break in order to serve, our nation probably would
have heard a lot more about this.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
This guy but.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
IT'S INTERESTING i i want to read the quote Literally that.
Warren had, he said AFTER what i went, THROUGH overseas
i never thought OF anything i was told to do
in baseball as. Hard work you get over feeling that
that when you spend days on end sleeping and frozen
tank tracks and enemy. Threatened territory the army taught me
something about challenges and about what's important and.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
What's not was he.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Another one of Those folks bail that, you say maybe
might have done a lot after his pro. Baseball career
he never let us forget those he.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Served, with yes and he was, very involved but, you
know everybody held up his heroism everywhere, He went so
there was that enduring image of what he. Had done
and you know when people would, ask, him well, YOU
know i mean you could have been winning twenty five
games when you were twenty two years old instead of
being in, the service and he, would, say well you don't.
(30:44):
Know THAT and i was a, late bloomer so it
might have helped me to be in the service rather
than putting more pitches on my ARM when i. Was young,
who knows so very philosophical, about it and just a.
Tremendous example moving on to a little bit, More, CONTEMPORARY
bill i opened the show Talking About. Pat tillman, YOU
(31:08):
know i, mentioned HIM and i just.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
All these stories when they didn't make it back. Are
tragedies but, you know in Particular, WITH tillman, i mean
what a patriot walked away from a huge contract because
of nine to eleven and wanted to serve. Our nation
ended up becoming an. Army ranger but, to me the
what compounds The tragedy bill was once we got the
real story of how he, was killed do you feel the?
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Same, way, yes heartbreaking heartbreaking story for, you know His
brother kevin joined at the Same. Time pat did You,
know pat you talked about the contract he, turned down
and he was twenty five years old and had been
a tremendous player IN the Nfl After. Arizona state wanted to,
(31:56):
go fight and he just he didn't want to talk,
about it really didn't do interviews about what his motivation
was in, quitting football but he and His brother kevin
had talked. About it they had this. Family history his
great grandfather was a. Pearl harbor his mother's dad and
(32:17):
uncles Served In World war Two, in Korea and pat
is quoted, as saying, you know here, my family all
these guys have done great things in serving, their COUNTRY
and i have. Done nothing and he, ALSO said i
got a lot of satisfaction out of my family being proud.
Of me so he just, felt this this is. My
duty and, you know even in that final battle of.
(32:40):
His life he was caught on tape telling his unit
to take the fight to the enemy and go to.
Higher ground and it is, a sad sad story that
he was shot by.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Friendly fire well in combat is, very confusing and, you
know blue on blue is something that happened quite. A
BIT and, i, just.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
YOU'RE reading i didn't know a lot of this STORY
until i read your book because his brother was.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
There. Too, correct yes he wasn't. Physically, there uh he was,
close by and he arrived Right after, pat died so
he was close to.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
The scene and basically the reader's digest version is they
were engaging where they thought the, enemy was but there
was a separated squad That mistook pat's fire for, the
enemy and so they. Returned fire and then that that
turned out pretty.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Pretty.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
Badly, Uh Well god God Bless.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
Pat.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
Tillman bill we've got about a little few minutes, left
HERE and i want to talk about something. Very interesting
at the end of, your book you had an analysis
by a Retired lieutenant General, ken tovo and he was
talking about kind of where we're headed, and uh technology
technologically and and. Other things but it's interesting he talks
about what why an athlete makes a, good soldier and he,
(34:02):
talks about, you know both the teamwork and the ability to.
Operate Individually and i'll never forget there's. A movie, OH
shoot i. Can't remember some mod boss was talking to Us.
Under langston he's talking about baseball and he, talks about,
you know how baseball is a, team sport but then
when the batter is up, to bat that's the time for.
Individual Achievement And general tovo talked, about that and then
(34:24):
he alludes to the biggest contributors To The green brier wrestling.
In football what having observed this for years and writing, This,
book bill what are your thoughts on that as far
as athletes and military serving in.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
The military that's a. Great question You mentioned Nate boy.
Or earlier you've had him on one of, your podcasts
and he addressed this very. Well too but it's, you
know when he came back from serving and he was
At the University, of texas the head coach said, to,
SOMEBODY well i want that kind of mindset in our
(34:59):
locker room here of somebody who's been in battle and
will do anything for. His teammates and so there is
that COMMONALITY and i Can Understand general tobo saying wrestling
is an indicator of a sport involving both a team type,
of scorekeeping but it's an individual against, another individual and
(35:23):
part of it is the hand to hand combat and
the need to think. Very quickly so it was to
me a real eye opener to read his remarks because
he's a student. Of history he wrote a Book. On
vietnam he quotes. Through synides, you know it was quite
fascinating to have him wrap up the.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
WHOLE book i found it really interesting his comparison between combat,
and athletics and then, he says, you know it's. About
tactics it's. About deception, you know, in football you want
the defense to think you're going to run it left
and you're going to. Go right but he also says
it's not about just strength and. Raw power it involves.
A lot both disciplines involve a lot of mental, Aspects
(36:06):
Too and i've heard that, so often particularly it comes
with special forces people they're not, just tough but, they're,
smart oh.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
No doubt and he talked about how drone warfare is.
Going now that was an. Eye opener and he Also
Said green berets have troops in seventy to seventy. Five
countries now that just blew. Me away you know more
about THIS than, I, Do ben but there's a lot
going on in the world That the american public is not.
Aware OF but i.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
Tell you one of the greatest proudest moments of, My
life bill was and you don't, know THIS but i
was Named The arizona ambassador For The Green bray foundation
a couple of. Years AGO so i am familiar, with
That and i'm glad you brought that Up because americans
need to, understand that even though we're not in a
big shooting war, right now if, you will there are people,
(36:54):
green berets electronic combat pair of rescue families that are
deployed around, the globe, and frankly, like sports it can
be a. Dangerous business even when you're. Not fighting you
can get hurt, in practice you can get hurt or killed. In,
training now you Mentioned The Green, brave Foundation The, Garysonese
foundation Tunnel the towers in. Your book how important do?
(37:16):
You feel it is probably like me that in the
minds Of, most americans they need to, understand this and
they need to understand that we have to continue to support,
these veterans both while they're on active duty and after
they come home.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
From, SERVICE well i think that's the reason that books
like this are written actually been when we are At
The thanksgiving day table and enjoying our meal and looking
at all of our, family members and all these people
are looking around and there's, somebody missing and we lose
sight of. That sometimes but, to me and this might
(37:50):
be a, bit extreme but if You're an, american citizen
it can be, a thought is THERE something i can
do here to help some of these, military families especially
those who have lost somebody, in combat or somebody's been
wounded and can't care, for themselves that kind, Of, Thing.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
Bill ladies, And Gentlemen. Bill brown the Book Is, Wartime
athletes stories of sports stars who JOINED the. US team
i encourage you to get it and. Read it it's
a very easy read with lots, of information lots of
inspiring stories, in there down to just about about a
minute ball, and you of, all people. Understand that but.
Quick question ben gets a dumb question, every show and
here it is right at. THE end i spent some
(38:29):
time working supporting both the front office and Both the
majors and the, minor, leagues. Hockey baseball do you? Miss, IT.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
No. I don't i like being, a FAN and i
don't miss. The preparation the nervousness, is good, it's fun
it's an. Exciting profession it is, you know you're traveling
all over. The country that is. All great but as
you get a, little older things changed a. Little, bit
BEN and i was blessed to be able to do
this job for a long time and it was time
(39:00):
to turn it over to someone younger. And BETTER and
i don't.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
Miss. That no.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
Fair, ENOUGH well i tell you ONE thing i miss
about the ballpark is. The smell not the, locker room,
Mind you definitely. The Ballpark, so bill thank you for
spending time with our. Listeners today.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Thank. You Ben, all.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
Right ladies, and gentlemen there, you go another great show on.
The can please spread these messages to your friends. And
associates is important that people hear, these stories no matter
where they. May be until, next time all policies and
procedures are to remain.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
In place. Take care.
Speaker 1 (39:38):
You've been Listening To American.
Speaker 3 (39:40):
Warrior radio archived episodes may be Found.
Speaker 1 (39:43):
At americanwarriorradio dot com or your favorite. Podcast platform
We all owe them, but very few of us know them.
They are the men and women of our military and
first responder communities, and these are their stories. American Warrior Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Is on the air.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Welcome to American Warrior Radio. Lason, gentlemen, there's your host,
Ben buler Garcia. American Warrior Radio broadcast from the Silencer
Central Studios. They're the nation's largest suppressor dealer. They're ready
to make your silencer buying journey as simple and painfree
as possible. Call them today at eight six six six'
four zero three two seven zero to get the process,
started or Visit sallencercentral dot. Com be sure to Check
(00:47):
silencercentral dot com to confirm owning a silencer is legal
in your. State several years, ago we interviewed the gold
star mother Of Christopher, moon a standout high school baseball
player who walked away from both college scholarships and offers
Playing Major League. Baseball, instead he chose to serve our
nation in The United States. Army chris died In july
of twenty ten as a result of wounds received from
(01:08):
a roadside bomb In. Afghanistan of, course most are familiar
with the story Of Pat, tillman who eight months after
The september eleven, attacks turned down a three point six
million dollar contract extension from the NFL's Arizona cardinals and
instead chose to become an army. Ranger tillman was killed
by friendly fire In april of two thousand and. Four
the stories of patriots who walked away from fame and
(01:29):
fortune in order to serve our country in uniform has
always fascinated. Me we've had a couple on the, Show
Roger Staubach Nate boyer come to. Mind vietnam veteran and
Professional Major league play by play Announcer Bill brown has
written a book that profiles eighty professional athletes who wore
the uniform and fought alongside Other americans when their country called.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
It is Named.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Wartime Athletes stories Of Sports stars who joined THE Us.
Team bill is a Retired Major League baseball broadcaster who
called games for both The Cincinnati reds and The Houston.
Astros he's written several books on the subject of, baseball
and even a how to book for persons wishing to
pursue a career in. Sportscasting he's a member of The
Texas Baseball hall of Fame. Bell welcome To American Warrior.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Radio thank you so. Much, ben it's a pleasure to
be on with.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
You, Well, BILL i tell, YOU i Thought i'd been
at this business a long, time but you forty years
and you got your first radio gig at the ripe
old age of eighteen on the now world Famous kadiro And, Sedalia.
Missouri you, know it was.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Such a thrill for me because WHEN i was, FOURTEEN
i just wanted to be a baseball, broadcaster and as you,
know that's not a direct, path so working at any
level being on the air was just such a big,
deal and that was how it all started out of
one thousand and what Am radio. Station.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Ben now you're broadcasting high school games Than bill in,
retrospect which is more challenging doing high school play by
player or the.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
PROS i think high school is more challenging because it's
grassroots level. Broadcasting the broadcaster does not have media relations
people handing him reams of. Information he has to do
a little bit of his own. Legwork he needs to
talk to, coaches maybe get some name pronunciations from parents
(03:17):
and the, stands things like, that and it's great. Training
it is so much Fun.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
BILL i heard her in our previous. Conversation you also
you're veteran. Yourself you were a sportscaster for The Armed
forces Of vietnam Networking saigon from seventy to seventy. One
Mark yablanca has been on the, show and you acknowledge
him in your. Book but he wrote a great book
about THE Afn vietnam and talked about you and your.
(03:43):
Comrades AND i know it wasn't always screams and, giggles
but you shared with me in our pre interview about
a situation you had that got a colonel kind of.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Upset, well we would tape games FROM afn In, washington D.
C and so there was a twelve hour time, difference
and we had three of us in the sports department AT,
Afpn so it was either myself or one of the
other two gentlemen who would come on at midnight and
(04:13):
work until. Noon and at that, point usually about one a.
M sigon, time we'd be rolling the tape on some
sort of a sports. Contest and in this particular, CASE
i was working the next day at, NOON i came
in and the game had been taped and it was
The Washington redskins And Dallas, cowboys and so my job
(04:36):
was very. SIMPLE i just had to hand three old
one hour reel to reel tapes to the engineer and
he would play them and the troops could listen, to you,
know might be their favorite. Team there were a lot
Of cowboys fans, listening certainly as they played The redskins that,
day and we had a bit of a. Problem in
the third. Quarter we went to commercial and the announcer,
(04:58):
said here's a break with the. Score cowboys, Fourteen redskins,
seven and the next thing we heard Was alabama's driving
at The auburn fourteen yard. Line, well the guy who
recorded the games had not bulk erased the magnetic, tape
so therefore the game from the day before was on
(05:19):
because he hadn't erased it and he hadn't recorded. Properly
the rest of The Cowboys redskins, game which was AM
I A at that, point the phone started. RINGING i answered.
IT i was a specialist for a colonel was calling
and he was. Livid so he, said, soldier you better
get this game. ON i, said, well, sir we don't
have the. Game it wasn't. Recorded from this point on
(05:41):
to the, end and he was extremely. UPSET i thought
there might be a court martial, Coming, ben but, no
that wasn't the WAY i was going to get out Of. Vietnam.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Wow, okay well that was a near miss For. Bill
bill real, quick we got just a little bit for
the first. Break i'm always curious for, authors and particularly
in your, case why did you choose to write this.
Book most of your previous books have been about broadcasting
or about, baseball but this one is about eighty members
of the sports community who wore the, Uniform.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Right, BEN i thought it was done with, books and
then Last Veteran's, DAY i had a chance to speak
to a couple of, groups AND i did a little
research and started checking into some of the heroic people
who are in this book and just got fascinated and
did more and, more and then did a little writing
for My facebook. Page and then that turned out to
be interesting to some people who agreed that it could
(06:36):
be a book. Someday and that's the way the whole
thing got.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Started, Ben and, again, folks check it. Out you can
find this On amazon OR i. Building you have your own, website.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
No, sir Just. Amazon that's the only place it's available.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Okay and the title Is Wartime Athletes stories of sports
stars who joined THE us. Team AS i mentioned, Before,
bill there's eighty stories compiled in. There AND i tell
you one THING i joyed about the book as, THERE i,
say small. Bites you do a great job of introducing
us to these folks and telling their. Stories but it's
not Like Warren. Peace you, know you don't have to
(07:11):
work very hard to get to the bottom of these.
Stories and there's there's so many of them we can't
talk about them. All but let's start off before the
break with just kind of a teaser of some of
the ones that struck. Me the first is a fellow
by the name Of bob Cals. Wuh tell us About
bob's sports, background if you, Would, Bill.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Bob was a native Of. Oklahoma he went to The
university Of oklahoma and was An All american football. Player,
there he was an interior lineman big guy six three
two thirty. Five he was in rotc where he was
a cadet. Colonel then he was drafted in the eighth
round by The Buffalo, bills where he was Their rookie
(07:51):
of The year in nineteen sixty eight and his father,
was you, know just a blue collar, guy sheet metal
worker At Thinker Air Force base In. Oklahoma bob did
his basic At Fort, Sill, oklahoma so he didn't leave
the state Of oklahoma very. Much but he could have
gone to The Buffalo, bills as you, know with the
(08:13):
draft then in, effect and asked them to protect him
from the draft by putting him into a reserve. Unit
but he, said, NO i made a commitment THROUGH rotc
to serve and the fact That i'm a football player
doesn't make any. Difference i'm going to. Serve AND i
don't know if you want to pick it up after
the break or, not but that's how we get Into Bob.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Kelson, yeah let's do. That but real, quick you did
reference that fact in your. Book do you know as
part of your research how many of these athletes did
take the option of going into the reserves versus because
it seems to me it's you, know you talk About Roger.
Staubach he was A Naval academy graduate and you, know
he could have gotten a, deferment but he insisted that
they send him To. Vietnam now he you, know he
(08:55):
didn't see. COMBAT i think he was you know behind
the line somewhere because he was colorblind of all. Things
but do you, Know, bill was this a common? Thing
fifty went fifty? Percent didn't or any.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
IDEA i would, guess AND i would just be, Guessing,
ben that it was more than fifty. PERCENT i knew
a lot of guys In Major League baseball who were
in reserve, units and that was more common than.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Not, okay, well ladies and, gentlemen, again the book Is Wartime,
Athletes stories of sports stars who joined THE us. Team
we come. Back we'll finish telling you the story About Bob,
kyles who just a uninspiring but yet heartbreaking, story and
Then bill's going to share some other stories and we'll
talk about some of the things that jumped out of
me as. Well don't forget you can find over six
hundred podcasts At American warrior radio dot, com the most
(09:39):
recent episodes on your favorite streaming platform, iHeart, Pandora, spotify
or whatever you might. Use and please please share these
important stories with your friends and associates out. There, again
this is your, Host Ben Bler garcia will be back
With bill just a few. Seconds thank, You welcome back
(10:12):
To American Warrior. Radio Laser. Gentlemen this year Host ben Buler,
garcia we're talking With Bill. Brown bill has forty years
experience broadcasting play by play, baseball, particularly and he's written
a great book Called Wartime, Athletes stories Of Sports stars
who joined THE Us. Team bill before we had to
take a break where we were talking About Bob calso
and you introduced it to us to. Him he was
(10:34):
played at football at The university Of, oklahoma was drafted
by The Buffalo Bill's rookie of The, year but he also.
Served you, know he got through college on AN rotc.
Scholarship and at the, time many of the athletes had
the option or encouraged to join the reserves in order
to avoid going To. Vietnam But bob, said, NO i
made a. Commitment i'm going to live up to that
(10:55):
commitment and the word THAT i. Gave and so he
found himself at The hunter First airborne In.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Vietnam, yes he was with the Eleventh, artillery Second. Battalion
he was his acting he was Acting Field Artillery unit.
Commander at the, time there were about five Thousand North
Vietnamese army troops in that. Area they were firing about
six hundred rounds a. Day at his, firebase which was
(11:22):
Called ripcord near The Ashaw, valley and it was about
the size been of two football, fields so not a
huge situation there on that, firebase not a lot of
places to take. Cover the previous commander Before bob got,
there was airlifted via chopper about four days before he.
(11:44):
Arrived he had a shrapnel wound in his, neck so
it was a, dangerous dangerous place to, be And, bob
even though he was a unit, commander insisted on doing
a lot of the physical work. Himself he was advised
by his superior to take some to go into a
bunker and spend some minutes there out of the, fire
(12:04):
but he just didn't want to do, that and so
he would carry these ninety seven pound artillery shells over
to the big one hundred and fifty five meters guns
and typically would carry four of. THEM i got a
phone call from a guy who was in his, unit
guy Named, larry call From wisconsin and, said oh, yeah
most of us would carry two at a. Time he'd carry.
(12:27):
Four and he just thought he was. Invincible but he,
said you, know when we weren't in, battle he was
throwing a football around with, us just the greatest. Guy,
well he had left a wife back In. Oklahoma he
was twenty five years, old he had a young child
who was not even a year, old and another one
on the, way and the firepower on his unit was just,
(12:49):
intense and he was, killed killed in, action one of
only two professional football players killed in The Vietnam. War
and the firebase was evacuated shortly after. That it was
just too dangerous a place to even have. Troops and
so two days after he, died his, Son Bob, junior was.
(13:10):
Born and that's the life Of Bob. Calsu one of
the bravest guys you would ever want to serve.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
With and you, know it makes me think Of Chris
moon because what a promising. Athlete but BECAUSE i, mean
we'll never, know, Right we'll never know how Good bob
could have. Been who was the other football player killed In?
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Vietnam, BILL a guy Named Don steinbrunner was his? Name
and who did he play? For i'm trying to recall
he's mentioned briefly in the. BOOK i am not sure
what team he was.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
With, OKAY i tell. You going back To World War,
two now we talked a little bit About. Vietnam will
come back to. That but regular listeners know one of
my favorite words in The english language is the word,
grit and Lou brissey certainly falls under that. Definition he
dreamed of becoming a major league. Pitcher that was cut
short By World War. Two but The Philadelphia athletics were, interested,
(14:05):
correct oh they.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Were he was a big six' five Lefty From. South
carolina he threw hard and he wanted to get a tryout,
with them but the war intervened and he had talked
to the owner, Slash Coach, connie mack and so he
really kept that close in terms of being a motivator
for him when he was in, the service, that HEY
when i, Get out i'm going to be a major.
(14:28):
League pitcher and boy did he ever run the gauntlet
to get to. That point against, all odds he did
become a major. League pitcher but, oh man, you know
in forty four he was a SQUAD Leader g company
three hundred, and Fifty First infantry Division in Italy The.
Apennine mountains twenty. Years old just incredible heroic actions For.
(14:51):
Lou brissi he. Was wounded both of his feet, Were
broken he had a shattered left tibia, and shinbone broken
bones in, thirty places caught some shrapnel in his, right shoulder,
both thighs, both hands left for dead on, the battlefield
and then some medics found him and they could see
(15:12):
him stirring and realized they needed to. Act quickly so
one of the medics wanted to amputate his, left leg and, he,
Said no i'm a. BASEBALL player i need. That leg
and the, medics, said well you're possibly going to die
if we don't take your, left leg and, He said
i'll take, that risk but you can't have. My, leg
well they took it from below the knee on down
(15:35):
and then he had twenty three surgeries and forty blood
transfusions over the next. Two years doctors were able to
reconstruct that lower portion of his leg with some wire
and a. Metal plate and the guy got out of
the army and went into baseball and went Back To
connie mackett, SAID hey i want to, try out, Remember
(15:57):
Me and connie, mack, SAID yeah i. Think so and
during this tryout he had a crutch there with Him
and connie macis just saying, to himself this guy's never going,
to pitch but he. SIGNED him i think he felt
an obligation Because of brisey's heroism to. Sign him sent
Him TO Class, a savannah and at that point he was.
(16:17):
Just dealing he was a. Strikeout machine he got called
up to the majors at the end of. The season
he made his debut Ben At yankee Stadium On Babe
ruth day when they Had these hall of famers there To.
Honor babe Bruce cy young. Was There ty Cobb trist
speaker nineteen. Forty six he thought he had gone. To
(16:38):
heaven he lost, the game but nonetheless he proved he,
could pitch and then he came back in forty eight
to win. Fourteen games in forty nine he won. Sixteen
games he Was An. All star continued to pitch until
he retired in. Fifty three he Had A, bronze Star Two.
Purple hearts they wanted to do a movie. On him he.
(17:00):
Refused it, HE said i Don't think i'm anybody in
particular that you'd want to do a. Movie about and
then he worked with the soldiers who had been Wounded
in Iraq, and afghanistan and they were in pain, management
situations and if anybody was competent to deal, with pain
It Was.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Lou, brissy NOW as i understand from your book where
You Said, bob feller who's, you know no small name,
in baseball he really Believed that brissey would have been
gotten To the Hall of fame if it hadn't been
for his wounds in that.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Time off. That's Right and fellers another one of those
who were guys we could talk for a long time,
about him, but yeah he was certainly qualified to make,
that remark shall?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
We, say WELL and i tell you the other thing
that made me kind of smile a. Little bit you
tell the story in your book That when lou was
down in the, minor leagues they, you know, the story
his story was, well known and some of the opposing
TEAMS and i don't know if this is, completely ethical
but all fair and all's fair and baseball, ON war.
I suppose but, you know they were trying everything they
could to take advantage of his, reconstructed leg including doing
(18:03):
a lot, of bunting but apparently that didn't.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Serve, them, WELL well i understand these guys are. Such
competitors you've been, Around, them ben and they will stop
at nothing to succeed on the, baseball field, football. Field
whatever and, so yes they tried to bunt. On him
they figured that was. His weakness he couldn't display much
mobility with. That leg and yes they did attempt to.
(18:28):
Do that but this guy deserves, enormous credit and, you
know hopefully the story will will be told many decades.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
From, now bill when we, COME back i like to
talk to about a similar situation one of, my favorites
and that is the Football Legend, rocky blier who went
to Serve in vietnam and was also. Severely wounded ladies,
and gentlemen Your Host Ben. Biler garcia we're Talking With.
Bill brown check out. The book It's Called, Wartime athletes
stories of sports stars.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Who JOINED the. Us team we'll be. Right back.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Welcome Back To American. Warrior radio, laser gentlemen this is,
Your Host Ben. Buler garcia we're coming to you From
The Slencer. Central studios adding a silencer will make, shootings safer,
more enjoyable and improve. Your accuracy begin the process by
visiting silencercentral dot com to see if only a silencer
is legal in. Your state they can then walk you
through the permitting process and ship right to your. Front
Door Call silencer central today at eight six six four
(19:35):
zero three two seven zero or visit sallencercentral. Dot com
we're Talking With. Bill brown bill is a very experienced
which was. Retired recently spent forty years as a baseball
broadcaster at the. Professional level also As a. Vietnam veteran
you serve With The Armedforces network Saigon. In vietnam and
he's got a great book Out Called, Wartime athletes stories
(19:57):
of sports stars who JOINED the.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Us.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Team bell we just talked a little Bit About lou
brissey and has come back To Play major league baseball
after being severely wounded Fighting In World war Two, in
italy and it kind of reminded me of one of my,
favorite stories and that's the Story Of. Rocky blier he
also certain now was, He, Drafted, bill yes. He was
(20:22):
do you know if he was one of those guys
that could have gone to the reserves and didn't or.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
What happened was he was With The pittsburgh steelers who
drafted him in the sixteenth round nineteen, sixty eight, smallish player,
Five nine he didn't even know if he was big
enough to play, pro football and when they, drafted him
he looked At the, steelers' roster and, he wondered it
was anybody else five to nine on. This, team yeah
(20:47):
there was a Guy Named dick holk who was. Five nine,
of course they listed both of them at, five eleven
but that's common in sports rosterish and so he got
some encouragement from the, fact, that, yeah okay guys my
size can. Play here but the problem was the draft
and the fact that he was such a, low pick
(21:08):
sixteenth round meant that he wasn't very high up in the,
pecking order and so, you know they just didn't protect
him from. The Draft the steelers protected other players instead
of him and put them in. Reserve units so he.
Got drafted that's how he. Wound up then he Volunteered,
for vietnam so he went. All in now was he
(21:30):
an infantry manor. He was he was with the Thirty
First infantry regiment one and Ninety Sixth Light. Infantry brigade
he was a squad grenadier and he operated a forty
millimeter seventy nine Grenade launcher. Specialist four just an, incredible
(21:52):
guy and he was At heap duck In The Rice
patties august of sixty nine they got. Into battle he
was wounded in the left thigh by a. Rifle bullet
then he was, wounded again and then a grenade bounced
off another soldier and. Blew up he was trying to
jump out of, the way but he got him in the,
right foot the lower, right leg and for that he
(22:13):
was Awarded The, bronze star of course a. Purple heart but,
you know he still really wanted to play. Pro football
he was in the Hospital in tokyo and he asked
the doctor do YOU think i can play? Pro football
and the, DOCTOR said i don't. Think so and then
he Was At fort riley Where the Steelers' Owner art
rooney sent him a postcard, and, Said, hey rock the
(22:36):
team's not. Doing well we need. You well that was
very encouraging, to him and he was determined to come back.
And play but he had lost. Thirty pounds he was
down to one to eighty and. Got discharged, Nineteen Seventy
chuck nole was. The coach he came. Into camp noel
released him from injured reserve, and said come on back
(22:57):
and try out. Next year and this is a. Poignant
one so they had this Conversation and, chuck, says well
come back next year and so, you know that's. A
blow it's a crushing blow for any athlete to be
told you didn't make. The team but what he, said
was is it OKAY if i practice with the. TEAM
today i hadn't heard of that, One, Before ben and
(23:21):
so he went out and he practiced with the team
even though he had. Been cut but he got some
motivation from the Fact that noel did not completely. Dismiss
him but then in the next few years he was.
Waived twice he. Sold insurance he was ready, to quit
but His Teammate andy, russell, said no you. Can't quit
(23:41):
you need to force the coaches to make a move to,
cut you and don't leave that decision. To them you
need to get in the, weight room add, some weight get.
Some flexibility he had more surgery to remove more shrapnel
from his foot that gave him. Better mobility he started
running a little. Bit better he was running up. Stadium
(24:02):
stairs he, gained weight got up to, two twelve and
he made the team against. All odds and then, you
know he was on special teams for, a while but
they just kept using him more and more and he
winds up one year gaining one. Thousand yards So did,
frank o'harris and that had only been done one other
time in pro. Football history he played For Four super,
(24:25):
bowl winners and not too many days ago you might
have seen him on a Newscast Giving president Trump a.
Steeler's jersey so he is still doing things in, the
community and he does a lot. With veterans, right now
what a. Terrific Story rocky blyer.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Well in three eight hundred and sixty five rushing yards twenty.
FIVE touchdowns, i mean if anybody out there is struggling
in your life, right now let me tell you can.
Do it, you Know If rocky blyer can come back.
From that and now you know most of Us Aren't.
ROCKY bler i, get That but y very inspirational story
about what you can do if.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
You.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Focus bill the OTHER thing i want to, mention again eighty,
stories here and not all of them are are pro
baseball players or. Football players you had, you know you've
got a bowler. In there you Talked About bobby Jones And,
ben hogan who folks might recognize as, you know some
of the best. Golfers ever they both Served In World,
war two and, In Fact bobby jones Landed in normandy
(25:26):
the DAY After, d day which is appropriate given the
season that we're in. Right NOW and i think he
was an intelligence or he's an interrogator or something.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Like. That, great yes he was an attorney and they
used him as. An.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Interrogator, yes oh he was an attorney before he went.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Into. Golf yeah and you know he Owned. The masters
he's the one who Developed, the masters and they shut
Down the masters golf tournament for a couple. Of years
and he allowed some farmers to graze cows on his on,
his beautiful pristine golf course because that's what the country
needed at. That.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Point, wow, Next sir i'd like to introduce or have
you introduced our Listeners To warren span and the reason
his story jumped out at Me baill as you know
Baseball Great casey Stengel told, span, that well he was
trying To get span to throw brushback Pitches Against Pee
wee Recent and, span Refuse so stengal sent him down
(26:22):
to the miners and, he said, you know you have,
no guts and boy did he prove to.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Be. Wrong. Huh yeah warren Was another oklahoma guy and
he was in the two hundred and Seventy Sixth Engineer,
combat battalion and at first he just pitched in the
army led his team to a post championship in. Forty
three he had made his Debut With Stengele's boston braves
in forty two when they had that confrontation you, talked about,
(26:50):
And yeah stengele went to the mound when three times
he gave the catcher a sign to Give to warren
to Hit Pee wee reese with a pitch Because The
Dodgers Pee wee reese's team had been able to steal,
the signs and so this was the Payback that Stengel
wanted spawned, to Give but warren wouldn't, do it he wouldn't.
(27:12):
Hit him and so then came that line you, mentioned that,
you know, young man you've got, No guts and so
then years later Somebody asked, stengle, about well, you know
what did you tell spawn and then then what did
you say? After that, he, said well you CAN'T say
i don't miss HIM when i. Miss him and, you
(27:33):
know he turned out to be one of the most
heroic guys in the war and one of the best.
Pitchers ever no left hander ever won more games than
his three hundred and. Sixty three, so yeah he in
case he missed. That one he did a lot of.
Good things but he was at, the spawn was At
the Bridge of, vermagen which as, you, know collapsed twenty
eight people killed At that, ludendorp bridge and he was
(27:55):
there and lived. Through that he was wounded At the
battle Of the bulge Of the bulge and Got A,
bronze star thought to be The only major leaguer to
win a. Battlefield commission, and then as we've been talking
about with, these athletes it's a. Short career he missed
three years of his career and so he came back at,
(28:16):
you know a later age than many did and still
won more games than. Any Other south paul had thirteen
years of at least twenty wins and pitched until he
was forty four, years old and he was absolutely fine
with the way his. Life went people, asking well couldn't
you have won four, hundred games and, He said i'm
not worried, about THAT but i hold.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
THAT thought i want to come back and wrap Up
With warren span and Talk About pat tillman and some.
Other things in the, Next segment ladies, and gentlemen there's
Our host Ben bler garcia Talking With. Bill brown he's
got a great book Out Called Wartime athletes stories Of
sports stars who JOINED The Us Team. Stick ground welcome
(29:14):
Back To American.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Warrior.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Radio, lasion gentlemen there's, Your Host ben blagarcia having a,
wonderful chat very informative Chat With. Bill brown bill has
had an extensive career as a professional baseball play by.
Play broadcaster he's written a really. NICE book i encourage you.
To read It's, called well it's not a nice, it's
Good But wartime stories of sports stars who JOINED the.
Us team, you know some of these stories are, Very.
Sobering bill you know many many of these athletes didn't.
(29:38):
Make IT but i want to wrap Up With warren
span the baseball great, player who again without that three
year break in order to serve, our nation probably would
have heard a lot more about this.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
This guy but.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
IT'S INTERESTING i i want to read the quote Literally that.
Warren had, he said AFTER what i went, THROUGH overseas
i never thought OF anything i was told to do
in baseball as. Hard work you get over feeling that
that when you spend days on end sleeping and frozen
tank tracks and enemy. Threatened territory the army taught me
something about challenges and about what's important and.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
What's not was he.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Another one of Those folks bail that, you say maybe
might have done a lot after his pro. Baseball career
he never let us forget those he.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Served, with yes and he was, very involved but, you
know everybody held up his heroism everywhere, He went so
there was that enduring image of what he. Had done
and you know when people would, ask, him well, YOU
know i mean you could have been winning twenty five
games when you were twenty two years old instead of
being in, the service and he, would, say well you don't.
(30:44):
Know THAT and i was a, late bloomer so it
might have helped me to be in the service rather
than putting more pitches on my ARM when i. Was young,
who knows so very philosophical, about it and just a.
Tremendous example moving on to a little bit, More, CONTEMPORARY
bill i opened the show Talking About. Pat tillman, YOU
(31:08):
know i, mentioned HIM and i just.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
All these stories when they didn't make it back. Are
tragedies but, you know in Particular, WITH tillman, i mean
what a patriot walked away from a huge contract because
of nine to eleven and wanted to serve. Our nation
ended up becoming an. Army ranger but, to me the
what compounds The tragedy bill was once we got the
real story of how he, was killed do you feel the?
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Same, way, yes heartbreaking heartbreaking story for, you know His
brother kevin joined at the Same. Time pat did You,
know pat you talked about the contract he, turned down
and he was twenty five years old and had been
a tremendous player IN the Nfl After. Arizona state wanted to,
(31:56):
go fight and he just he didn't want to talk,
about it really didn't do interviews about what his motivation
was in, quitting football but he and His brother kevin
had talked. About it they had this. Family history his
great grandfather was a. Pearl harbor his mother's dad and
(32:17):
uncles Served In World war Two, in Korea and pat
is quoted, as saying, you know here, my family all
these guys have done great things in serving, their COUNTRY
and i have. Done nothing and he, ALSO said i
got a lot of satisfaction out of my family being proud.
Of me so he just, felt this this is. My
duty and, you know even in that final battle of.
(32:40):
His life he was caught on tape telling his unit
to take the fight to the enemy and go to.
Higher ground and it is, a sad sad story that
he was shot by.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Friendly fire well in combat is, very confusing and, you
know blue on blue is something that happened quite. A
BIT and, i, just.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
YOU'RE reading i didn't know a lot of this STORY
until i read your book because his brother was.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
There. Too, correct yes he wasn't. Physically, there uh he was,
close by and he arrived Right after, pat died so
he was close to.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
The scene and basically the reader's digest version is they
were engaging where they thought the, enemy was but there
was a separated squad That mistook pat's fire for, the
enemy and so they. Returned fire and then that that
turned out pretty.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Pretty.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
Badly, Uh Well god God Bless.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
Pat.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
Tillman bill we've got about a little few minutes, left
HERE and i want to talk about something. Very interesting
at the end of, your book you had an analysis
by a Retired lieutenant General, ken tovo and he was
talking about kind of where we're headed, and uh technology
technologically and and. Other things but it's interesting he talks
about what why an athlete makes a, good soldier and he,
(34:02):
talks about, you know both the teamwork and the ability to.
Operate Individually and i'll never forget there's. A movie, OH
shoot i. Can't remember some mod boss was talking to Us.
Under langston he's talking about baseball and he, talks about,
you know how baseball is a, team sport but then
when the batter is up, to bat that's the time for.
Individual Achievement And general tovo talked, about that and then
(34:24):
he alludes to the biggest contributors To The green brier wrestling.
In football what having observed this for years and writing, This,
book bill what are your thoughts on that as far
as athletes and military serving in.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
The military that's a. Great question You mentioned Nate boy.
Or earlier you've had him on one of, your podcasts
and he addressed this very. Well too but it's, you
know when he came back from serving and he was
At the University, of texas the head coach said, to,
SOMEBODY well i want that kind of mindset in our
(34:59):
locker room here of somebody who's been in battle and
will do anything for. His teammates and so there is
that COMMONALITY and i Can Understand general tobo saying wrestling
is an indicator of a sport involving both a team type,
of scorekeeping but it's an individual against, another individual and
(35:23):
part of it is the hand to hand combat and
the need to think. Very quickly so it was to
me a real eye opener to read his remarks because
he's a student. Of history he wrote a Book. On
vietnam he quotes. Through synides, you know it was quite
fascinating to have him wrap up the.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
WHOLE book i found it really interesting his comparison between combat,
and athletics and then, he says, you know it's. About
tactics it's. About deception, you know, in football you want
the defense to think you're going to run it left
and you're going to. Go right but he also says
it's not about just strength and. Raw power it involves.
A lot both disciplines involve a lot of mental, Aspects
(36:06):
Too and i've heard that, so often particularly it comes
with special forces people they're not, just tough but, they're,
smart oh.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
No doubt and he talked about how drone warfare is.
Going now that was an. Eye opener and he Also
Said green berets have troops in seventy to seventy. Five
countries now that just blew. Me away you know more
about THIS than, I, Do ben but there's a lot
going on in the world That the american public is not.
Aware OF but i.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
Tell you one of the greatest proudest moments of, My
life bill was and you don't, know THIS but i
was Named The arizona ambassador For The Green bray foundation
a couple of. Years AGO so i am familiar, with
That and i'm glad you brought that Up because americans
need to, understand that even though we're not in a
big shooting war, right now if, you will there are people,
(36:54):
green berets electronic combat pair of rescue families that are
deployed around, the globe, and frankly, like sports it can
be a. Dangerous business even when you're. Not fighting you
can get hurt, in practice you can get hurt or killed. In,
training now you Mentioned The Green, brave Foundation The, Garysonese
foundation Tunnel the towers in. Your book how important do?
(37:16):
You feel it is probably like me that in the
minds Of, most americans they need to, understand this and
they need to understand that we have to continue to support,
these veterans both while they're on active duty and after
they come home.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
From, SERVICE well i think that's the reason that books
like this are written actually been when we are At
The thanksgiving day table and enjoying our meal and looking
at all of our, family members and all these people
are looking around and there's, somebody missing and we lose
sight of. That sometimes but, to me and this might
(37:50):
be a, bit extreme but if You're an, american citizen
it can be, a thought is THERE something i can
do here to help some of these, military families especially
those who have lost somebody, in combat or somebody's been
wounded and can't care, for themselves that kind, Of, Thing.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
Bill ladies, And Gentlemen. Bill brown the Book Is, Wartime
athletes stories of sports stars who JOINED the. US team
i encourage you to get it and. Read it it's
a very easy read with lots, of information lots of
inspiring stories, in there down to just about about a
minute ball, and you of, all people. Understand that but.
Quick question ben gets a dumb question, every show and
here it is right at. THE end i spent some
(38:29):
time working supporting both the front office and Both the
majors and the, minor, leagues. Hockey baseball do you? Miss, IT.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
No. I don't i like being, a FAN and i
don't miss. The preparation the nervousness, is good, it's fun
it's an. Exciting profession it is, you know you're traveling
all over. The country that is. All great but as
you get a, little older things changed a. Little, bit
BEN and i was blessed to be able to do
this job for a long time and it was time
(39:00):
to turn it over to someone younger. And BETTER and
i don't.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
Miss. That no.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
Fair, ENOUGH well i tell you ONE thing i miss
about the ballpark is. The smell not the, locker room,
Mind you definitely. The Ballpark, so bill thank you for
spending time with our. Listeners today.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Thank. You Ben, all.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
Right ladies, and gentlemen there, you go another great show on.
The can please spread these messages to your friends. And
associates is important that people hear, these stories no matter
where they. May be until, next time all policies and
procedures are to remain.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
In place. Take care.
Speaker 1 (39:38):
You've been Listening To American.
Speaker 3 (39:40):
Warrior radio archived episodes may be Found.
Speaker 1 (39:43):
At americanwarriorradio dot com or your favorite. Podcast platform
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com