Rocky Bleier: From The Steelers To Vietnam And Back (Re-Air)

For generations, men and women from around the sports world have also served in our nation’s military. Among them, Rocky Bleier's story stands out. Bleier won a college football national championship with Notre Dame, then during his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Three months into his deployment to Vietnam, Bleier was shot through the thigh and suffered a grenade blast to his foot. Doctors told him he’d never play football again. But Bleier would rejoin the Steelers and win four Super Bowls with the team in the 1970s. In 2018, Bleier and ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi traveled to Vietnam, to the Hiep Duc Valley, where Bleier served, and where many of his fellow soldiers were killed in an ambush. We re-air this story for Memorial Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices