The Pittsburgh Steelers took a chance in the 16th round of the 1968 NFL Draft on a young running back out of Notre Dame who averaged 4.5 yards per carry with The Fighting Irish. That man was none other than American hero, Rocky Bleier.
Running back Rocky Bleier (20) of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the ball looking to get a block from teammate Lynn Swann (88) on Clarence R. Scott (22) of the Cleveland Browns circa late 1970s during an NFL football game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Overcoming combat wounds from the Vietnam War, Bleier went on to have a quite successful 11-year NFL career with the Steelers helping the franchise capture four Super Bowl championships. Bleier was the definition of toughness and resiliency and still is!
PITTSBURGH, PA-DECEMBER 22: Rocky Bleier, running back of the Pittsburgh Steelers, warms his hands on a heater during the Divisional Round of the NFL /AFC playoffs between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills on December 22, 1974 at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa. During the game Bleier rushed for a total of 45 yards and caught 3 passes for a total of 54 yards including a 27 yard TD pass from Terry Bradshaw in the 2nd quarter. Final Score: Pittsburgh Steelers-32, Buffalo Bills-14. (Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images)
Bleier was a grenadier in the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. He earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart during his service. For the 4th of July weekend, Sirius XM NFL Radio did a segment on Great Americans of the NFL and Bleier joined the show to talk about adjusting to the military after being drafted by the Steelers the year before being called to serve in the United States Army.
"My time there, I'm sure wasn't any different than the majority of soldiers who served in Vietnam. You just adapted to the situation, you adapted to where you were, what you were doing. And so, in my case, I was an infantryman and was sent to Vietnam. I got my orders to report to the Americal Division, I didn't know what that meant. I was then placed in the 196th Brigade, I was with Charlie company in that battalion, First Platoon, First Squad, and I met my new friends as they said.So, I ended up as 'new meat' as they like to say, I ended up carrying a grenade launcher, they needed a grenadier. Which meant that I had to hump 60 grenades throughout that period of time, so it was a heavy load that you carry, but you survive, you do what's necessary, you get to know your unit as best you possibly can without having the luxury of serving together or coming from the same unit or having the same training.
So, it was like immediate adaptation to your surroundings, to the people, and personnel, and trying to just do your job to survive and to get out of there alive. So that was kind of the mental set at the time, football was now on the back-burner. Although it was in my mind, it was a more day-to day, staying alive operation, what had to be done. And the next thing that you look for was maybe your 'R and R' time whenever that was coming up. But that occupied your thought process and your life throughout that period of time."
Thank you for your service Rocky Bleier, you are so appreciated!
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