Did You Know: Celebrities who served

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So it's been a few days, so lets get back to it. Did You Know is bringing you a sports pair as I hinted to in the last one. I said I would bring the one I mentioned in the last post. So let us get to that one first. Joseph Louis Barrow: known as Joe Louis heavyweight champion boxer. On January 9th 1942, Joe would fight a charity event to raise money for the war effort, he would raise $47,000. The next day he would enlist in the Army. Due to his popularity and his ability to reach out to black and whites all the same the Army would assign him to the Special Services Division instead of sending him to combat. Joe would fight in 96 exhibition fights before his honorable discharge in October of 1945. It is unknown exactly how much money Joe helped raise or how many men were inspired by him to join the military and fight in World War II. It is known that in September 1945, he was awarded the Legion of Merit (a military decoration rarely awarded to enlisted soldiers) for "incalculable contribution to the general morale." So the second of the day is a man who was a professional, went to war and eventually returned to be a professional again. Robert Patrick "Rocky" Bleier: known as Rocky Bleier, professional American football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1968, Rocky was drafted and played his rookie season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. On 4 December 1968 he was drafted into the Army. He volunteered for duty in South Vietnam and in May of 1969 he would ship out to Vietnam. On 20 August 1969 he would take a bullet to the left thigh in an ambush from the enemy, while laying in the rice patty a grenade would explode near by and his right lower leg would take shrapnel and he lost part of his right foot. He would receive the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He started his long journey back to football even though doctors told him he would never pay again. In 1974 he would earn his way back to the starting line up and he would stay there till he retired in 1980. He would also end his football career with 4 Superbowl Championships on his resume. Both of these men gave in different ways and in different times but both should be remembered and now you know.