Don Steinbrunner
Military Person
1932 – 1967
Who was Don Steinbrunner?
Donald Thomas Steinbrunner was an American football offensive tackle who was one of only two American professional football players to die in the Vietnam War.
Donald Thomas Steinbrunner was born April 5, 1932 in Bellingham, Washington. He was an All State athlete in football and basketball at Wickersham High School. He played both sports at Washington State College, and was the captain of both teams. He was also a member of ROTC in college. He was an offensive tackle with the 1953 Cleveland Browns, but a knee injury ended his professional football career after only eight games. He joined the United States Air Force, serving as a navigator. He was also an assistant football coach at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Steinbrunner was sent to Vietnam in 1966, and after an injury was offered a safer assignment, which he refused. Major Steinbrunner's plane, a C-123, was shot down on July 20, 1967 during a defoliation mission, killing all five crewmen aboard. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
We need you!
Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!
- Born
- Apr 5, 1932
Bellingham - Nationality
- United States of America
- Profession
- Education
- Washington State University
- Lived in
- Bellingham
- Died
- Jul 20, 1967
Kon Tum
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Don Steinbrunner." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 7 May 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/don_steinbrunner>.
Discuss this Don Steinbrunner biography with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In