Don Steinbrunner

Military Person

1932 – 1967

 Credit ยป
84

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.

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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

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