Stories of bravery and self-sacrifice from well known athletes who have served in the military.

-Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox outfielder, whose career was interrupted by service as a pilot during both World War II and Korea, where he saw combat and survived a crash landing.

-Rocky Bleier, Pittsburgh Steelers running back: Drafted in 1968, nearly lost a foot on a land mine during Vietnam War.

-Carlos May, Chicago White Sox outfielder, an emerging star whose fought to remain in the major leagues after a training accident during National Guard service caused him to lose his thumb.

-Pat Tillman, Arizona Cardinals defensive back who turned down a multi-million dollar contract to join the military after 9/11and was later killed in Afghanistan.

Glenn Stout is a writer, author, and editor, and served as series editor of The Best American Sports Writing, and founding editor of The Year's Best Sports Writing. He is also the author of Tiger Girl and the Candy Kid, Fenway 1912, Nine Months at Ground Zero, and many other award-winning and best-selling books. He also served as a consultant on the Disney+ film adaptation of Young Woman and the Sea. Stout lives in Lake Champlain in Vermont.