Happy Veterans Day to all the Bucs Dugout readers who are currently serving, have served, or have family members and friends in the military! Far fewer Americans know a veteran today than in the past. During World War II, more than 12% of the U.S. population served in the military; now, less than 0.5% does so. It's a semi-tradition at Bucs Dugout to have a Veterans Day post, so here it is. We have one Pirate fan (I can't remember who) over in Afghanistan and Traco Bucco zooming around the world with the Air Force. Feel free to sound off and add other vets in the roll call, below.
The Korean War, fought between June 1950 and July 1953, is the last conflict in which Major League ball players were drafted and served in the military in large numbers. Everyone thinks immediately of Ted Williams, the Red Sox outfielder who flew 39 combat missions in Korea, but approximately 400 major and minor league veterans served during the Korean War. Sadly, that generation is passing away - if you know someone who served during the Korean war, please take some time this weekend to thank them for their service.
Here's a Korean War-era veterans All-Star team for your consideration.
C Johnny Roseboro, 1954
1B Frank Torre, 1952-1953
2B Lt Col Jerry Coleman, U.S. Marine Corps 1942-1945, 1952-1953 (63 combat missions in Korea, 57 in WW II)
3B Ernie Banks, U.S. Army 1951-1953
3B Ken Boyer, U.S. Army 1951-1953
SS Dick Groat, U.S. Army 1953-1954
SS LTC Hal Quick, U.S. Army Air Corps 1942-1945; U.S. Air Force 1950-1971 (saw service in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam)
OF CPT Ted Williams, U.S. Navy Reserves, 1942-1943; U.S. Marine Corps, 1943-1946, 1952-1953 (39 combat missions)
OF Bob Skinner, 1952-1953
OF Willie Mays, U.S. Army 1952-1953
OF Bubba Morton, U.S. Coast Guard, 1949-1953; U.S. Coast Guard Reserves 1977-1993
RHP CPL Ted Abernathy, U.S. Army 1953-1954
LHP Bud Black, U.S. Army 1952-1954
LHP Whitey Ford, U.S. Army 1951-1952
LHP Harvey Haddix, 1951
RHP Vern Law, 1952-1953
RHP Don Larsen, U.S. Army 1951-1953
RHP Don Newcombe, 1952-1953; USO volunteer
Managers and Front Office Personnel
2LT George Steinbrenner, U.S. Air Force 1952-1954
Harry Dalton, U.S. Air Force (General Manager - Orioles, Angels, Brewers)
George Zuraw, U.S. Navy (Cincinnati Reds scout, 1968-1988)
Whitey Herzog, 1953-1954
Announcers
Jerry Coleman (see above; Yankees and San Diego Padres)
SSG Paul Carey, 4th ID, U.S. Army, 1950-?? (Detroit Tigers)
Nellie King, 1951-1952 (Pittsburgh Pirates)