The Lions franchise carries a deep football history filled with Hall of Famers, iconic moments, and unforgettable personalities. Besides the gridiron success, several Lions players left behind another legacy greater than football. They sacrificed their lives while serving in the US military. Let's find out about the players.

1. Charles Behan

Signed as a free agent, Charles Behan played nine games, recording four receptions and 63 total yards in 1942. He soon enlisted in the army and was with the newly reformed Sixth Marine Division in 1944. He was involved in an 82-day campaign in Okinawa.

During the campaign, the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill lasted across 10 days, with control of the position repeatedly shifting between forces. Despite being wounded, Behan took part in what proved to be a pivotal charge on May 18. Okinawa claimed the lives of 12 players from the Guadalcanal “Classic,” including Behan.

He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

2. Dave Schreiner

A two-time First Team All-Big Ten end at Wisconsin, Dave Schreiner was a highly touted prospect. He was selected in the 1943 draft with the 11th overall pick. However, he never played for the Lions.

Keeping the NFL aspirations aside, he went to serve in the Marines during World War II. After being sent to the Pacific as part of the 6th Marine Division in early 1944, Schreiner established himself as a respected figure within A Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment.

He was wounded while on patrol the night of June 20, 1945, and passed away the next day.

An amazing collegiate player, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. The book Third Down and a War to Go by Terry Frei was written about his life.

3. Alex Ketzko

Alex Ketzko was a native of Chicago who played college football for Michigan State in 1938 and 1939. He signed with the Paterson Panthers of the American Professional Football Association in July 1940. Then, after signing with the New York Giants in 1943, he was traded to the Detroit Lions.

He appeared in nine games during his rookie year. However, Ketzko soon joined the army after the end of the year and was deployed to Europe in May 1944 with the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division, 7th Army.

He and the rest of his crew passed away after their vehicle was hit by an anti-tank round in France in 1944.

4. Chet Wetterlund

Team captain and junior class president at Illinois Wesleyan University, Chester Jerome Wetterlund, also known as Chet Wetterlund, was drafted by the Lions in the 1942 Draft in the ninth round. He only played one season with the Lions.

Wetterlund completed 13 out of 44 passes for 230 yards. He recorded no touchdowns and 10 interceptions, paired with 23 carries for six yards.

At the end of the season, he joined the US Navy Air Corps. After being assigned to the naval air station at Wildwood, New Jersey, he passed away after a plane crash on September 5, 1944.

The impact of these former Lions players reaches far beyond football, as their service continues to shape how they are remembered.

Share your favorite memory of these former Lions players in the comments.

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Written by

Dhruv Vishnu Nair

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar