Don Steinbrunner

Don Steinbrunner
Date of birth: April 5, 1932
Place of birth: Bellingham, Washington, United States
Date of death: July 20, 1967 (aged 35)
Place of death: Kontum, South Vietnam †
Career information
College: Washington State
NFL Draft: 1953 / Round: 6 / Pick: 71
Organizations
As player:
1953 Cleveland Browns
Career stats
Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Military career

Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch U.S. Air Force
Years of service 1954-1967
Rank Major
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart

Donald Thomas Steinbrunner (April 5, 1932–July 20, 1967) 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 (now Washington State University), 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 spraying Agent Orange on the jungle forest canopy, killing all five crewmen aboard. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

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