Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Robert Patrick Bleier Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division
- Location of Service: Fort Gordon, Georgia; Fort Riley, Kansas; Chu Lai, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Specialist Four
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/106914
By late 1968, Robert "Rocky" Bleier had been a championship-winning player for Notre Dame and a draft pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But 1968 would also be the year his draft notice arrived, and he very quickly found himself in infantry training, with a one year tour in Vietnam ahead of him. Bleier would twice be wounded in the thigh and foot during the same engagement outside Hiep Duc. Such wounds might have ended his football career, but as soon as he was discharged, with shrapnel still in his foot, Bleier went back to training with the Steelers and played for the team throughout, what many consider, their greatest decade in football.
Interview / Recording
Transcript
Share
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PlayReceiving his draft notice; training at Ft. Gordon, Georgia; shipping out to Vietnam. 00:01:51.0 - 00:03:00.0
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PlayFirefight in which he was wounded. 00:08:05.0 - 00:09:37.0
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PlayWounded for a second time, same engagement. 00:11:15.0 - 00:12:37.0
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PlayExperience as a football player in the military. 00:14:46.0 - 00:15:40.0
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PlayRecovery from wounds; getting back into shape for football; going on injured reserve for two years. 00:25:03.0 - 00:26:50.0
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PlayPlaying for the Steelers in 1974 at the start of their Super Bowl win streak. 00:28:24.0 - 00:29:36.0
About this Item
Title
- Robert Patrick Bleier Collection
Names
- Bleier, Robert Patrick
- Durand, Judith
- DAJDPR / New York Institute of Technology
- Huber, Andrew
Home State
- Pennsylvania
Headings
- - Bleier, Robert Patrick
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division
- Location of Service: Fort Gordon, Georgia; Fort Riley, Kansas; Chu Lai, Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Specialist Four
- Dates of Service: 1968-1970
- Entrance into Service: Drafted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran served as a squad grenadier.
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2016-12-01; 2016)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of video recording (collected 2016-12-01)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/106914
Cite as
- Robert Patrick Bleier Collection (AFC/2001/001/106914), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Service Unit
- 196th Infantry Brigade
- 1st Platoon
- 1st Squad
- 31st Infantry Regiment
- 4th Battalion
- Americal Division
- Charlie Company