Wisconsin Vietnam Vet Recalls Roger Staubach, Medal of Freedom Recipient

Roger Staubach - Heisman Trophy winner, Navy officer,
NFL Hall-of-Fame quarterback, and 2018 Presidential
Medal of Freedom honoree.

Madison, Wisconsin — President Donald Trump bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom to seven Americans today in the East Room of the White House, (White House).

The recipients include NFL Hall-of-Fame quarterback, Roger Staubach.

Staubach is a Heisman Trophy winner (1963), Super Bowl champ and brilliant and resilient quarterback who never gave up on a play, earning him the moniker, 'Roger the Dodger'.

What is perhaps less known is Staubach's patriotism and humanism.

After winning the Heisman Trophy in 1963 as a college junior, Staubach served four years in active-duty service in the Navy, including a year in Vietnam, before beginning his NFL career.

During Staubach's tour in Vietnam, Don Kosterman, a Vietnam Army veteran and retired journalist living in Dane County (Wisconsin), met Staubach at Chu Lai Base Area in 1965.

Kosterman served as a commanding Army officer at the sprawling complex and recalled a long conversation with Staubach at which the Navy man's character became apparent, four years before Staubach returned to civilian life for which he was recognized today.

"I saw this guy tossing some passes to some really good receivers, and someone told me he was Roger Staubach," said Kosterman, serving as an officer in the area. "Later on I was talking to Staubach, and what I remember before talking with Staubach was that he looked very upset. It was visible, something was obviously wrong."

Kosterman said, "Staubach said he had lost some men to enemy mortar fire, and I could tell he was really broken-up by it. He was Roger Staubach, and he was a guy dealing with some bad loss, and that is what more than anything sticks out — the guy really cared about his men."

Guys in a unit getting killed is something that never leaves, veterans will volunteer if you are privileged to win their trust.

In 2016, Staubach said to ESPN writer, Todd Archer: "I appreciated people cared about me and said, 'I’m a big fan of yours.' I’m really appreciative of that because we had some good teams. But I don’t think that’s quite the same feeling that you have as a veteran when somebody comes up and says, 'We appreciate your dedication to our country.'"

Roger Staubach received the Presidential Medal of Freedom today, the nation’s highest civilian commendation, (New York Times).

Don Kosterman will tell you Roger Staubach as a Navy officer was already a man of mettle and exceptional courage back in 1965.