Book Project Captures ‘Greatest Generation’ of UA Athletes, WWII Vets

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The author of a new book that will tell the stories of University of Alabama “untold heroes” is searching for former Alabama football players who also served in World War II to document their experiences in war and on the sports field.

Ken Gaddy, director of the UA Bryant Museum, has taken on the task of bringing the book to life from an idea that originally began with Paul Bryant Jr., son of legendary Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

The idea was to write a book telling the stories of Alabama football players who also served in the military during World War II, Gaddy said, to honor the veterans and introduce these “untold heroes” to a new generation.

Alabama writer Delbert Reed was asked by the Bryant Museum to be the author of the new book. So far, an Alabama football player can be placed at every major battle during the war except Pearl Harbor, Reed has found.

“Just think,” said Reed, “in every movie you’ve ever seen about one of the major battles, an Alabama football player was there in real life.”

But, with a list of more than 300 names, Reed has a mountain of research to do before the completion of the book. “We’ve only scratched the tip of the iceberg” he said.

Reed, along with the help of Gaddy and the Bryant Museum, is looking for anything he can find regarding these men, including family, friends, co-workers and photos. “It’s a very nice project,” said Reed, “but we need help.”

According to Reed, the locations of these men are very widespread making the research even more difficult. While many stayed in Alabama, a large number moved on to Mississippi and Georgia. There is also a large population of the men who were found in Arkansas, said Reed. He has even found the soldier-athletes in New York and farther to the west.

Reed is a veteran, journalist and sports writer. He earned his master’s degree in journalism from UA and was a sports writer, sports editor and city editor at the Tuscaloosa News, as well as a writer and editor at papers in Tennessee and Mississippi. He published the well-known book “Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant: What Made Him a Winner” and has recently contributed a chapter to the book “12 and Counting,” edited by Gaddy. In addition, Reed served 26 years in the Army Reserve and was on active duty for three years; he was also a military historian from 1978-1984.

To contribute a story or photograph about one of the “untold heroes,” contact the UA Bryant Museum at 205/348-4668 or www.bryant.ua.edu.