An NFL Film every NFL player should view

Subhead
Letter to the editor
Image
Body

Dear Editor,
To: Mr. Goodell,
I would like to offer a suggestion to you that you might want to consider with respect to the above issue. I think that you should instruct every team owner to call their players into a team meeting with a television and DVD player hookup. You should then commence to have each owner play the wonderfully produced NFL Films show produced by Steve Sabol about Bob Kalsu. Bob was the only professional athlete killed in the Vietnam war, who played one year for the Buffalo Bulls, prior to fulfilling his oath as an army officer to serve the nation in time of war. As you know, Bob was the battery commander of the 155 battery on Firebase Ripcord.
The day Bob was killed he was leading the battery in firing fire missions for my infantry unit in the field. His wife Jan delivered their son the next day. Bob Kalsu was a brave and courageous combat leader who represented the best of the NFL and sacrificed his life fighting the enemies of our country. Honoring the flag honors Bob Kalsu and all other veterans in our nation’s wars who fought to preserve freedom and the American way of life. A black enlisted man named Dave Johnson was killed by the same mortar round that killed Bob Kalsu. He also was a great soldier who was dear friends with his commander as well. All of this story is told in the magnificent article written by Bill Nack in Sports Illustrated.
A decade or so ago, I contacted the NFL to advise them that a special ceremony was being held at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, the home of the 101st Airborne Division, to dedicate and honor Bob Kalsu with the naming of a new building constructed there in Bob’s memory. I believe that you may have been an assistant commissioner at that time. The NFL sent a special representative to the ceremony. I am not sure but I seem to remember his last name was Freemen. He was a wonderful man who was proud to represent the NFL at the event, and I enjoyed visiting with him. The 100 Ripcord veterans who attended this event thought it was great that the NFL had sent a representative to this meeting to show that it cared about one of their own who was an American hero.
I would think that those NFL members who watch this film clip might more fully understand that those who do not stand for the playing of the National Anthem and raising of the flag are dishonoring men such as Bob Kalsu and Dave Johnson. This whole issue is not about politics. It’s about honoring those gallant soldiers who picked up the sword to slay the dragon.
Best regards,
Jim Campbell