F0rmer Pittsburgh Steelers running back and United States Army veteran Rocky Bleier will receive the Semper Fidelis Award from the Marine Corps on Sept. 14 at the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Steel City Awards Dinner.
The award is given by the Marines to those that “have demonstrated recurring commitment, ethical behavior, and a good moral compass — and decades of selfless service — to an effort which contributes to the betterment of our society.”
Bleier, 77, first joined the Steelers in 1968, but his time with the team was interrupted by his military service. Bleier was drafted into the Army on Dec. 4, 1968 and volunteered for infantry duty in South Vietnam.
He was wounded twice, taking a bullet in the thigh and then a grenade blast damaged his lower right leg and foot. Despite being told he would not be able to play football again, Bleier rejoined the Steelers in 1970 and resumed playing in the 1971 season.
Bleier played 10 more seasons after his wounds, rushing for 1,036 yards in 1976 to join backfield-mate Franco Harris in the 1,000-yard club, the second time in league history two teammates rushed for 1,000 yards in the same season.
Bleier was part of four Steelers Super Bowl winners and is a member of the team’s Hall of Honor.
RELATED: Rocky Bleier Talks Vietnam Veterans Exhibit, Today’s NFL
? Former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis admitted faking an injury in training camp so that he had time to get healthy from an offseason injury before resuming a battle for playing time with Amos Zereoue.
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