Ohio State football is famous for its national championships and legendary coaches, but its most inspiring stories happened off the field, away from home soil. Over the years, several Buckeye athletes stepped away from their dreams of football glory to serve in the United States military. Since it’s Memorial Day, it’s only fair to celebrate four prominent Buckeye heroes who gave up the American Dream to pursue a real one.

Rick Hausman (1968 Team): Giving Up a Championship Ring

Take Rick Hausman, a young walk-on player from the legendary 1968 team. Right when the Buckeyes were heading to the Rose Bowl to play for a national championship, Rick decided to enlist for a greater calling: the U.S. Army. Then, legendary Head Coach Woody Hayes gave his blessing, promising Rick a roster spot upon his safe return.

Deployed as a private first class during the height of the Vietnam War. Seventy-one days after landing in Vietnam, Rick’s unit walked into a vicious ambush near Phuoc Long. Enemy rockets and automatic fire pinned his entire squad. While others took cover, Rick stepped into the open, firing his recoilless rifle until the enemy bunkers fell silent.

He dragged two wounded teammates to safety under heavy fire. That’s the kind of courage that earns a Silver Star, not orders, not luck, but a 19-year-old choosing to stand when everyone else crouched. Sadly, Rick Hausman was tragically killed in action in May 1969 at just 19 years old during a brutal firefight.

To honor him, Posthumously awarded the Silver Star for valor. He was formally inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame. At Ohio State, his legacy lives on through the Rick Hausman Silver Bullet Award for Leadership, presented annually to the university’s top Army ROTC cadet. The university also made sure his family received the special “gold pants” charm given to players from the 1968 championship team.

Joe Brown (1997–2001): Trading the NFL for the Army Rangers

Brown came from a respected military family. His father was an Air Force brigadier general, his grandfather a Korean War prisoner of war. During his Ohio State years (1996–2001), Brown wanted to join ROTC, but coach John Cooper asked him to wait two years to focus on football. He listened. After going undrafted, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks and played two seasons. Then, September 11 changed everything.

Heading into his third pro year, Joe walked away from NFL paychecks to enlist in the Army. He endured the grueling selection process to join the 75th Ranger Regiment. Deployed to Iraq in 2005 and again in 2007, Brown saw some of the fiercest combat in Baghdad. On August 1, 2007, an explosion badly wounded him.

His injuries were so severe that his army career ended. After years of rehabilitation, he regained his ability to walk and speak. Today, Joe Brown runs JB Leading Forward, helping wounded veterans and corporate teams build confidence through shared hardship.

Lou Groza (1942 Team): The Legendary “Toe”

Before he became a football legend, Lou Groza was a freshman on Paul Brown’s 1942 Ohio State team. World War II cut his college football days short, and in 1943, he joined the U.S. Army. He was sent to the Pacific Theater with the 96th Infantry Division. He spent his deployment working as a surgical technician, experiencing some of the worst combat of the war during the Battle of Okinawa.

Even though he was stationed thousands of miles away from home in the Pacific, Groza got a surprise package in the mail from his old college coach. According to records, it was a pro contract for a team called the Cleveland Browns. Groza signed it in the war zone in May 1945. He later played 21 seasons in the NFL. He earned the nickname “The Toe” and was later inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Don Scott (1938–1940) – A Star Aviator Lost Too Soon

Don Scott was one of the most talented multi-sport athletes at Ohio State. He played quarterback and halfback and earned All-American honors. The Chicago Bears picked him No. 9 overall in the first round of the 1941 NFL Draft. He had a pro career waiting for him right out of college.

With World War II closing in, Don Scott made a massive decision by turning down his NFL contract entirely. He proactively joined a pilot training program and compressed months of coursework into weeks. By 22, he held a captain’s commission in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

He flew a B-26 Marauder bomber on 10 dangerous missions over Nazi-occupied Europe. Each mission carried a 50% chance he wouldn’t return. Sadly, in October 1943, at just 23 years old, he died when his plane crashed during a training flight in England.

Their sacrifices left a deep and lasting impact on the Ohio State community. In fact, if you fly into Columbus today, you will probably land at the university’s airport, which was named Don Scott Field to ensure his name lives on forever. Like them, there are many people who selflessly gave their lives away. They chose service over glory, and that’s the real Buckeye legacy.