Joe Steffy
Encyclopedia
Joseph Benton "Joe" Steffy, Jr. (April 3, 1926 – May 22, 2011) was an American football player. He went to fight in the Korean War
and received the Bronze Medal and the Purple Heart
. Steffy was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
.
on April 3, 1926. He attended the University of Tennessee
, where he played on the football team
for one season in 1944. That year, the Volunteers went undefeated in the regular season, but lost to Southern California in the Rose Bowl
. The following year, he enrolled at the United States Military Academy
, where he played for the Army football team
for three seasons as an offensive guard and as a center
on defense. The Cadets went undefeated in 1945 and 1946. In 1947, Steffy was named team captain.
, Steffy served in the Korean War
, where he suffered frostbite
and was wounded in the foot by a grenade. Due to his injuries, he was evacuated from Hungnam
to Japan, and later awarded the Bronze Star Medal
.
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and received the Bronze Medal and the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
. Steffy was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
.
Early life
Steffy was born in Chattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
on April 3, 1926. He attended the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, where he played on the football team
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
for one season in 1944. That year, the Volunteers went undefeated in the regular season, but lost to Southern California in the Rose Bowl
1945 Rose Bowl
The 1945 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1945, was a college football bowl game, the 31st Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans defeated the 25-0.-Game summary:...
. The following year, he enrolled at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, where he played for the Army football team
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
for three seasons as an offensive guard and as a center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
on defense. The Cadets went undefeated in 1945 and 1946. In 1947, Steffy was named team captain.
Military service
He graduated from USMA in 1949. In April 1950, he married Ann née Brown. As a lieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, Steffy served in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, where he suffered frostbite
Frostbite
Frostbite is the medical condition where localized damage is caused to skin and other tissues due to extreme cold. Frostbite is most likely to happen in body parts farthest from the heart and those with large exposed areas...
and was wounded in the foot by a grenade. Due to his injuries, he was evacuated from Hungnam
Hungnam
Hŭngnam was the third largest city in North Korea.It is a port city on the eastern coast, in South Hamgyong Province, on the Sea of Japan . The city covers an area of 250 square kilometers...
to Japan, and later awarded the Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
.
Later life
After the war, Steffy served on the Army football staff as the freshman team coach. He later owned a car dealership in Newburgh, New York. With his wife, who died in 2004, he had one son. Steffy died of a heart ailment on May 22, 2011 in Newburgh, New York at age of 85.See also
- List of Korean War veterans who are recipients of the Bronze Star