When you walk into Soldier Field, you’re not just stepping into a football stadium. You’re stepping into history — into a place named for warriors, where men bled not just for touchdowns but for their country. And on this Independence Day, let’s quit the fluff and get real: no NFL franchise has roots tangled deeper in military service than the Chicago Bears. These guys didn’t just play ball — they fought for everything that allows us to play it in the first place.
This isn’t about flag-waving lip service. It’s about remembering the Bears who wore two uniforms: one with a “C” on the helmet, the other with the United States of America stitched across their chest.
Soldier Field: More Than Just a Name
Soldier Field wasn’t always Soldier Field. It opened in 1924 as Municipal Grant Park Stadium, but by November 11, 1925 — Veterans Day — it had a new name, etched in tribute to the U.S. soldiers who died in World War I.
That wasn’t a marketing stunt. It was a mission.
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From 1946 to 1970, Soldier Field hosted the Armed Forces Benefit Football Game, raising over a million bucks for military relief funds. These weren’t half-assed exhibitions. They were full-blown celebrations of service, complete with military bands, drill teams, and packed stands. The Bears didn’t just wave the flag — they lived it.
September. 10, 1924 — Soldier Field Opens with a Pageant of Festival and Light (Chicago Daily Tribune, September 11, 1924).
Young Bussey: The Bear Who Never Came Back
Let’s talk about the name you need to know: Young Bussey.
Lieutenant Bussey was more than a backup quarterback to Sid Luckman. He was a warrior. He threw touchdown passes in the Bears’ 1941 championship season — and then, hours after his final game, learned about the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Most of us just talk about sacrifice. Bussey lived it. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve. On January 7, 1945, he died at just 27 years old during the Battle of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines when a Japanese mortar obliterated his landing craft.
His teammates won a title. He gave his life.
You tell me which one matters more.
George Halas: Papa Bear, Patriot, Badass
George Halas didn’t just build a football dynasty. He served in two world wars.
In WWI, he was a Navy ensign running military athletics at Great Lakes. By WWII, he was 46 years old — but when Pearl Harbor went down, Halas re-enlisted. That’s right. He didn’t need to. He chose to.
He spent 20 months in the Pacific as a Lieutenant Commander, organizing recreation for the troops and earning the Bronze Star. He brought football to foxholes. Even when he was gone, his Bears won the 1943 NFL title. That’s the kind of foundation Halas built — one strong enough to withstand a world war.
Oh, and he snagged the Distinguished Citizens Award from the Navy. Only a handful ever get that. Halas was the original iron man.
George “Papa Bear” Halas serving in the Navy during World War II as Welfare and Recreation officer for the Seventh Fleet in the Pacific Ocean (ChicagoBears.com).
Sid Luckman: MVP in Pads and a Uniform
Sid Luckman wasn’t just a Hall of Fame QB — he was the guy who turned the T-formation into a goddamn cheat code. And he did it while serving as a U.S. Merchant Marine ensign during WWII.
Here’s how it worked: during the week, he was on Atlantic convoys dodging U-boats. On weekends, he got leave to throw bombs in the NFL. He was literally at sea during the D-Day invasion. Then he came back and lit up secondaries.
In 1943 — while serving — he tossed 28 touchdowns and led the league. Who does that? Luckman does.
Ken Kavanaugh: Bomber Pilot Turned TD Machine
Ken Kavanaugh was the Bears’ deep threat before “deep threat” even had a name. He won titles in 1940 and 1941, then joined the Army Air Force.
He flew 30 bombing missions over Nazi Europe in a B-17. That’s nightmare stuff. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters.
And when he came back in 1945? He was better. He caught more touchdowns, led the league, and racked up 50 total in his career — a Bears record that still holds.
He was as dangerous in the sky as he was on a post route.
Joe Stydahar: The NFL’s First Iron Tackle Turned Navy Gunner
“Jumbo Joe” Stydahar wasn’t just big — he was elite. A 5x All-Pro before WWII, he took a break from dominating linemen to serve as a Navy lieutenant on the USS Monterey.
That wasn’t a luxury cruise. The Monterey saw serious Pacific action. Stydahar swapped his cleats for steel decks and his pancake blocks for live gun duty.
He came back in 1946 and helped the Bears win another title. He later coached the Rams to a championship. This guy didn’t just play — he led at every level.
Clyde “Bulldog” Turner: The Two-Way Hammer
Turner’s military stint in the Army Air Force was brief, but his impact was seismic. He played both center and linebacker. In 1942, he led the NFL with eight interceptions — as a center.
He’s in the Hall of Fame. Four NFL titles. Eight All-Pro selections. The dude was a turnover machine and a bulldozer all in one.
Military or not, Turner’s toughness came standard.
The Rest of the Battalion
It wasn’t just stars. The Bears sent a unit to war. Here’s a quick roll call:
Al Biasi: Drafted in 1941, Army from ’42 to ’45, returned in ’46.
George McAfee: Navy from ’42 to ’45, right in his prime. His #5 jersey? Retired for a reason.
About 45 Bears served during WWII, including six future Hall of Famers.
Think about that. Almost an entire roster gone to war — yet the Bears still bagged championships. That’s more than depth. That’s DNA.
Carrying the Torch: Modern Salute to Service
This isn’t just ancient history. The Bears still get it.
At every home game, they honor a military member on the field during the third quarter. They’ve hosted mass reenlistments, skydiving teams, military bands — the whole works.
In 2024, they hired Lt. Col. Andy Riise, a 24-year Army vet, as their mental performance coach. That’s not PR. That’s integration.
Tight end Jimmy Graham took it even further. His foundation flies veterans in restored Vietnam-era aircraft — UH-1 Hueys, Beavers, you name it. In one run alone, he gave rides to over 50 vets in South Florida, including Purple Heart recipients.
Jimmy Graham being nominated as the Walter Payton “Man of the Year” award for the Chicago Bears in 2020.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Here’s what the math says:
Military Era Bears Who Served Hall of Famers NFL Titles Won
World War I 1 (George Halas) 1 0
World War II 45+ 6 4 (1940-1946)
Modern Era Active involvement — Continuing legacy
You want championship culture? Try building it when half your damn roster is overseas. The Bears did it. Four times in six years.
Final Verdict
These Bears weren’t just legends on the field. They were patriots off it. Every snap they took, every tackle they made, came from the same place that drove them to serve: character.
From Young Bussey dying on a coral reef to Ken Kavanaugh dodging German flak in a Flying Fortress… from George Halas rewriting football then re-enlisting at 46 to Sid Luckman slinging touchdowns between sea voyages — these men defined what it means to be both a teammate and a citizen.
Soldier Field isn’t just a stadium. It’s a monument to guys who earned that name. The ones who took the field after they took fire.
So today, while you’re firing up the grill or lighting off fireworks, take a second to remember the Bears who made that possible.
Because they didn’t just win games. They defended the right to play them.