Mike Basca

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Mike Basca
Born:(1917-12-04)December 4, 1917
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, United States
Died:November 11, 1944(1944-11-11) (aged 26)
Obreck, German-occupied France
Career information
Position(s)Halfback
CollegeVillanova
Career history
As player
1941Philadelphia Eagles
Military career
AllegianceUnited States United States
Service/branchUnited States Army seal U.S. Army
Years of service1941–1944
RankArmy-USA-OR-04a.svg Corporal
Unit4th Armored Division Patch 4th Armored Division
Battles/warsWorld War II

Michael Martin "Nick" Basca (December 4, 1917 – November 11, 1944) was a professional American football halfback in the National Football League. He played one season for the Philadelphia Eagles (1941) after attending Villanova University.

Basca enlisted in the United States Army after the attack on Pearl Harbor alongside his brothers.[1][2] In 1942, he was a member of Robert Neyland's All-Army football team that played against NFL teams in fundraising games.[3] Assigned as a tank commander, he served in the 4th Armored Division in Europe and participated in the Normandy landings, where he landed on Utah Beach. The 4th helped lead the Third Army through Europe. On November 11, 1944, Basca was killed instantly when his tank was struck by a German 88-millimeter anti tank round after four months in combat.[2][4]

A year after his death, the Eagles honored Basca prior to their game against the New York Giants.[5] His body was returned to Pennsylvania in 1948 and arrived nine days after the Eagles won the 1948 NFL Championship Game.[2] He is currently honored in the Football's Wartime Heroes display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

References[]

  1. ^ Anton, Todd; Nowlin, Bill (November 15, 2013). When Football Went to War. Triumph Books. pp. 41–42. ISBN 1600788459.
  2. ^ a b c Fitzpatrick, Frank (November 10, 2014). "Veterans Day tribute to former Eagle Nick Basca, who died in WWII". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  3. ^ "Neyland Picks Four Ex-Pros". Deseret News. AP. August 1, 1942. Retrieved June 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Nick Basca Killed in france Nov. 11". The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 1, 1944. Retrieved June 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Honor Nick Basca In Eagle-Giant Tilt". The Capital Times. AP. November 9, 1945. Retrieved June 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

External links[]

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