Alfred Charles Blozis (1919 - 1945)

Born 5 Jan 1919 in Garfield, Bergen, New Jersey, United States

Died 31 Jan 1945 at age 26 in Vosges, Lorraine, France

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Biography

Alfred Blozis was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

Alfred Blozis was awarded the Purple Heart.

Alfred C Blozis first tried to enlist with the US Army after his graduation from Georgetown University in 1942. Ultimately, Al was rejected due to his exceeding the size limit regulations of the Army. At 6’6” and 205 pounds, Al was an outstanding athlete- as a USA Track & Field Hall of Fame inductee Blozis held the NCAA and AAU champion titles in shot put in 1940, 1941, and 1942. According to Georgetown University: "It is difficult to believe, but Blozis preferred football over track. Given his immense bulk and strength, it is not difficult to believe that Blozis was an effective, often terrifying, gridder. The New York Giants drafted the All-American Tackle after he graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in 1942." "Blozis played for the better part of two seasons with the Giants before leaving for the war in Europe. During that time he was an outstanding performer, being chosen All-Pro, and given special acclaim for his ability to obliterate would-be kick returners in the open field. For his exploits, Blozis was named to the 1940-1949 "All Decade" team." "Blozis sought long and earnestly to obtain a dispensation from military height restrictions. He finally received his wish when inducted into the United States Army on December 9, 1943. During infantry training, he again exhibited his outstanding physical ability by throwing a hand grenade 284'-2 1/2" (95 yards) --nearly three times the previous distance of a normal throw and demolishing the previous record throw easily. (Source: The HOYA and its 1981-1982 series "Great Moments In Georgetown Sports", by Bill Ferraro) On January 31, 1945 during his first patrol with the 28th Infantry Division, 110th Infantry Regiment in France, Second Lieutenant Alfred Blozis was fatally wounded in the Vosges Mountains. Initially thought to be Missing in Action, Lieutenant Blozis was recovered in April. Al was 26 years old at the time of his passing. A recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart Alfred Blozis lies in rest at Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, Lorraine, France.

From Find A Grave:

Professional Football Player and Track & Field Star. USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. He held the World Indoor Record in shot put. A 1942 graduate of Georgetown University, he was a standout athlete at Georgetown on the football team as well as in track and field. He was the NCAA and AAU champion in shot put in 1940, 1941, and 1942 and also led the Hoya football team to a record of 20-6-1 and the 1941 Orange Bowl in his three year career. He was selected as an All American in 1941. He broke the world indoor record in shot put at Madison Square Garden, setting the new record at 55’ 1” on April 10, 1940, which he later raised to 57’3/4”. He also competed in the discus. After college, he tried to join the Army but was rejected due to his exceeding the size limits at 6’6” and 205 pounds. He then was drafted by and joined the New York Giants of the NFL in 1942, where he played three seasons at tackle and was selected to the All Pro team in 1943. A second try in 1944 saw him accepted. He went to Officer Candidates’ School and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. During training he broke the Army record for grenade throw with a toss of almost 95 yards. At first assigned to desk duty, he pushed for a combat assignment and was assigned to the 28th Infantry Division in France. While on scouting duty in the Vosges Mountains in France in January 1945, he went on a solo mission to find two missing soldiers in his unit and never came back. His body was found in April. His number 32 was retired by the Giants. He was chosen for the 1940-1949 All Decade NFL team. In 2015, he was selected to the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame, and was honored by selection to the New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. The Al Blozis Award is given to the most valuable Hoya player each year. In 1941, UPI selected him as one of the three outstanding athletes of the year, along with Ben Hogan and Joe Louis. A 1946 comic book, "The Human Howitzer", told his story.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RX3-DSQ?cc=1488411&wc=QZJ5-841%3A1036471401%2C1036651101%2C1036763801%2C1589332538 : 12 September 2019), New Jersey > Bergen > Garfield Ward 3 > ED 43 > image 7 of 22; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K858-2BZ : 5 December 2014), Alfred C Blozis, enlisted 07 Dec 1943, Newark, New Jersey, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18922321/alfred-charles-blozis