Remember Rocky Bleier?

Bleier was the Steelers’ 16th-round pick from Notre Dame in 1968, where he played in 29 games over three years for the Fighting Irish, rushing for 786 yards with 11 touchdowns.

More importantly, Bleier was a heroic testament to the game.

On Veteran’s Day today, Bleier’s tale is always one of several athletes, ones who are worth recounting.

For all of us, it is a day to stop and remember those who served and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy every day. Surprisingly, there were plenty of athletes like Bleier who made their mark in battle or service before they stepped on a field or court.

The former Steelers’ running back was the blocking back for Franco Harris during Pittsburgh’s four Super Bowl runs. He joined the Steelers in 1971 after serving a tour in Vietnam. He earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

But doctors told him that he would never play football again after he incurred shrapnel in his leg.

In this version of my Yesterday column — reminiscing about sports and pop culture from the 1960s, 70s, 80s as well as before and beyond — we’ll look at some Phillies and Eagles players who served our country.

Also, who were the Stealers? What famous TV character coined the phrase “WW (Two) II? What sixties’ group sang the war-themed song “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place?” Did you have the game “Intercept?” And who was Bugsy McGraw?

Phillies Plags ... Aside from Bleier, one of the most recognized ex-Philly area players to serve in the military was Phillies outfielder Garry Maddox, who was in Vietnam during his time with the Giants before the trade to Philadelphia.

There were other notable Phillies who served their country that one may have forgotten.

Richie Ashburn served in the Army near the end of World War II (WWII) before he began his career; Robin Roberts was in the U.S. Army Air Corps in WWII and attended Michigan before he was on the mound; Curt Simmons missed the 1950 season and the World Series due to his commitment in the Korean War; and Del Ennis, Granny Hamner, Andy Seminick, Dick Sisler and Johnny Padres all had deployments in the Navy during WWII.

Ex-Pirates skipper Danny Murtaugh was a reserve Phillies infielder and served time in the Army during WWII.

Eddie Waitkus, whose story inspired the movie “The Natural,” spent time in the Army during WWII.

The Other Birds ... In 1943, military enlistments caused shortages among NFL teams. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh temporarily merged their clubs to become the “Stealers.”

The players somehow balanced their practices with their 40-hour time with wartime defense plant jobs. They also made the long trek between the cities, playing their games at Philly’s Shibe Park, and Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field.

Talk about true ironmen.

They finished the season with a 5-4-1 mark. The following season, the Eagles went back to playing independently, while Pittsburgh merged with St. Louis.

Fly, Eagles, Fly ... Chuck Bednarik was the most prominent Eagle to fight in WWI, as he completed 30 bomber missions in the Air Force before his football career began at Penn.

Hall of Fame end Pete Pihos served in the Army, and earned Silver and Bronze Stars for his bravery in combat. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Pihos returned to the University of Indiana before joining the Eagles.

Cheers To Norm ... Maybe the most peculiar story involving a wartime Eagles player involves former Syracuse fullback Norm Michael. He was chosen in the 20th round of the 1944 draft by the Eagles, and was in the Army stationed in Alabama at the time. Michael reportedly decided to leave Syracuse after three seasons due to a series of injuries.

Michael began a sales career and raised a family in upstate New York. In 1999, a local newspaper ran a story on every Syracuse player drafted into the NFL, and Michael and his son spotted his name on the list.

They drafted a letter to the Eagles to see if the club owed him a signing bonus 55 years later (imagine the interest). However, the Eagles never responded, and ironically made Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb their top pick the same year.

Michael passed away at the age of 90 in 2011.

WWII ... During the run of the historic TV show, “All in the Family,” Archie Bunker coined the phrase “WW Two (II)” in reference to his time serving in the war. Like Bleier, Bunker stated how he incurred shrapnel in his body.

On the Tube ... Over the years, there have been numerous TV shows depicting the comedic and serious side of war.

Three of my favorite ones were the light-hearted “Gomer Pyle USMC,” “Hogan’s Heroes,” and “McHale’s Navy,” which I’m sure most of us saw during its time and in reruns.

On a more serious note, I remember watching “Combat,” “12 O’clock High,” and “Rat Patrol,” with my father, who loved watching any war-related show as a reminder of his time in Germany in his youth.

There was also the biographical “World at War” and “Winds of War,” both extremely factual and graphic.

And, of course, we can’t forget “MASH” with its unforgettable characters and the storylines that tugged at our emotions.

On The Dial ... The Animals released “We Gotta Get Out This Place” in 1965 relating to deployed troops. It was a number of songs that were in the top 20 in their debut.

The songs that made it to No. 1 were “War” (Edwin Starr, 1970) — in your head, you’re saying, “what is it good for” — “Green Beret” (1966, Barry Sadler), “Eve of Destruction” (1965, Barry McGuire), “Paint It, Black (1970, Rolling Stones) all had implications about the Vietnam War.

Other songs that made the top 20 in the perspective years were “Blowin’ In the Wind (1962 Bob Dylan), “Ohio” (1969, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young), “One Tin Soldier” (1969, The Original Caste), and “Fortunate Son” (1969, Creedence Clearwater Revival).

All of the above dealt with the Vietnam War except “Ohio,” which recalled the Kent State University shooting in the same year.

Another Classic Game ... Throughout the past five decades, there have been a plethora of various games dealing with a war concept. We have played ‘“WAR” with playing cards.

In 1978, Lakeside released “Intercept,” a “Cold War” two-player electronic game.

The game was powered by a 9-volt battery, featuring lights and sounds for radar alerts, missile launches, and hits.

It involved one player being an attack pilot and a defense commander. The attack pilot moves an attack jet/bomber secretly across a tracking grid, trying to sneak past surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites and reach the opponent’s red-zone airfield within a set number of moves to destroy it.

The defense commander uses logic, tracking, and a magnetic sensor/detector on the interceptor model to pinpoint the attacker’s position, place SAM defense sites, and fire missiles.

You can find the game on eBay.

WWWF/WWE Wrap ... In each column, I will look back at a former wrestler we likely watched in our youth.

Do you remember Bugsy McGraw? Born James Davis, McGraw appeared in the WWWF in the mid-70s, and had two title bouts against Bruno Sammartino. He was managed by both the Grand Wizard and Captain Lou Albano.

McGraw made his mark primarily in the NWA, and was the NWA Florida Heavyweight champion. He was active from 1967 through 1991, and made brief appearances in 2004 and 2005. McGraw compiled an overall 929-715-147 record.

Ironically, McGraw pursued a nursing degree after he retired, and had a 20-plus year career in the profession.

If you see a veteran today, thank him or her for their service.

Your comments are always welcomed and will be published; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com.