Robert James Kalsu

"God will not look you over for medals, degrees, or diplomas, but for scars."
-Elbert Hubbard

Warm Up

WOD
"Kalsu"
At the beginning of every minute perform 5 burpees, for the rest of the minute perform as many thrusters as you can during that minute. At the beginning of the next minute perform 5 burpees and then max rep thrusters and so on until you reach 100 total thrusters.
thrusters @ 95#
(if you're up for the Rx'd version the thrusters are @ 135#)

Endurance
Rest

HONOR

This Wednesday is Veteran's Day, which to me is disappointing that we honor our Veteran's with only a single day. This week I'm gonna do a CrossFit "Hero" WOD each day starting today.
It's not much to honor our Veterans but at least, for me, it will remind me each day to be thankful for the men and women who protected and protect our Great country.
They make it possible for me to walk out to my garage each morning and train at my own free will. I figure why not spill some sweat in their honor.
Thank you Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and National Guard Veterans and those who are now actively serving! Your dedication and sacrifices do not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

Robert James Kalsu (April 13, 1945 - July 21, 1970) was selected as an Oklahoma Sooner All-American Tackle in 1967. As an eighth-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in 1968, he started eight games at Guard and was voted the team's top rookie in 1968. He began fulfilling his ROTC obligation with the US Army following the '68 season and started his tour of duty in Vietnam in November of 1969, where he served with Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 11th Artillery, 101st Airborne Division. His MOS was 1193-Field Artillery Unit Commander. LT Kalsu was killed by mortar fire on July 21,1970 at Firebase Ripcord near the Ashau Valley.

November 2000 news story

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Bob Kalsu -- the only professional football player killed in the Vietnam War -- was added to the Buffalo Bills' Wall of Fame in a ceremony held before Buffalo's game against Chicago on Sunday.

Kalsu's widow, Jan Kalsu McLauchlin, was on hand to accept the honor along with the couple's two children, Jill Horning, 32, and Bob Jr., 30. Bob Kalsu Jr., who wore his father's jersey during the ceremony, was born two days after his father was killed by mortar fire on July 21, 1970.

"The Buffalo Bills organization has supported us. When we were crumbled with grief they were there to pick us up and wrap their arms around us and remember Bob," Kalsu McLauchlin said. "For the children and myself, it's such an honor and such a statement to the Bills organization."

The ceremony also included a video tribute to Kalsu by retired Gen. Colin Powell.

"America owes a great debt to those who died to keep us free," Powell said.

Kalsu -- who is a native of Oklahoma City and was an All-American tackle at the University of Oklahoma -- was an eighth-round pick of Buffalo in 1968 and was voted the team's top rookie following the 1968 season.

Kalsu McLauchlin said that the Bills not only paid tribute to her late husband on Sunday, but all of those who lost their lives in Vietnam.

"Bob was 25 but the others they were 18, 19 years old. They had dreams too and they were cut short," Kalsu McLauchlin said. "Bob was able to start beginning his dream. Some of them never got to and for that I would have Bob's name up there to honor them."

Kalsu #61 and former Buffalo defensive back George Saimes -- who was also honored by the Bills on Sunday -- became the 15th and 16th members of the team's Wall of Fame. It was the first time in team history that more than one person was added in a single season.