Memorial Day is all about honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, and pro athletes have been part of that mix since World War I. Here's a look at some of the more notable athletes who lost their lives in service:
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Baker, a hockey and football star at Princeton, was a member of the Army Air Service (the forerunner to the Air Force) during World War I. He died during a test flight in France. Baker is in the Hockey Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame, and the Hobey Baker Award is given annually to the best player in NCAA hockey.
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Gedeon (pictured on the right as a member of the Washington Senators) starred in baseball, football and track at Michigan. He played five games for the Senators in 1939, then was drafted into the Army. He was killed in 1944 when his plane was shot down in France.
In addition to former Giants infielder Elmer Gedeon (featured in slide No. 8 above), there was one other MLB player killed in World War II. Harry O'Neill appeared in one game as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1939. O'Neill joined the Marines and was killed on Iwo Jima in 1945.
The Big Ten's football MVP in 1942, Wisconsin receiver Dave Schreiner, was a second-round pick by the Lions but joined the Marines and was killed in the Battle of Okinawa.
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