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Veterans of the Game

Curating and preserving military history by supporting the University of Michigan’s Veteran of the Game Program while honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans.

icon_widget_image 6 Timberlane Court Dearborn, MI 48126 icon_widget_image 760-793-3473 icon_widget_image rob.g@veteransofthegame.org

2021 Veterans of the Game

Celebrating
2024 NOMINATIONS FOR VETERANS OF THE GAME

Want to nominate a veteran to be our next Veteran of the Game, click the button below!

Meet our veterans

Veterans
U.S. Army 1942-1946

Gerrit DeGraaf

Michigan (47) -vs- Western Michigan (14), September 4, 2021 (Week 1)
degraf in front of vog sign
gerrit degraf stats and photo
ratzlaff and wife
U.S. Air Force,1968-1973

Brian Ratzlaff

Michigan (31) -vs- Washington Huskies (10), September 11, 2021 (Week 2)
brian ratzlaff stats and photo
US Army

Dr. John Todd

Michigan (63) -vs- Northern Illinois University (10), September 18, 2021 (Week 3)
Dr John Todd with medals
JOHN TODD SERVED AS A U.S. ARMY HELICOPTER GUNSHIP PILOT DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. ON JANUARY 17, 1969 WHILE FLYING THE WINGSHIP IN A FLIGHT OF ARMED HELICOPTERS HE CAME UNDER CONSTANT FIRE AND SUSTAINED NUMEROUS HITS RESULTING IN SEVERE INJURIES THAT RENDERED HIM LEGALLY BLIND AND REQUIRED A YEAR OF RECOVERY AT WALTER REED MEDICAL CENTER. FOR HIS HEROISM THAT DAY HE EARNED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH VALOR AND THE PURPLE HEART. JOHN WENT ON TO GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN IN 1976 AND THEN FROM GEORGETOWN LAW. FOR THE PAST 42 YEARS HE HAS SERVED AS A PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT ROCHESTER UNIVERSITY AND ALSO SERVES AS A JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL ATTORNEY FOR THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS. A RESIDENT OF OXFORD, MICHIGAN HE WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2013 OUTSTANDING DISABLED VETERAN OF THE YEAR AWARD. LET’S HEAR IT FOR TODAY’S VETERAN OF THE GAME, JOHN TODD AND ALL OF OUR BRAVE VETERANS.
elfring in front of VOG sign
U.S. Army National Guard 1940-1945

Herb Elfring

Michigan (20) -vs- Rutgers (13), September 25, 2021 (Week 4, Homecoming)
herb elfring stats and photo
U.S. Navy 1943-1946 and U.S. Air Force Reserve 1953-1958

Gabriel Michel

Michigan (33) -vs- Northwestern (7), October 23, 2021 (Week 8)
michael in front of vog sign
U.S. Army 1942-1946

Abraham Haddad

Michigan (29) -vs- Indiana (7), November 06, 2021 (Week 10)
haddad with wife on back of golf cart
abraham haddad stats and photos
U.S. Army Air Corps. 1942-1945

Bill Rosnyai

Michigan (47) -vs- Ohio State (27), November 27, 2021 (Week 13)
rosnyai inside tent
Bill Rosnyai stats and photos

HELP SUPPORT OUR VETERANS

Our non-profit organization provides the US Military Veterans who are recognized by the University of Michigan at sports events as the Veteran of the Game. Your donation goes directly to programs and events that celebrate and support these veterans. All donations are tax-deductible.

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