Dan Foldberg
Encyclopedia
John Daniel Foldberg was an American military officer and football
player. He played as an end for the Army Cadets
at the United States Military Academy
. Army head coach Earl Blaik
rated him the best end he had ever coached. He was selected in the 1951 NFL Draft
, but pursued a 27-year military career. Foldberg served as an infantry officer in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
, where he played basketball as part of the 1944 state championship team. His older brother, Hank
, played football at Texas A&M
before transferring to West Point where he was named a consensus All-American in 1946
, and graduated from West Point in 1947.
. One source described the Army team as "the nearest thing to a paragon of perfection in the East." That same year, Foldberg was named a United Press second-team All-American
. For his senior year in 1950
, Foldberg returned as the Cadet's only starting offensive lineman and was named the team captain. That year, he was named a first-team All-American
by unanimous consensus.
During the 1950 season, legendary Army head coach Earl Blaik
called Foldberg the best end he had ever coach. Foldberg finished eighth in the vote for the Heisman Trophy
, which is awarded annually to college football's most outstanding player. Foldberg was invited to participate in the 1950 Blue-Gray Classic
all-star game, where he served as the captain of the Rebel squad.
Foldberg also played on the Army lacrosse
team as a defenseman. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
(USILA), the college
sport
's governing body, named him a second-team All-American
as senior in 1951. Foldberg graduated from West Point as a member of the Class of 1951.
by the Detroit Lions
as the 261st overall pick, but remained in the Army as a career officer. He received his commission into the Infantry branch, and served in the 15th Infantry in the Korean War
from 1952 to 1953. Foldberg was then assigned as cadre at Ranger School, from 1954 to 1956, and Airborne School, from 1956 to 1958. He returned to West Point to work as a tac officer from 1965 to 1967. Between 1967 and 1968, he served as the executive officer of 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division
, and the commanding officer of 1/501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. In the Republic of Viet Nam, he served as a battalion commander and the G3 operations officer
in the 5th Infantry Division, and he was awarded the Silver Star
, Bronze Star
, and the Purple Heart
. In 1978, having attained the rank of colonel, Foldberg retired from the military to Tulsa, Oklahoma
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He played as an end for the Army Cadets
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
. Army head coach Earl Blaik
Earl Blaik
Earl Henry "Red" Blaik was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at Dartmouth College from 1934 to 1940 and at the United States Military Academy from 1941 to 1958, compiling a career college...
rated him the best end he had ever coached. He was selected in the 1951 NFL Draft
1951 NFL Draft
The 1951 National Football League Draft was held on January 18–January 19, 1951. The Baltimore Colts folded after the 1950 season. The NFL placed their players in the 1951 NFL draft.-Player selections:-Round one:...
, but pursued a 27-year military career. Foldberg served as an infantry officer in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Early life
Foldberg was born in Texas on April 22, 1928. He attended Sunset High School in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, where he played basketball as part of the 1944 state championship team. His older brother, Hank
Hank Foldberg
Henry Christian "Hank" Foldberg, Sr. was an American college and professional football player who became a college football coach. Foldberg played college football for Texas A&M University and the U.S. Military Academy, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Chicago Hornets and Brooklyn...
, played football at Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
before transferring to West Point where he was named a consensus All-American in 1946
1946 College Football All-America Team
The 1946 College Football All-America team was composed of college football players selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers...
, and graduated from West Point in 1947.
West Point
Like his brother, Dan Foldberg also attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. He played football there as an end, and during the 1948 season, Foldberg was described as a consistently impressive player on what was a dominating Army team. The Cadets' only close game that year was a 14–13 victory over PennPenn Quakers
The Penn Quakers are the athletic teams of the University of Pennsylvania. The school sponsors 27 varsity sports. The school has won three NCAA national championships in men's fencing and one in women's fencing.-Men's crew:-Football:...
. One source described the Army team as "the nearest thing to a paragon of perfection in the East." That same year, Foldberg was named a United Press second-team All-American
1948 College Football All-America Team
The 1948 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams in 1948...
. For his senior year in 1950
1950 Army Cadets football team
The 1950 Army Black Knights football team represented the United States Military Academy. Led by head coach Red Blaik, the team finished with an 8-1 record. The Black Knights offense scored 267 points, while the defense allowed 40 points. Bob Blaik was the starting quarterback. Tom Lombardo, the...
, Foldberg returned as the Cadet's only starting offensive lineman and was named the team captain. That year, he was named a first-team All-American
1950 College Football All-America Team
The 1950 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1950 college football season...
by unanimous consensus.
During the 1950 season, legendary Army head coach Earl Blaik
Earl Blaik
Earl Henry "Red" Blaik was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at Dartmouth College from 1934 to 1940 and at the United States Military Academy from 1941 to 1958, compiling a career college...
called Foldberg the best end he had ever coach. Foldberg finished eighth in the vote for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, which is awarded annually to college football's most outstanding player. Foldberg was invited to participate in the 1950 Blue-Gray Classic
Blue-Gray Football Classic
The Blue–Gray Football Classic was an annual American college football all-star game held in Alabama usually on Christmas Day. It was begun in 1939 and held annually through 2001 at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The game was not contested in 2002 and was subsequently revived in 2003 in...
all-star game, where he served as the captain of the Rebel squad.
Foldberg also played on the Army lacrosse
Army Black Knights men's lacrosse
The Army Black Knights men's lacrosse team represents the United States Military Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse competition. During the team's 92-year history, it has won eight national championships and made fifteen postseason NCAA tournament...
team as a defenseman. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association is an association of institutions with varsity college lacrosse programs in all three NCAA divisions, founded in 1885.-Awards:...
(USILA), the college
College lacrosse
College lacrosse refers to lacrosse played by student athletes at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In both countries, men's field lacrosse and women's lacrosse are played in both the varsity and club levels...
sport
Field lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867....
's governing body, named him a second-team All-American
USILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
as senior in 1951. Foldberg graduated from West Point as a member of the Class of 1951.
Military career
He was selected in the 22nd round of the 1951 NFL Draft1951 NFL Draft
The 1951 National Football League Draft was held on January 18–January 19, 1951. The Baltimore Colts folded after the 1950 season. The NFL placed their players in the 1951 NFL draft.-Player selections:-Round one:...
by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
as the 261st overall pick, but remained in the Army as a career officer. He received his commission into the Infantry branch, and served in the 15th Infantry in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
from 1952 to 1953. Foldberg was then assigned as cadre at Ranger School, from 1954 to 1956, and Airborne School, from 1956 to 1958. He returned to West Point to work as a tac officer from 1965 to 1967. Between 1967 and 1968, he served as the executive officer of 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
, and the commanding officer of 1/501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. In the Republic of Viet Nam, he served as a battalion commander and the G3 operations officer
Operations (military staff)
Military Operations is a concept and application of military science that involves planning the operations for the projected maneuvering forces's provisions, services, training, and administrative functions—to allow them to commence, insert, then egress from combat...
in the 5th Infantry Division, and he was awarded the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
, and the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
. In 1978, having attained the rank of colonel, Foldberg retired from the military to Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
.