Fritz Breidster
Encyclopedia
Waldemar "Fritz" Breidster (1900-1982) was an American football
player who played college football for the United States Military Academy
at West Point.
Breidster was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
and graduated from East Division (Riverside) High School. After a year at the University of Wisconsin, Breidster enrolled in the U.S. Military Academy. Breidster was the captain of Army's undefeated 1922 football team. As a senior, Breidster was elected Cadet Captain of the academy—the highest office that can be given to a cadet. Breidster also competed for Army in swimming and water polo, winning letters three sports. He was captain of the football, swimming and water polo teams as a senior. He was also selected as a first-team All-American at the guard position by Athletic World magazine (selected by 214 coaches), Chicago Tribune
writer Walter Eckersall
, and Frank G. Menke
. He was also selected by Billy Evans
for his 1922 National Honor Roll (a selection of the best football players based on the votes of 200 sports editors).
After graduating from West Point, Breidster was assigned to the football coaching staff at Fort Mead in Maryland where he and Dwight Eisenhower were both assistant coaches.
In 1943, Breidster became the Commander of the 173rd Field Artillery Group, comprising five battalions. Later that year, he was assigned as a liaison officer with the Chinese Army in India, and eventually became Chief of Staff of the Chinese combat command. He directed the construction of a road through Burma that was completed in August 1945.
Breidster remained active in the Wisconsin National Guard after World War II, attaining the rank of Brigadier General in 1947. He was later promoted to Major General and retired from military service in 1960.
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 who played college football for 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...
at West Point.
Breidster was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and graduated from East Division (Riverside) High School. After a year at the University of Wisconsin, Breidster enrolled in the U.S. Military Academy. Breidster was the captain of Army's undefeated 1922 football team. As a senior, Breidster was elected Cadet Captain of the academy—the highest office that can be given to a cadet. Breidster also competed for Army in swimming and water polo, winning letters three sports. He was captain of the football, swimming and water polo teams as a senior. He was also selected as a first-team All-American at the guard position by Athletic World magazine (selected by 214 coaches), Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
writer Walter Eckersall
Walter Eckersall
Walter "Eckie" Eckersall was an American football player, official, and sportswriter for the Chicago Tribune. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.-Early life:...
, and Frank G. Menke
Frank G. Menke
Frank Grant Menke was an American newspaper reporter, author, and sports historian. He wrote for the Hearst Newspapers from 1912 to 1932 and his articles appeared daily in 300 newspapers across the country. He was billed by the Hearst syndicate as "America's Foremost Sport Writer"...
. He was also selected by Billy Evans
Billy Evans
William George Evans , nicknamed "The Boy Umpire," was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1906 to 1927...
for his 1922 National Honor Roll (a selection of the best football players based on the votes of 200 sports editors).
After graduating from West Point, Breidster was assigned to the football coaching staff at Fort Mead in Maryland where he and Dwight Eisenhower were both assistant coaches.
In 1943, Breidster became the Commander of the 173rd Field Artillery Group, comprising five battalions. Later that year, he was assigned as a liaison officer with the Chinese Army in India, and eventually became Chief of Staff of the Chinese combat command. He directed the construction of a road through Burma that was completed in August 1945.
Breidster remained active in the Wisconsin National Guard after World War II, attaining the rank of Brigadier General in 1947. He was later promoted to Major General and retired from military service in 1960.