Heisman trophy winner I will agree with, in fact he was the first one to pass after winning the award. But not sure I would call him a war hero. Yes, he died in the war, but it was in a training accident, it's not like the guy was Audie Murphy here. Thanking him for serving is one thing, but that does not make him a hero just for getting killed.
I personally didn't say he was a war hero, but I am saying that most Iowa fans believe that.
Like a lot of things with Kinnick EIU fans have spent the past 80 enriching what the man did. You used to hear things like he was destined for greatness, could have been president and saved a ship loaded with soldiers. The truth is the guy was on a training flight, developed oil pressure problems and was told to return to base. He crashed on the way back, and according to the reports they were surprised that he was killed in the crash, and his plane and body was never recovered. Horrible accident, but does not make him a war hero no matter what fans like Gonzo thinks.
He actually conducted a water landing that his fellow pilots said was flawless.
magazine.foriowa.org
Couple of points, if it was a perfect landing in the water, he would have been alive and in the water, which he was not. The other pilot said he saw him in the water but not waving, so he was not knocked out when he landed, he would have had a life vest on so he should have been floating in the water. We will never know what happened for sure, I would guess he was either killed during the crash or knocked out, never got out of the plane and went down with it.He actually conducted a water landing that his fellow pilots said was flawless.
"Pilot and bunkmate Bill Reiter was flying alongside Kinnick when he first spotted the oil pouring from his friend’s plane, according to a letter Reiter later sent Kinnick’s parents. Reiter radioed Kinnick to alert him of the problem, but little could be done. Reiter watched as Kinnick, calm and efficient, performed what he described as “a perfect wheels-up landing in the water.” From overhead, Reiter believed he saw Kinnick in the water and clear of the plane, though Kinnick didn’t signal. Reiter raced to the approaching rescue boat and guided it back to the crash site, but all that remained when crews arrived were paint chips and a gasoline slick, according to various letters."
Kinnick's Final Days
Seventy-five years after his death, Nile Kinnick's last letters and journal entries provide us with an intimate glimpse of the man behind the legendand the leader he may have become.
Regardless, the guy had every opportunity to avoid serving and opt for something cushier, but chose to serve.
I'd argue that anyone who's given their life in military service to their country deserves to be called a hero. You don't, so be it. Would love to hear what your criteria is.
No offense, but I'll take the word of one of his fellow pilots who was there and saw it happen. He could have played it safe and remained stateside during the war playing for the Navy wartime football team, but he chose to serve active duty. That decision alone makes him a hero in my book.
He chose to learn to fly and was killed, people like Jimmy Stewart and many other famous people felt the need to not only serve but be in combat, they could have chosen not to but didn't.
They were referring to his father going to ISU as if that's somehow a sick burn on kids named Kinnick. Nobody gives a **** about where Kinnick Sr. went to school.
The two times I encountered this situation, the parents were shocked and startled of the ISU connection. You are correct, to a point, nobody cares about where he went to school until they find out it was Iowa State.
