Rock presented with NFL football
PITTSBURGH — Chuck Rock knows a little something about athletics.
He knows a lot about service and sacrifice for his country.
Those elements all came together for the 68-year-old Butler man Sunday at Heinz Field, prior to the Pittsburgh Steelers-Dallas Cowboys game. Rock was presented an official NFL football from former Steeler running back Rocky Bleier during a pre-game ceremony.
Rock and Bleier have some things in common. Both are Vietnam veterans. Both were injured in combat. And both served in the Americal Division of the U.S. Army.
“Maybe that’s why I was picked for this, I don’t know,” Rock said. “Out of all the Vietnam veterans in this area, the Pittsburgh V.A. selected me to represent the 50th anniversary of that war.
“I’ve been wondering why I was chosen. But it was quite an experience.”
Rock served in Vietnam in 1970-71. He lost a leg as a result of enemy gunfire.
The Steelers honored a selected veteran from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Bleier received shrapnel wounds in Vietnam a year before Rock went over there.
“A paratrooper came down and presented a football to each of the other veterans,” Rock said. “I guess because I was in Vietnam, Rocky Bleier presented me my football. The Rooneys had autographed it and Rocky signed it for me right there.
“We talked a little bit about the war and what part of Vietnam I was in. Then he got taken away to sign more autographs.”
Rock and his wife, Patti, were treated to VIP parking, time in the VIP tent before the game, then were “wined and dined” in a private box throughout the game.
“I can never get tickets to Steeler games, so I was grateful for the whole thing,” Rock said.
Rock was a member of the Butler gymnastics team, coached by Paul Uram, in high school. He placed second at the state meet in the side horse event.
Since becoming disabled, he became competitive in handicapped sports. Rock won the bronze medal at the national championships for one-legged skiing in 1981. He took part in a six-week Learn to Golf Clinic for the handicapped, sponsored by the PGA, only a month ago.
“I golf and I’m involved in the therapeutic horseback riding program at SRU,” he said. “I’ve always stayed active. You have to.
“I do it in memory of the guys who lost their lives in Vietnam. Then I do it for the guys I served with. Lastly, I do it for myself.”
Rock has had children and grandchildren involved in high school athletics through the years as well.
“Rocky gave me a commemorative pin of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam, too,” he said. “I felt a little guilty, getting all of that attention.
“My son told me that after all the years I’ve given to people, I was just getting some of it given back to me. It was a day I’ll always appreciate, that’s for sure.”
