Today always gets me thinking about America's Greatest Generation. Villanova has her share of these great people.
Michael Martin (Nick) Basca is one. Nick was born to immigrant parents (Austria for dad, Austria-Hungry for mom) Dad worked in a steel mill in Phoenixville. Nick was a great athlete at Sacred Heart grade school and Phoenixville High. Spent a year at Pennington Prep before starting his college career at Villanova in 1938. Was a triple threat football player while playing for famous VU coach Clipper Smith and also playing some hoops and baseball. Made All State and All East in football. Graduated in 1941 with a BS in Education. Played for Boston All Stars in their game vs Chicago Bears and College All Stars vs NYG.
The NYG, Chicago Cardinals, Pittsburg Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Philly Eagles all contacted Nick. Went with Philly. His last pro game was Dec 7,1941 at Washington. Enlisted Dec 10, 1941. Sent to England with Patton's 5th Army. This group was the big fake army. Germans expect Patton to led the invasion. Allies used Patton to fool them. His troops went into France on June 17th. Nick a tank commander was killed near Nancy, France on November 11, 1944 when his tank was hit by a German 88 mm round. Buried in the American Catholic Military Cemetery in Limey, France. He was returned to Phoenixville in 1949. He had two brothers serve, one of whom received three Purple Hearts.
. Nick Basca a true hero. RIP
On Nov 11th,2014 Philly Inquirer long time sports writer Frank Fitzpatrick wrote a wonderful article about Nick.
This post was edited on 12/7 9:58 AM by UncleEd
Michael Martin (Nick) Basca is one. Nick was born to immigrant parents (Austria for dad, Austria-Hungry for mom) Dad worked in a steel mill in Phoenixville. Nick was a great athlete at Sacred Heart grade school and Phoenixville High. Spent a year at Pennington Prep before starting his college career at Villanova in 1938. Was a triple threat football player while playing for famous VU coach Clipper Smith and also playing some hoops and baseball. Made All State and All East in football. Graduated in 1941 with a BS in Education. Played for Boston All Stars in their game vs Chicago Bears and College All Stars vs NYG.
The NYG, Chicago Cardinals, Pittsburg Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Philly Eagles all contacted Nick. Went with Philly. His last pro game was Dec 7,1941 at Washington. Enlisted Dec 10, 1941. Sent to England with Patton's 5th Army. This group was the big fake army. Germans expect Patton to led the invasion. Allies used Patton to fool them. His troops went into France on June 17th. Nick a tank commander was killed near Nancy, France on November 11, 1944 when his tank was hit by a German 88 mm round. Buried in the American Catholic Military Cemetery in Limey, France. He was returned to Phoenixville in 1949. He had two brothers serve, one of whom received three Purple Hearts.
. Nick Basca a true hero. RIP
On Nov 11th,2014 Philly Inquirer long time sports writer Frank Fitzpatrick wrote a wonderful article about Nick.
This post was edited on 12/7 9:58 AM by UncleEd