Bill Nowling, Rudy Klarer, Willis Tucker, Clyde Fuson

[StarRaider]

Bill Nowling

Bill Nowling
No. 32 was worn by Bill Nowling (Aug. 8, 1920 -- Aug. 9, 1944), a fullback 1940-42, from St. Petersburg, Fla., a three-year starter under Robert Neyland and John Barnhill. Nowling and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Willis Tucker and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 32, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Rudy Klarer

Rudy Klarer
No. 49 was worn by Rudy Klarer (March 9, 1923 -- Jan. 6, 1945), a reserve guard in 1941 and starter in 1942, from Louisville, Ky. Klarer and fellow Vols Bill Nowling, Willis Tucker and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 49, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Willis Tucker

Willis Tucker
No. 61 was worn by Willis Tucker (May 10, 1918 -- Nov. 28, 1944), a graduate of Knoxville High School, who earned a Vol football letter in 1940 and was a sprint star on the Vol track team. Tucker and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Bill Nowling and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 61, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Clyde (Ig) Fuson

Clyde (Ig) Fuson
No. 62 was worn by Clyde (Ig) Fuson (May 11, 1923 -- Dec. 4, 1944), a native of Middlesboro, Ky., and fullback on the 1942 team, who shared playing time with Nowling. Ig had a younger brother, Herschel (Ug) Fuson, who was a freshman on the 1942 team and transferred to West Point where he graduated. Fuson and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Willis Tucker and Bill Nowling lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 62, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

I always felt these should have been the only numbers to be retired. I'm all for honoring great players, but feel like it should be something similar to the Dallas Cowboys ring of honor

 

[feathersax]

Bill Nowling

Bill Nowling
No. 32 was worn by Bill Nowling (Aug. 8, 1920 -- Aug. 9, 1944), a fullback 1940-42, from St. Petersburg, Fla., a three-year starter under Robert Neyland and John Barnhill. Nowling and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Willis Tucker and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 32, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Rudy Klarer

Rudy Klarer
No. 49 was worn by Rudy Klarer (March 9, 1923 -- Jan. 6, 1945), a reserve guard in 1941 and starter in 1942, from Louisville, Ky. Klarer and fellow Vols Bill Nowling, Willis Tucker and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 49, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Willis Tucker

Willis Tucker
No. 61 was worn by Willis Tucker (May 10, 1918 -- Nov. 28, 1944), a graduate of Knoxville High School, who earned a Vol football letter in 1940 and was a sprint star on the Vol track team. Tucker and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Bill Nowling and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 61, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Clyde (Ig) Fuson

Clyde (Ig) Fuson
No. 62 was worn by Clyde (Ig) Fuson (May 11, 1923 -- Dec. 4, 1944), a native of Middlesboro, Ky., and fullback on the 1942 team, who shared playing time with Nowling. Ig had a younger brother, Herschel (Ug) Fuson, who was a freshman on the 1942 team and transferred to West Point where he graduated. Fuson and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Willis Tucker and Bill Nowling lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 62, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.

Thanks for the post, Star! These men were VOLS and PATRIOTS for LIFE.

 

[savannahfan]

A small but fitting honor for men of the greatest generation. I am sure they and all those who played for their schools and gave their most precious possession for our future look down on this and games days as they stand as members of the great team of heroes, smile and say to each other "we did this".

 

[gnm53108]

True Volunteers all.

Thank you.

 

[livefaith]

Thanks OP for this post on such an important day. The honor of these men makes the game, the fans , and the players of it pale in comparison.

 

[N.ohio vol]

Bill Nowling

Bill Nowling
No. 32 was worn by Bill Nowling (Aug. 8, 1920 -- Aug. 9, 1944), a fullback 1940-42, from St. Petersburg, Fla., a three-year starter under Robert Neyland and John Barnhill. Nowling and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Willis Tucker and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 32, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Rudy Klarer

Rudy Klarer
No. 49 was worn by Rudy Klarer (March 9, 1923 -- Jan. 6, 1945), a reserve guard in 1941 and starter in 1942, from Louisville, Ky. Klarer and fellow Vols Bill Nowling, Willis Tucker and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 49, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Willis Tucker

Willis Tucker
No. 61 was worn by Willis Tucker (May 10, 1918 -- Nov. 28, 1944), a graduate of Knoxville High School, who earned a Vol football letter in 1940 and was a sprint star on the Vol track team. Tucker and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Bill Nowling and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 61, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Clyde (Ig) Fuson

Clyde (Ig) Fuson
No. 62 was worn by Clyde (Ig) Fuson (May 11, 1923 -- Dec. 4, 1944), a native of Middlesboro, Ky., and fullback on the 1942 team, who shared playing time with Nowling. Ig had a younger brother, Herschel (Ug) Fuson, who was a freshman on the 1942 team and transferred to West Point where he graduated. Fuson and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Willis Tucker and Bill Nowling lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 62, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.

 

[N.ohio vol]

True heroes!

 

[ZZ13]

Serious question here and not poking at anything. Are the names recorded anywhere of all the other University of Tennessee students that gave their life in that war? Or did the University just single out the football players?

 

[Savannahbayvol]

Bill Nowling

Bill Nowling
No. 32 was worn by Bill Nowling (Aug. 8, 1920 -- Aug. 9, 1944), a fullback 1940-42, from St. Petersburg, Fla., a three-year starter under Robert Neyland and John Barnhill. Nowling and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Willis Tucker and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 32, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Rudy Klarer

Rudy Klarer
No. 49 was worn by Rudy Klarer (March 9, 1923 -- Jan. 6, 1945), a reserve guard in 1941 and starter in 1942, from Louisville, Ky. Klarer and fellow Vols Bill Nowling, Willis Tucker and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 49, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Willis Tucker

Willis Tucker
No. 61 was worn by Willis Tucker (May 10, 1918 -- Nov. 28, 1944), a graduate of Knoxville High School, who earned a Vol football letter in 1940 and was a sprint star on the Vol track team. Tucker and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Bill Nowling and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 61, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Clyde (Ig) Fuson

Clyde (Ig) Fuson
No. 62 was worn by Clyde (Ig) Fuson (May 11, 1923 -- Dec. 4, 1944), a native of Middlesboro, Ky., and fullback on the 1942 team, who shared playing time with Nowling. Ig had a younger brother, Herschel (Ug) Fuson, who was a freshman on the 1942 team and transferred to West Point where he graduated. Fuson and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Willis Tucker and Bill Nowling lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 62, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.

More from Marvin West

Tennessee football and Memorial Day - Knox TN Today

 

[Paper_Towel]

 

[illinoisvolfan1]

Serious question here and not poking at anything. Are the names recorded anywhere of all the other University of Tennessee students that gave their life in that war? Or did the University just single out the football players?

Good question. There’s got to be quite a few students that weren’t football players.

 

[savannahfan]

A little off line here, but a few years ago I had the privilege to see the campus of the University of the South located at Suwanee, Tn. Located in there chapel there is a small room that list the names of fallen students of the school dating from the school's beginning. An understated room, but very impressive and humbling.

 

[Instantalarma]

Serious question here and not poking at anything. Are the names recorded anywhere of all the other University of Tennessee students that gave their life in that war? Or did the University just single out the football players?

These players were singled out by the athletic department, not the full University, because they were on the football team when called into duty and gave the ultimate sacrifice. There may be a memorial somewhere else on campus for those from the full student body. Not sure.

 

[StarRaider]

100 Days of Vols #58 - The Ultimate Sacrifice

Tennessee honors the VFLs who gave their all

 

[ptcarter]

Great post OP. Thanks. Put me in the spirit of the reason we have this holiday.

 

[Tennesseefan2019]

Bill Nowling

Bill Nowling
No. 32 was worn by Bill Nowling (Aug. 8, 1920 -- Aug. 9, 1944), a fullback 1940-42, from St. Petersburg, Fla., a three-year starter under Robert Neyland and John Barnhill. Nowling and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Willis Tucker and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 32, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Rudy Klarer

Rudy Klarer
No. 49 was worn by Rudy Klarer (March 9, 1923 -- Jan. 6, 1945), a reserve guard in 1941 and starter in 1942, from Louisville, Ky. Klarer and fellow Vols Bill Nowling, Willis Tucker and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 49, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Willis Tucker

Willis Tucker
No. 61 was worn by Willis Tucker (May 10, 1918 -- Nov. 28, 1944), a graduate of Knoxville High School, who earned a Vol football letter in 1940 and was a sprint star on the Vol track team. Tucker and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Bill Nowling and Clyde Fuson lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 61, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.
Clyde (Ig) Fuson

Clyde (Ig) Fuson
No. 62 was worn by Clyde (Ig) Fuson (May 11, 1923 -- Dec. 4, 1944), a native of Middlesboro, Ky., and fullback on the 1942 team, who shared playing time with Nowling. Ig had a younger brother, Herschel (Ug) Fuson, who was a freshman on the 1942 team and transferred to West Point where he graduated. Fuson and fellow Vols Rudy Klarer, Willis Tucker and Bill Nowling lost their lives fighting for America in World War II. Their numbers, including 62, were officially retired in 2006 prior to the Air Force game.

They were heroes who gave their all and much more for Tennessee and their Country!