Mario Tonelli | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 27, 1916 Lemont, Illinois |
| Died | January 7, 2003 (aged 86) |
Mario Tonelli (March 27, 1916 – January 7, 2003) was a professional American football player who played running back for one season for the Chicago Cardinals
A sergeant in the US Army 200th Coast Artillery who survived the Bataan Death March. During the Death March his Notre Dame class ring was stolen by a Japanese guard. Miraculously it was returned by an English speaking Japanese Officer who had been educated at the University of Southern California and had seen Tonelli score the winning touchdown in the 1937 game between the two schools. He later buried the ring in a metal soap dish beneath his barracks to confound would be thieves. Later he was transferred to Davo Penal Colony "Dapecol." Of the 2,009 estimated total number of POWs that were in Dapecol during its existence from October 1942- June 1944 only 805 would survive the war. He had the nickname "Motts" while in the Army and as a Prisoner of war.[1]
References[]
- ↑ Lukacs, John (2010). Escape From Davo: the Forgotten Story of the Most Daring Prison Break of the Pacific War. USA: NAL Caliber, a division of Penguin Group. pp. 64, 79, 80, 102, 106, 160, 293. ISBN 978-0-7432-6278-1.
External links[]
- List of NFL players who died between 2000 and 2009
- M at Pro-Football-Reference.com
- Mario Tonelli at Find a Grave
The original article can be found at Mario Tonelli and the edit history here.