"DB"-those are the letters on each St. Ambrose Fighting Bee's helmet this season. They are the initials of Dave Behrle, an Army soldier from Tipton, Iowa who was killed in Iraq on May 19. One of Behrle's most prized possessions in the desert was a football signed by the SAU Fighting Bees that had been personally delivered by Davenport freelance journalist and Vietnam veteran Bob Konrardy.
For Bob Konrardy, temporarily rejoining his old Army platoon in Baghdad, the 1st Cavalry Division based in Ft. Hood, Texas, he thought would heal some old Vietnam wounds.
While the pain of some wounds did indeed ease, fresh ones formed, bringing with them a whole host of emotions, chief among them pride and gratefulness for having had the chance to visit the soldiers of the 1st Cavalry, and piercing regret for the loss that was to come.
His journey started last fall, when Konrardy started emailing the 28 soldiers as part of his grandson's eighth grade Christmas "adopt a platoon" project. During the correspondence, Konrardy, a freelance journalist, got permission from the U.S. Army to become embedded with the platoon and deliver some gifts from his grandson's class, as well as some gifts of his own.
He wanted to take signed footballs to the soldiers who were fans of the sport. Konrardy wrote several college and professional football programs with his request. To his surprise, he received balls from the likes of the University of Michigan, Loras College, University of Tennessee, University of Georgia, and St. Ambrose University. Pro teams from Indianapolis, Chicago, New Orleans, and Wisconsin also contributed signed footballs.
So, packing a duffle bag with as much weight as FAA regulations would allow, Konrardy brought the deflated balls and an air pump with him on his journey to Iraq.
Upon his arrival in Baghdad, one of his first activities was to play "Santa" to the war-weary soldiers.
For Spc. Dave Behrle, a 20-year-old Tipton soldier of the 1st Cavalry and self-proclaimed "sports nut," he already had staked a claim on the football signed by the St. Ambrose Fighting Bees. He'd learned about the football through his commanding officer, Lt. Thomas Hickey, who had talked with Konrardy about the visit.
"Dave was very vocal when I handed them out," Konrardy remembers. "He said, 'I'm the kid from Tipton. I want that ball.'"
Konrardy said that when he handed Behrle the ball, Behrle's huge grin completely outshone the soldier drab of dark hat, camouflage pants and shirt, and sunglasses he wore.
Accordingly to Konrardy, Behrle and the other soldiers cherished the mementos. It was different than a letter or a picture from home, instead providing some good old-fashioned American entertainment in the middle of the barren desert.
Konrardy knew how much the footballs meant to the men because he got to know them personally during his four-day embedment. He traveled with Behrle and five other soldiers during their daily patrols in a Bradley Humvee. He would return to the Quad Cities grateful for having been given the opportunity to bring a little bit of home to the soldiers of 1st Cavalry, and to share with the soldiers that gut-deep understanding of what it means to serve in a foreign war.
Then, just two months later, on May 19, terrible news reached the Quad Cities: In the same Humvee Konrardy had shared with Behrle and his five "brothers," they were killed instantly when an improvised explosive device implanted in the road they were traveling detonated.
Konrardy was devastated-for Behrle and his family, who had lost their youngest son.
Konrardy was humbled to tears when, after Behrle's funeral in Tipton, the soldier's family told him how much Konrardy's visit, and especially the football from home, meant to their son. He was moved to contact Coach Magistrelli at St. Ambrose and share how much Behrle appreciated the Fighting Bees football, and how grateful the family was for the Bees' donation.
Magistrelli was amazed. The players had signed the football not knowing how much it would mean to the soldier who received it. When Konrardy asked whether Magistrelli thought the team would be interested in him doing a presentation about his time in Iraq and the soldiers of the 1st Cavalry-especially Behrle-Magistrelli quickly agreed.
Then Magistrelli decided to go one step further. To honor Behrle's memory, St. Ambrose University's football team will wear Dave Behrle's initials the entire season.
Coach Mike Magistrelli said his players are humbled by the Behrle family's gratitude toward them and stunned that such a simple act of signing a football could bring so much joy to the soldier.
"To them, it's something that Dave touched and handled," Konrardy says. "It's more like a trophy than a football."
To the St. Ambrose football team, Coach Magistrelli said this experience has translated to a source of inspiration on the field. "It's taught them to appreciate the situation they're in and makes them want to give that much more to it."
One of Behrle's platoon members, SSG Jason A. Caudle, wrote to St. Ambrose about his gratitude: "Thank you for everything you and the football team are doing. Keep up the hard work and I really hope the team has a winning season. I wish I could be there to see the team take David into battle with them, but know I will be there in spirit."
Dixie Pelzer, Behrle's mother, says she is honored that the players will wear her son's initials on their helmets, and that she and the extended family members plan to attend several St. Ambrose games this year.
"Dave's probably smiling down on them. He's thrilled that they're doing that for him."
–Robin Youngblood
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