By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Holidays that celebrate the independence and building of our great nation, and the sacrifices to sustain it for nearly 250 years, often make me think of Fred Becker.

When you cover the Iowa football team for as long as I have, which dates back to 1992, you can’t help but think of Fred Becker because he truly epitomizes what it means to be a Hawkeye hero.

And with Wednesday being the July 4th holiday, I was inspired to honor Becker’s legacy by writing this tribute.

I’ve honored Fred Becker before in writing on Veteran's Day and on Memorial Day, but his story is worth telling over and over because it embodies all that is right about the human spirit and about the Hawkeye spirit.

I was aware of Fred Becker's story, but didn't fully appreciate his rich legacy until veteran journalist and author Mike Chapman helped to introduce Fred to the world in his book titled “Triumph and Tragedy, The Inspiring Stories of Four Football Legends."

The stories of Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright, four of the greatest athletic heroes in Iowa history, were covered in the book, which was released in 2010.

I was drawn to Becker’s story, partly because it hadn’t been told on a big stage, but mostly because of who he was as a person and because of what he accomplished during his brief life.

Kinnick’s incredible story is deeply rooted in the minds of Hawkeye fans, and deservedly so.

Kinnick Stadium is named in honor of Nile Kinnick and part of his 1939 Heisman Trophy acceptance speech is played on the giant scoreboard in the minutes leading up to the start of all of Iowa’s home games.

The legend of Nile Kinnick lives on more than 75 years after his death, and will live on forever because his legacy is such a key part of the Hawkeye landscape.

Fred Becker’s legacy also lives on, but with only modest notoriety and fanfare.

If it weren’t for Chapman’s book, most Hawkeye fans probably would have no clue that Fred Becker was Iowa’s first All-American in football and that he died in 1918 at the age of 22 while fighting for our nation in World War I. And many fans probably still aren't aware of his legacy.

Fred Becker did more in 22 yards than most would ever imagine doing in a lifetime.

The Waterloo native used his toughness and talent to excel in football, earning first-team All-America accolades in 1916, and his courage, determination and that same toughness to excel as a soldier.

I sometimes think of Fred Becker when I start feeling sorry for myself during tough times because his life and the gruesome manner in which it ended helps to put everything in perspective.

Fred was killed in action during the Battle of Soissons in western France on July 18, 1918. The 100-year anniversary of his death is barely two weeks away.

Written accounts of the battle say that Fred Becker moved forward of his men and attacked machine gun nests, one of which he destroyed by himself, saving many men of his unit.

And then soon after while leading his platoon, Fred was killed by an artillery shell that also wounded his friend Elliot D. Cooke, who was standing next to him.

For his courage and valor in battle, Becker was awarded the Distinguished Serve Cross, America's second highest wartime honor, Silver Star, and France awarded him the Croix de Guerre, their highest honor

The Allies suffered 107,000 casualties (95,000 French and 12,000 American), while the Germans suffered 168,000 casualties.

The battle ended with the French recapturing most of the ground lost to the German Spring Offensive in May 1918.

The battle also ended with Fred Becker dead at a time when many young men graduate from college and start out on their own for the first time.

A life that had so much promise and potential ended way too soon in a strange and far-away place.

The courage and selflessness that it must have taken for Becker to enlist in the Marines just a month after the United States had entered the war is hard to comprehend.

He felt a call to duty and was willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of freedom and democracy.

And if weren’t for brave soldiers like Fred Becker, who knows where we would be today.

Life in the United States is far from perfect, but I wouldn’t trade it for any other place on Earth, and we have people like Fred Becker to thank for that.

As for his football prowess, Fred Becker was named a first team All-American by Walter Eckersall of the Chicago Tribune. Fred played tackle and was the first Hawkeye in any sport to achieve such a high honor.

Eckersall wrote, "No matter where he was placed, his work was a feature. He was strong and powerful and quick to size up the attack of his opponents. He seldom failed to open holes for the backs and was on top of the play all year.”

Fred Becker seldom failed at anything. His extraordinary life had everything but enough time.

This column is just my little way of saying thanks as we prepare to celebrate our nation's independence.