“Perhaps the Best Known Athlete in Texas”

The Gallant Career of Captain Gustave “Pig” Dittmar in WWI

This is the courageous story of Captain Gustave C. “Pig” Dittmar, commander of Company C, 360th Infantry Regiment, 90th “Tough ‘Ombres” Division. Dittmar would be awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action near Bantheville, France on November 1st, 1918, but only two years prior was in the middle of an outstanding Gridiron career.

From a period newspaper article:

“Captain Dittmar, familiarly known as “Pig” by his friends and admirers is, perhaps, the best known athlete in Texas. His wonderful gridiron career was considered by many of the best coaches and football enthusiasts as nothing short of marvelous. He was considered a fast, consistent, brainy, hard fighting player and was a wonderful leader. His quickness to diagnose a play was always an inspiration and a pleasure to his friends. He played center for the Texas University for four years, leaving a Captain in 1916, and gaining for himself a reputation that few men have achieved. He was mentioned by Walter Camp as “an all American center”. He had the record of never having missed a toss, and handled himself so well that he was never known to be injured. The name of Captain “Pig” Dittmar is recorded as one of the greatest players that ever stepped on a Texas gridiron.”

“With two bullet wounds, one through his right leg, caused by & machine gun and another in his hip, Captain Gustave C. Dittmar, Company C. 360th infantry, unable to rise, rolled into a little sunken hole in the shell-torn road to escape the shrapnel and leaden hail which were still coming in a constant stream: In a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Dittmar, 3618 Garrot street, Captain Dittmar gave a vivid description of his experiences. After he was first wounded he managed to get l up and with the aid of a stick, hobbled along, leading his company for a mile. Then the second boche bullet laid him low. After first aid he was carried a distance of nearly a mile by the stretcher bearers, bullets whistling all around them, to an ambulance hospital, then to the evacuation hospital where he was X-rayed, and later to base hospital No. 28, Limoges, France. With the careful attention that Uncle Sam is giving us and the tender nursing of the Red Cross nurses he hopes to soon gain back his strength and join his company.”

He was one of the first to respond to his country’s call, and left his unfinished fourth fourth term at Texas University to join the first officers training school at Leon Springs. He was commissioned on August 15th, 1917, and assigned to Company D, 360th Infantry Regiment as a 1st Lieutenant, going overseas on June 14th, 1918. After going through the St. Mihiel Offensive and much of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, he was promoted to Captain and was given full command of Company C of the 360th. On November 1st, 1918, he would be wounded twice, and awarded the Silver Star:

“For gallantry in action on Nov. 1,1918, near Bantheville, France, Under the most trying circumstances and subjected for a long period of time to heavy machine gun and shell fire, Capt. Dittmar led his company with great gallantry until he was severely wounded. The excellent work done by the company was due to his personal leadership and training.”

Gustave Charles Dittmar was born on September 6th, 1895 in Houston, Texas. When he returned from the war as President of the 90th Division Association, he began a career in the industrial supply business, but remained in the army and during World War II earned Five campaign stars serving on the staff of General Omar Bradley and Courtney Hodges. He retired as a Colonel and passed away on October 9th, 1987.

Some of his scrapbooks are available to view online at the University of Texas at Austin website here.

The story of “Pig” Dittmar is one filled with glory, both on the football field and on the battlefield. He easily could have become one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, but he instead opted to fight for his country and for his liberty, sacrificing his career and nearly sacrificing himself. His first wound did not deter him. He “Hobbled Along at Head of Company With Aid of a Stick”, not giving up until his second wound put him out of commission. He came out of the First World War a hero, and became truly worthy of the name “All American Center”.

Michael R. Santoro is a historic researcher & antiquarian of the First World War. After finishing his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture & Historic Preservation at the University at Buffalo, New York, he spent a year developing a museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and another year freelancing research in order to preserve the stories of soldiers long forgotten. He now works full time at International Military Antiques in Gillette, New Jersey as a Historical Research Specialist & Authenticator, preserving countless items & stories across all nations and eras.

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