Michael Martin “Nick” Basca was born on December 4, 1917, to Michael and Mary Basca. His parents emigrated from Austria. Michael Sr. was a steelworker at Phoenixville Steel. Michael was one of five children. At an early age, Michael would go house to house in the neighborhood seeking odd jobs for a nickel. He soon became widely known as “Nickels” Basca. The nickname was later shortened to ‘Nick’.

Nick was a professional American football halfback in the National Football League. He was a football star at Sacred Heart school before he hit high school. After graduation from Sacred Heart, Michael attended Phoenixville High School. After graduation, Michael attended the Pennington College Preparatory School in New Jersey where he continued his legend as a football star. In 1938, Michael began his studies at Villanova University and continued his stellar athletic performance. He played one season for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1941. He graduated with a BS in Education.

Basca enlisted in the United States Army after the attack on Pearl Harbor alongside his brothers. In 1942, he was a member of Robert Neyland's All-Army football team that played against NFL teams in fundraising games. Assigned as a tank commander, he served in the 66th Armored Field Artillery, 4th Armored Division in Europe, and participated in the Normandy landings, where he landed on Utah Beach. The 4th helped lead the Third Army through Europe. On November 11, 1944, Basca was killed instantly when his tank was struck by a German 88-millimeter anti-tank round after four months in combat.

A year after his death, the Eagles honored Basca prior to their game against the New York Giants. His body was returned to Pennsylvania in 1948 and arrived nine days after the Eagles won the 1948 NFL Championship Game. He is currently honored in the Football's Wartime Heroes display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Source of information: www.chescoheroes.org, en.wikipedia.org