card #64 RC Hector "Hurricane" Kilrea played for the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Falcons, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League between 1925 and 1940. HE won the Stanley Cup three times, with the Senators in 1927 and Red Wings in 1936 and 1937.
After his retirement from hockey Kilrea became a U.S. citizen. With the outbreak of World War II, like many others, enlisted for duty in World War II, finishing with the rank of staff sergeant. He saw action in Italy, including the Battle of Anzio and went on into France and Germany. On December 12, 1944 he took out a German tank, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (the second highest military decoration of the United States Army) for this. He also received the Purple Heart and French Croix de Guerre. He served with Company "K", 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division.
