Thanks for sharing, Todd.
In contrast to the ideals, opinions
and feelings of today’s ‘Hollywonk’, the real actors
of yesteryear loved the United States .
They had both class and integrity.
With the advent of World War II many of our actors
went to fight rather than stand and
rant against this country we all love. They gave up their wealth, position and fame to
become service men & women, many as simple ‘enlisted men’. This page lists but a few, but from this group
of only 18 men came over 70 medals in honor of
their valor, spanning from Bronze Stars,
Silver Stars, Distinguish Service Cross’, Purple Hearts
and one Congressional Medal of Honor. So remember; while the ‘Entertainers of 2006’ have
been in all of the news media lately I would like to
remind the people of what the
entertainers of 1943 were doing, (70 years ago).Most of these brave men have since passed on. ‘Real Hollywood Heroes’
and feelings of today’s ‘Hollywonk’, the real actors
of yesteryear loved the United States .
They had both class and integrity.
With the advent of World War II many of our actors
went to fight rather than stand and
rant against this country we all love. They gave up their wealth, position and fame to
become service men & women, many as simple ‘enlisted men’. This page lists but a few, but from this group
of only 18 men came over 70 medals in honor of
their valor, spanning from Bronze Stars,
Silver Stars, Distinguish Service Cross’, Purple Hearts
and one Congressional Medal of Honor. So remember; while the ‘Entertainers of 2006’ have
been in all of the news media lately I would like to
remind the people of what the
entertainers of 1943 were doing, (70 years ago).Most of these brave men have since passed on. ‘Real Hollywood Heroes’
Alec Guinness (Star Wars) operated
a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.
a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.
James Doohan (‘Scotty’ on Star Trek)
landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day.
landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day.
Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) really was an R. A. F.
pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.
pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.
David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate and
Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy .
Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy .
James Stewart Entered the Army Air Force
as a private and worked his way to the rank of Colonel. During World War II, Stewart served as a bomber
pilot, his service record crediting him with leading
more than 20 missions over Germany , and
taking part in hundreds of air strikes during his tour of duty. Stewart earned the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying
Cross, France’s Croix de Guerre,and 7 Battle Stars during World War II.In peace time, Stewart continued to be an active
member of the Air Force as a reservist, reaching
the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in the late 1950s.
as a private and worked his way to the rank of Colonel. During World War II, Stewart served as a bomber
pilot, his service record crediting him with leading
more than 20 missions over Germany , and
taking part in hundreds of air strikes during his tour of duty. Stewart earned the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying
Cross, France’s Croix de Guerre,and 7 Battle Stars during World War II.In peace time, Stewart continued to be an active
member of the Air Force as a reservist, reaching
the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in the late 1950s.
Clark Gable (Mega-Movie Star when war broke out)
Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the
U.S. entered WW II, Clark Gable enlisted as
a private in the AAF on Aug. 12, 1942 at Los Angeles.He attended the Officers’ CandidateSchool at
Miami Beach , Fla. and graduated as a second lieutenant on Oct. 28, 1942.He then attended aerial gunnery school and in Feb. 1943
he was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook
where flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s. Capt. Gable returned to the U.S. in Oct. 1943 and was relieved
from active duty as a major on Jun. 12, 1944 at his
own request, since he was over-age for combat.
Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the
U.S. entered WW II, Clark Gable enlisted as
a private in the AAF on Aug. 12, 1942 at Los Angeles.He attended the Officers’ CandidateSchool at
Miami Beach , Fla. and graduated as a second lieutenant on Oct. 28, 1942.He then attended aerial gunnery school and in Feb. 1943
he was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook
where flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s. Capt. Gable returned to the U.S. in Oct. 1943 and was relieved
from active duty as a major on Jun. 12, 1944 at his
own request, since he was over-age for combat.
Charlton Heston was an Army
Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak.
Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak.
Ernest Borgnine was a U. S.
Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945.
Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945.
Charles Durning was a U. S.
Army Ranger at Normandy
earning a Silver Star and
awarded the Purple Heart.
Army Ranger at Normandy
earning a Silver Star and
awarded the Purple Heart.
Charles Bronson was a tail gunner
in the Army Air Corps, more
specifically on B-29’s in the 20th
Air Force out of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan
in the Army Air Corps, more
specifically on B-29’s in the 20th
Air Force out of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan
George C. Scott was
a decorated U. S. Marine.
a decorated U. S. Marine.
Eddie Albert (Green Acres TV)
was awarded a Bronze
Star for his heroic action
as a U. S. Naval officer aiding
Marines at the horrific battle on the
island of Tarawa in the Pacific Nov. 1943.
was awarded a Bronze
Star for his heroic action
as a U. S. Naval officer aiding
Marines at the horrific battle on the
island of Tarawa in the Pacific Nov. 1943.
Brian Keith served as a
U.S. Marine rear gunner in
several actions against the
Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific.
U.S. Marine rear gunner in
several actions against the
Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific.
Lee Marvin was a U.S. Marine
on Saipan during the
Marianas campaign when he was
wounded earning the Purple Heart.
on Saipan during the
Marianas campaign when he was
wounded earning the Purple Heart.
John Russell: In 1942, he
enlisted in the Marine Corps
where he received a battlefield
commission and was wounded and
highly decorated for valor at Guadalcanal .
enlisted in the Marine Corps
where he received a battlefield
commission and was wounded and
highly decorated for valor at Guadalcanal .
Robert Ryan was a U. S. Marine
who served with the O. S. S. in Yugoslavia .
who served with the O. S. S. in Yugoslavia .
Tyrone Power (an established
movie star when Pearl Harbor
was bombed) joined the
U.S. Marines, was a pilot
flying supplies into, and wounded
Marines out of, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
movie star when Pearl Harbor
was bombed) joined the
U.S. Marines, was a pilot
flying supplies into, and wounded
Marines out of, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Glenn Ford was a US Marine during WW II performing missions behind enemy lines for the OSS, and he helped build safe houses in France for those hiding from the Nazis. Mr. Ford also served two tours of duty in Vietnam and is the only actor to have served with both the Green Berets and the French Foreign Legion. Among his numerous medals and commendations are the Medal of Honor, presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the French Legion of Honor Medal for his service in World War II, two commendation medals from the US Navy and the Vietnamese Legion of Merit.
Audie Murphy, little 5’5′ tall 110 pound
guy from Texas who played cowboy parts :
Most Decorated serviceman of WWII and earned: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Star Medals, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Star Medals with ‘V’, 2 Purple Hearts, U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Distinguished Unit Emblems, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France) World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar, French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre, French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier, French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Medal of Liberated France, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm.
guy from Texas who played cowboy parts :
Most Decorated serviceman of WWII and earned: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Star Medals, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Star Medals with ‘V’, 2 Purple Hearts, U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Distinguished Unit Emblems, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France) World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar, French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre, French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier, French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Medal of Liberated France, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm.
The Unmasking of Maine....and Beyond 