Some of you young people probably have not even heard of these ‘old movie stars’…some contrast between these men and the anti-American movie stars of today. Hope you find this as informative and interesting as I did. In contrast to the ideals, opinions and feelings of today’s “Hollywonk,” the real actors of yester-year 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 their country. 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 2007-2008″ have been in all of the news media lately I would like to remind the people of what the entertainers of 1943 were doing, (65 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. James Doohan (”Scotty” on Star Trek) 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. David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt.. Colonel of the British Commandos inNormandy. 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. 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’ Candidate School 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. Ernest Borgnine was a U. S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945. (Maybe that’s why he starred in “McHale’s Navy.”) Charles Durning was a U. S. 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. George C. Scott was 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. Brian Keith served as a US . 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. 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. Robert Ryan was a U. S. Marine 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. Finally, Audie Murphy, a 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. If you enjoyed this bit of history, please pass it on. ********************************************* It is the soldier, not the President, who gives us democracy. It is the soldier, not the Congress, who takes care of us. It is the soldier, not the Reporter, who has given us Freedom of Press. It is the soldier, not the Poet, who has given us Freedom of Speech. It is the soldier, not the campus Organizer, who has given us the Freedom to Demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag; who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, that allows the protester to burn the flag. Father Dennis O’Brien, US Marine Corp. Chaplain
You didn't add my favourite David ...... Harold Russell While an Army instructor, and training with the U.S. 13th Airborne Division stateside in 1944, a defective fuse detonated an explosive he was handling while making a training film. As a result, he lost both hands and was given two hooks to serve as hands. After his recovery, and while attending Boston University as a full-time student, an Army film called Diary of a Sergeant about rehabilitating war veterans was made featuring Russell. One of the most moving films to come out of World War II wasn't even about the struggles of the battlefield. The Best Years of Our Lives follows three returning veterans and their attempts to readjust to civilian life. The movie won seven Oscars, including two for double amputee Harold Russell, the only actor in Oscar history to win two awards for the same film. (One was the Best Supporting Actor statuette and the other a special Oscar for bringing hope and courage to disabled veterans.) The story was all upbeat, though. In 1992, when his wife was dying, Russell decided to put his Supporting Actor statuette on the block. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tried to keep Russell from selling the award, but he ultimately auctioned it for $60,000. The actor died at the age of 88. Harold Russell (1914 - 2002) - Find A Grave Memorial
And not a filmstar but a brave man ... ( in more ways than one ! ) UK stage/TV actor and comedian Jimmy Edwards served in the RAF during WW2 and flew DC-3 Dakotas on D-Day and at the Battle of Arnhem. During the latter, his plane was shot down and he received facial injuries that required plastic surgery which, for the sake of his theatricial career, he later hid behind an enormous handle-bar moustache which became his trademark. He was a member of the Guinea Pig Club and he was awarded the DFC for bravery.
I think Rod Steiger served on Destroyers in the Pacific and of course Richard Todd who served with the Para's and landed on D-Day.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr joined the US Navy, served as an exchange officer with RN and took part in Motor Torpedo Boat operations in the English Channel, including Special Operations.
Charles "Bud" Tingwell an Australian Actor who was a fighter pilot in WW2 Charles Bud Tingwell - Biography - War Time
