Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: oakranger on December 16, 2008, 04:16:36 PM
-
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WW II MOVIE STARS
In contrast to the ideals, opinions and feelings of today's 'Hollywonks' 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 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 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 Heros'
Alec Guinness (Star Wars) operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.
My favorite signer, Gene Autry, was a pilot flying C-47 in the China-Burma theater.
Christopher Lee was a RAF pilot. Was decorated by the Czech, Yugoslavian and Polish government.
James Doohan ('Scotty' on Star Trek) landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day.
Mel Brookes was a combat engineer whose duty was to deactivate mines. He took part in the Battle of the Bulge. The store was that when Germans try to unnerve the Americans by broadcasting Nazi propaganda over the loudspeaker, Brooks stood up and did a loud imitation of Al Jolson singing “Toot-Toot-Tootsie, Good-bye”. :lol, I can see him doing that.
Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) really was an R. A. F. pilot who was shot down and held prisoner
David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy. He was one of only twenty-five from Britain to be awarded the U.S Legion of Merit.
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.
Charles Durning was a U. S. Army Ranger at Normandy earning a Silver Star and a warded 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 He art.
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
Ed McMahon, a Marine Corps fighter pilot stationed aboard the carrier USS. Guadalcanal.
Henry Fonda, U.S Navy station on destroyer Saterlee. Was a Air Combat Intelligence in the Central Pacific. Awarded the Bronze Star.
Walter Matthau was a gunner and radio operator under James Stewart, won six battle stars.
Richard Burton was a navigator for the RAF.
Paul Newman was a gunner and radioman on a torpedo plane in the south pacific.
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.
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 Fourr agere 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. WTFG MURPHY, :salute
Strom Thurmond, U.S Senator before U.S got into the war, join the army in the 82nd airborne Div. and was wounded at Normandy. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star.
Oceanographer Jacques Consteau was a gunnery officer abroad the French cruiser Dupleix. When the German occupied France, he joined the French resistance where he developed the aqualung (scuba). He helped clear mines from the French coast along the Mediterranean Sea.
-
Rick Jason from Combat! served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II from 1943 to 1945
Dick Peabody from Combat! served in the U.S. Navy during WWII
Shecky Greene (comedian/actor) from Combat! served in the U.S. Navy during WWII
Michael Rennie served in World War II as a flying officer in the RAF.
Jack Palance served with the US Army Air Corps. 455th bomb group. He needed facial reconstruction from terrible injuries received in 1943 when his B17 crash landed in Britain.
Robert Stack served in the US Navy. Because of his expertise as an Olympic champion skeet shooter, he was assigned to teach anti-aircraft gunnery
Russell Johnson / "The Professor" on 'Gilligan's Island', Earned a Purple Heart (for injuries during battle) when the B-24 Liberator bomber he was a crewman on was shot down during a bombing run against Japanese targets in the Philippine Islands (March 1945
Judge Wapner of The People's Court was saved from a sniper's bullet when it lodged in a can of tuna he was carrying while an Army officer in the Pacific
Kirk Douglas served in the United States Navy from the U.S. entry into World War II in 1941 and received a medical discharge for war injuries in 1944
Jason Robards, Jr. was a radioman on duty at Pearl Harbor for the U.S. Navy, during the Japanese attack. He wrote about his experiences in A Hell of a War
Rod Stieger, Torpedoman, US Navy. Falsified his age to enlist at 16 (Balls)
Might not qualify but: Yogi Berra served in U.S. Navy during World War II where he served as a Gunner's Mate in the D-Day invasion.
-
Thx Masherbrum. If there are more, post it.
-
:salute
-
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WW II MOVIE STARS
In contrast to the ideals, opinions and feelings of today's 'Hollywonks' 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 this country we all love.
I believe they are still serving and, like 80% of your list, have not yet been discovered by Hollywood. I know there are some Desert Storm vets who are entertainers now. (Don't make me look, please).
There are also Korean vets and Viet Nam vets in the entertainment industry at present. Most entertainers, not all, who were famous before being drafted continued to entertain as it was where they would be most useful. They were using their skills to their best potential.
Remenber, Elvis was drafted, Johnny Cash enlisted. Elvis was famous at the time, Cash wasn't.
Different times, different circumstances.
http://www.kidsthankavet.com/?path=famous (http://www.kidsthankavet.com/?path=famous)
wrongway
-
I believe they are still serving and, like 80% of your list, have not yet been discovered by Hollywood. I know there are some Desert Storm vets who are entertainers now. (Don't make me look, please).
There are also Korean vets and Viet Nam vets in the entertainment industry at present. Most entertainers, not all, who were famous before being drafted continued to entertain as it was where they would be most useful. They were using their skills to their best potential.
Remenber, Elvis was drafted, Johnny Cash enlisted. Elvis was famous at the time, Cash wasn't.
Different times, different circumstances.
http://www.kidsthankavet.com/?path=famous (http://www.kidsthankavet.com/?path=famous)
wrongway
We mostly talking about WWII, but it is a open post.
In todays war, the only actor that serve his country fighting terriost is Specialist Michael Conner Humphreys. He played the child of Forest Gump. He just finished a year in Iraq and was at Fort Riley, Kansas. He left the Army when his enlistment ended on June 4, 2008, and has already landed a part in an upcoming World War II film, Pathfinders: In the Company of Strangers
-
Oh, I remeber playing this game a few years ago in this thread. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,133038.0.html)
Famous B-24/PB4Y Crew Members (http://www.b24bestweb.com/b24bestweb-Famous.htm)
B-24 United States Army Air Forces
(Liberator)
ROBERT ALTMAN (B-24 Co-Pilot) - Producer/Director/Screenwriter
LLOYD M. BENTSEN Jr. (B-24 Pilot) - U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
GEORGE S. BROWN (B-24 Pilot) - Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff
JOHN "RED" COCHRAN (B-24 Pilot) - Pro Football Player/Coach/Scout
SABU DASTIGIR (B-24 Ball Turret Gunner) - Actor
FRED FISKE (B-24 Radioman/Gunner) - Senior Commentator
RUSSELL JOHNSON (B24 Crew Member) - Actor
BEIRNE LAY Jr. (B-24 Pilot) - Screenwriter/Producer/Author
DELBERT MANN (B-24 Pilot) - Director
WALTER MATTHAU (B-24 Radioman/Gunner) - Actor/Director/Producer
GEORGE McGOVERN (B-24 Pilot) - United States Senator
GEORGE OLESEN (B-24 Pilot) - Cartoonist
JACK PALANCE (B-24 Pilot in Training) - Actor
JACK SMIGHT (B-24 Navigator) - Director/Producer
JIMMY STEWART (B-24 Pilot) - Actor
DAVID WESTHEIMER (B-24 Navigator) - Screen Writer/Author
JAMES C. WRIGHT, JR. (B-24 Bombardier) - Speaker of the House
(PB4Y-1 - "Liberator" Split Tail) / (PB4Y-2 - "Privateer" Single Tail)
JOSEPH P. KENNEDY Jr. (PB4Y Pilot) - Brother: John F. Kennedy
TYRONE POWER (PB4Y Pilot) - Actor
ROBERT STACK (PB4Y Gunnery Instructor) - Actor
-
Second Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy, 01692509, 15th Infantry, Army of the United States, on 26 January 1945, near Holtzwihr, France, commanded Company B, which was attacked by six tanks and waves of infantry. Lieutenant Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to a prepared position in a woods while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him to his right one of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. Lieutenant Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry.
With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, Lieutenant Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer which was in danger of blowing up any instant and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from three sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back.
For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate Lieutenant Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards only to be mowed down by his fire. Be received a leg wound but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw.
:confused: :salute
His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he personally killed or wounded about 50. Lieutenant Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective.
-
OOOPS. I didn't know there was topice done on this. :frown:
-
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WW II MOVIE STARS
James Doohan ('Scotty' on Star Trek) landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day.]
James Doohan did not land with the Americans in Normandy. James Doohan was a Canadian with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and they were the ones who landed at Juno Beach, Normandy. Juno beach incidently was the most heavily defended beach at the time of the Normandy D-day invasion.
Also, I seem to recall something about Lee Marvin's supposed purple heart and being at Saipan. Something is ringing a bell with me that this info is incorrect. (haven't we had this list before?)
Not intentionally shooting down your post Oak, but I'm sure I've seen this before and some of it is bogus.
Oh, and Audy Murphy? Without a doubt one of the bravest and most amazing individuals to ever wear a uniform. Chuck Norris lives only because Audy Murphy allowed it. Pretty ballsy for short fella.
cheers,
RTR
-
oops just did a quick search. Lee Marvin was indeed wounded at Saipan and recieved the purple heart. My apologies.
<S>
RTR
-
Don Adams - USMC, Contracted malaria on Guadalcanal Maxwell Smart from Get Smart
John Agar - US Army Air Corps, Sergeant.
(He appeared in the Combat! episode "The Mockingbird.")
Gene Autry - Flight Officer, Air Transport Command, 1942-1946
Eddie Albert - US Navy. Drove Amtracks in several Pacific invasions. He served in the landings at Saipan in 1943, where he rescued wounded and stranded Marines from the beachhead. At Tarawa, he was wounded and lost most of his hearing and earned the Bronze Star.
(He appeared in the Combat! episode "Doughboy") Star of Green Acres TV show
James Arness - US Army, Wounded at Anzio. Purple Heart and Bronze Star
B
Martin Balsam - US Army.
James Best - US Army Air Corps.
(He appeared in the Combat! episode "Mail Call.") Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrain from Dukes of Hazard
Richard Boone - US Navy.
Neville Brand - US Army.
(He appeared in the Combat! episode "Fly Away Home.")
Ernest Borgnine he served in the U.S. Navy for twelve years, joining before WWII.
Mel Brooks (Melvin Kaminsky) joined army in WWII and became a combat engineer. Cleared German mines after the Battle of the Bulge. He organized shows for the US troops, and when the German army began transmitting propaganda over loudspeakers Brooks is said to have replied with a version of Al Jolson's 'Toot-toot-tootsie'.
Charles Bronson - US Army. Conflicting stories...
(Bronson appeared in the Combat! episode "Heritage.")
Richard Burton - Royal Navy.
C
Art Carney - US Army. Carney went to Normandy in July of 1944 as a replacement to the 28th Division in position around St Lô. He was part of a 30 calibre machine gun squad. On 15 August 1944 he had just taken up his position and was hit in the right leg by mortar shrapnel. After receiving field treatment, he was sent back to Britain and then the US. He once said of his military career, "Never fired a shot and maybe never wanted to. I really cost the government money."
Julia Child served with the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) in Ceylon and China during WWII.
Jeff Chandller - US Army.
Robert Clary - In a Nazi concentration camp French charachter from Hogan's Heroes
Jackie Coogan - US Army Air Corps. Enlisted in Army March 1941. After Pearl Harbor, requested transfer to Air Corps as a glider pilot because of his civilian flying experience. After graduating from Glider School, he was made a Flight Officer and volunteered for hazardous duty with the 1st Air Commando Group. In Dec. 1943, the unit was sent to India where, by using CG-4A gliders, it airlifted crack British troops under Gen. Orde Wingate during the night aerial invasion of Burma (Mar. 5, 1944), landing them in a small jungle clearing 100 miles behind Japanese lines.
Tony Curtis - US Navy joined 1943 at age 17. In Tokyo Bay he watched the surrender ceremonies from the Signal Bridge of the USS Proteus.
D
Ossie Davis - US Army
Kirk Douglas - US Navy
Charles Durning - US Army. Durning landed at Omaha Beach in the D-Day invasion. He survived the landing, but was wounded in an ambush during the Battle of the Bulge. He was captured, escaped, and narrowly missed assassination at the Malmedy Massacre. He won three Purple Hearts and the Silver Star. He still carries his memories and battle fatigue to this day.
E
Maurice Evans was in a Special Entertainment Unit that toured the South Pacific.
F
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. - US Navy. He joined the naval reserves before the war. During the war he served on the Battleship Massachuesetts and was a Commando raider sent on several land attack missions. He retired from the reserves, years later, as a full Captain. He wrote about his war years in the book "A Hell of a War" which also covers his duties in helping organize the forerunners of today's Navy Seals.
Henry Fonda - US Navy. Bronze Star for Valor.
Glenn Ford - US Navy. In addition to his WWII service, he served in the reserves during the Korean War and the Viet Nam War. He retired as a Captain in the US Naval Reserve.
G
Clark Gable - Captain, US Army Air Corps. Although beyond draft age, Clark Gable enlisted as a private in the Air Corps on Aug. 12, 1942 at Los Angeles. He attended Officers' Candidate School at Miami Beach and graduated as a second lieutenant. He then attended aerial gunnery school and in Feb. 1943, on personal orders from Gen. Arnold, went to England to make a motion picture of aerial gunners in action. He was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook and although neither ordered nor expected to do so, flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s to obtain the combat film footage he believed was required for producing the movie entitled "Combat America." 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.
Frank Gorshin - US Army (Appeared in the Combat episode The Medal) Riddler from batman TV series
Shecky Greene - US Navy
H
Alan Hale US Coast Guard during WWII. Skipper from Gilligan's island
Sterling Hayden USMC
Jack Hawkins - Volunteered to serve in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He spent most of his military career arranging entertainment for the British forces in India
Audrey Hepburn, as a child she was a courier for World War II resistance fighters in Holland
Benny Hill - British Army
William Holden - US Army
J
Rick Jason - US Army Air Corps
K
Bob Keeshan - ("Captain Kangaroo") U.S. Marines, enlisted two weeks before his 18th birthday. He saw no combat because his enlistment was just two months before the bombing of Hiroshima
Brian Keith - USMC, Aerial gunner
George Kennedy - US Army, served 16 Years
Werner Klemperer - US Army Col. Klink from Hogan's Heroes
Don Knotts - USA 1943 Deputy Barney Fife from Andy Griffith show
L
Burt Lancaster - US Army
Jack Lemmon - US Navy Reserve 1945-1946
M
Strother Martin - US Navy Swimming instructor
Lee Marvin - US Marines, wounded in the battle of Saipan
Patrick MacNee British Royal Navy.
Steve McQueen USMC
Jan Merlin - Enlisted in US Navy April, 1942, served as a destroyer torpedoman until April 1946, honorably discharged. Played Roger Manning, Space Cadet!
Burgess Meredith - US Army Air Corps Penguin from Batman TV series
Gary Merrill US Army
Robert Montgomery - US Navy Reserve
Audie Murphy - US Army, most decorated soldier of WWII
N
David Niven Royal Army. His relates several charming tales of his war service (including the time he lets a German general slip away) in his autobiography The Moon's a Balloon
O
Caroll O’Connor - Merchant Marines 1942 Archie Bunker
P
Jack Palance US Army Air Corps. 455th bomb group. Required facial reconstruction from terrible injuries received in 1943 when his B17 crash landed in Britain.
Dick Peabody - US Navy
Tyrone Power - USMC Pilot in the South Pacific.
Q
Anthony Quayle Royal Artillery
R
Jason Robards Jr - US Navy. He was a radioman on duty at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack. He wrote about his experiences in A Hell of a War.
Ronald Reagan - Captain, US Army Air Corps. Because of a severe hearing loss, he was not allowed any flying duties. However, he appeared in training films. Prior to the war, he was a cavalry officer in the Nebraska National Guard.
Carl Reiner Entered army In 1942 and trained as a radio operator. He later studied French on assignment at Georgetown University to become an interpreter, but became a teletype operator in the Signal Corps where, on the way to Iwo Jima from Hawaii, was assigned to Maurice Evans' Special Entertainment Unit. For 18 months, he toured the South Pacific as a comedian in GI reviews.
Don Rickles - US Navy. Destroyer duty. He has said of one deployment, "It was so hot and humid, the crew rotted."
Andy Rooney - (okay, not an actor, but he is a TV personality) Sergeant, US Army. Early in war served with artillery regiment assigned to England. Joined Stars And Stripes in London. In 1943, Rooney is among first correspondents allowed aboard B-17 bombers attacking Germany. He wrote of his war experiences in the book My War.
Mickey Rooney - US Army. PFC. Served 21 months with a unit that entertained the troops [
S
Albert Salmi - US Army.
(He appeared in the Combat! episode "Cat and Mouse.")
Charles Schultz (cartoonist) - US Army. Staff sergeant and leader of machine gun squad.
Rod Serling - US Army paratroopers Twilight Zone creator
Robert Stack - US Navy. Because of his expertise as an Olympic champion skeet shooter, he was assigned to teach anti-aircraft gunnery.
Rod Stieger - Torpedoman, US Navy. Falsified his age to enlist at 16
Jimmy Stewart - US Army Air Corps.
Eli Wallich (Magnificent Seven) was an admin clerk/Sgt in WWII.
W
Judge Wapner of The People's Court was saved from a sniper's bullet when it lodged in a can of tuna he was carrying while an Army officer in the Pacific
Eli Wallach Sergeant US Army Medical Corps as an admin clerk.
Jack Warden Served in the 101st Airborne during WWII.
James Whitmore - USMC. WWII interrupted his pre-law studies at Yale. He received his degree while at boot camp and served as an officer in the Marine Corps.
(He appeared in the Combat! episode "The Cassock
List I got from a website.
-
While not a movie star there is a recent celeb of note who served his country faithfully.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4815441
-
It took me awhile to really realize just what you were asking, Oakranger.
Both of my parents are Veterans of World War II, and both my brother and I, are Veterans of Viet Nam. Our Father not only is a Veteran of World War II, but is also a Veteran of Korea; further, after retiring from the Army, our Father served an additional 10 years in Viet Nam as a civilian hauling supplies throughout the country of Viet Nam supporting our forces.
I think your question is less about Hollywood, and more about...what has happened to Patriotism in the USA ?
-
People always forget this guy...
(http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/webpics/Ted_Knight.jpg)
received 5 bronze stars.
http://www.nndb.com/people/563/000049416/
-
Bring all of this knowledge over here, it's a fun game.....
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,245987.1020.html (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,245987.1020.html)