What Happened To WWII Movie Stars
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
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 2006-2007" have been in all
of the news media lately I would like to remind the people of what
the entertainers of 1943 were doing, (61 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 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.
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 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.
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.
So how
do you feel the real heroes of the silver screen acted when compared
to the hollywonks today
who spew out anti-American
drivel as they bite the hand that feeds them? Can you imagine these
stars of yester-year saying they hate our flag, making anti-war
speeches, marching in anti-American parades and saying they hate
our president? I thought not, neither did I!
Author is unknown
Copyright for photos remains
with original copyholders
