In contrast to the ideals, opinions and feelings of today's "Hollyweirdos,"
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" have been in all of the news media lately I would like to remind the
people of what the entertainers of 1943 were doing, (64 years ago).
Most
of these brave men have since passed on.
"Real Hollywood
Heroes"
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Alec
Guinness (Star Wars) operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on
D-Day.
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James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) landed in Normandy with the
U. S. Army on D-Day.
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Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) really was an R. A. F. pilot
who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.
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David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the
British Commandos in Normandy.
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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.
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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 A A F 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 he 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.
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Charlton Heston was an Army Air Corps Sergeant in
Kodiak.
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Ernest Borgnine was a U. S. Navy Gunners Mate
1935-1945.
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Charles Durning was a U. S. Army Ranger at Normandy earning a
Silver Star and awarded the Purple Heart.
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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
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George C. Scott was a decorated U.S.Marine.
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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.
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Brian Keith served as a U.S.Marine rear gunner in several actions
against the Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific.
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Lee Marvin was a U.SMarine on Saipan during the Marianas campaign
where he was wounded earning the Purple H