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 2005 -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, (61 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.
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 Meda! l, 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!
If you enjoyed this bit of history, please tell all your friends and spread the word.
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3 comments:
It's amazing how times have changed! The present lot should take a leaf out of these guys' book!
I agree with you, we do have the best all volunteer soldiers and allies in the world. Maybe we can just ignore the crazy loonies out of todays generation.
Well Sandy, back in the 40's the world thought of Hitler as much as the world kinda thinks of Bush these days. I guess that really is the truth and more or less the reason stars are not focused on their army duties. I've served in the early 90's and it's not that I regret it or feel bad for our troops. I just wish the old U.S. reputation can be gained again and we can again be seen as the land of the free and home of the brave. Travelling through Europe and Australia I receive the same signals from everyone, and instead of talking about my job, most of the time we end up talking about the Bush Administration and his follow up McCain.
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