Hollywood Heroes of WWII

[ELVIS]

On The Flip Side of Hollywood (http://carol_fus.tripod.com/army_hero_hollywood.html)


The real actors of yester-year loved the United States. They had both class and integrity. With the advent of World War 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. I would like to remind the people of what the entertainers of 1943 were doing, (60 years ago). Most of these brave men have since passed on.


Real Hollywood Heroes:


http://wiredforbooks.org/images/AlecGuinness2.jpg
Alec Guinness (Star Wars) operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.

http://www.jimmyakin.org/images/scotty.jpg
James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) James Doohan is noted as having landed "with the US Army on D-Day".

In actuality he did not actually serve in the US Army, or land in any American operation. He served in the Canadian Army (Royal Canadian Artillery, landing as part of the Canadian Army's 3rd Division on Juno Beach). He was wounded no less than six times during the course of the war, including the loss of part of his right middle finger in the Juno Beach landings.

http://www.ajb007.co.uk/images/2003-04/pleas015.jpg
Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) really was an R. A. F. pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3e/DavidNiven.jpg/180px-DavidNiven.jpg
David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy.

http://hitchcock.tv/people/img/stewart2.jpg
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.

http://www.nonsolobiografie.it/personaggi/primopiano_clark_gable.jpg
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.

http://angela.byersworks.com/column/heston.jpg
Charlton Heston was an Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Ernest_Borgnine_Navy_2.jpg/250px-Ernest_Borgnine_Navy_2.jpg
Earnest Borgnine was a U. S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945.

http://www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert/wwii/images/durning.jpg
Charles Durning was a U. S. Army Ranger at Normandy earning a Silver Star and awarded the Purple Heart.

http://www.movieactors.com/photos-misc/breakheartpass-sm.jpeg
Charles Bronson was a tail gunner in the Army Air Corps, more specifically on B-29s in the 20th Air Force out of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan.

http://www.corpsstories.com/Scott.jpg
George C. Scott was a decorated U. S. Marine.

http://www.lifeinlegacy.com/2005/0527/AlbertEddie.jpg
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. He also served at Iwo Jima in February 1945.

http://www.fantafilm.net/Attori/Keithb.jpg
Brian Keith served as a U.S. Marine rear gunner in several actions against the Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific.

http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2005/07/05/inside-dvd-dirtydozen.jpg
Lee Marvin was a U.S. Marine sniper/scout on Saipan during the Marianas campaign when he was wounded earning the Purple Heart.

He also served on Iwo Jima and again was wounded.

Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4 star generals at Arlington National Cemetery. His marker gives his name, rank (PVT) and service (USMC). Nothing else.

Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys? Well, following is the amazing answer: I always liked Lee Marvin, but did not know the extent of his Corps experiences. In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces often in rear-echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. There is only one higher Naval award - the Medal Of Honor.

If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery. On the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and his guest Lee Marvin, Johnny said, "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware tha t you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima, and that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded."

Yeah, yeah. I got shot square in the ass and they gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi. Bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys gettin' shot hauling you down. But, Johnny, at Iwo Jima I served under the bravest man I ever knew.

We both got the Cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. The dumb bastard actually stood up on Red Beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach. Bullets flying by and mortar rounds landing every where and he stood there as the main target of gun fire so that he could get his men to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men's safety was more important than his own life. That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said, 'where'd they get you Lee?' "Well Bob... if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse! Johnny, I'm not lying. Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew. The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo."

http://timstvshowcase.com/kangaro3.jpg
Bob Keeshan aka Captain Kangaroo.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/be/John-russell.jpg/180px-John-russell.jpg
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.

http://www.fantafilm.net/Attori/Ryan.jpg
Robert Ryan was a U. S. Marine who served with the O. S. S. in Yugoslavia.

http://www.afnoa.org/Images/hollywood-heros/tyrone-power.jpg
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.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b0/Audie1.jpg
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.



America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did. They quietly go about their day to day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy. Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst. Often, they are the ones you'd least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happened. I also know a young man who is a Christian missionary who won the Bronze Star in the first Gulf War.

Take the time to thank anyone that has fought for our freedom. With encouragement, they could be the next Captain Kangaroo.



:elvis:

[Warham]

Thanks for that, Elvis. That's fantastic stuff.

[LoungeMachine]

Donald Plesence [sp?] who played "the forger" in the movie The Great Escape was actually a British POW in a similar German Camp in WWII

How's that for irony?

[Nitro Express]

Eventhough WWII was horrible, everyone knew who the enemy was and was behind the cause. Plus, they trusted the govt. more than they do now.

Nowadays we are at war but there is a big debate over who the real enemy is and we don't trust the govt. at all. I guess now, the war is at home as well just like it was in Vietnam. Vietnam divided the country and we continue to become more divided.

In WWII everyone was unified and people did their jobs. Not for glory but to survive. When it was all over the went back to their normal lives.

It was simpler times I guess.

Nowadays you can't trust anyone. Everyone seems to have a hidden agenda and seems to be into themselves instead of the community. Politics and the whole world situtation to me is one big blurr. The bad guys no longer are obviouse and the good guys turn out to be bad guys. It's not black and white it's greay. We live in a sea of grey.

[ULTRAMAN VH]

Well, I think the grey area is due to the fact that we had a Pearl Harbor style incident in the form of 9-11. The problem is that we were attacked by a terrorist organization and instead of going after them, our Government went after Iraq. It is really sad because post 9-11 the President and this country had the sympathy of the world. Instead of behaving like a conservative, he took the wrong advice from his predominatley neo con cabinet and went after a country bathed in oil. And lets not forget his vendetta on Saddam for trying to assassinate his father and wife.

[FORD]

Captain fucking Kangaroo, huh??

I'll have to admit that's something I never heard before.

Just picturing him in one of his bizzare colored suits, carrying Lee Marvin off the battlefield......

[Matt White]

I knew aboot Charles Durning...

He was on DINNER FOR 5....and BURT REYNOLDS got him talking about WWII....


DURNING was about 20 yards from BURT's DAD at NORMANDY

GRATE list KING:rockit2:


THESE KATS ARE THE REAL DEAL

[Hardrock69]

I had read about Bob Keeshan before.

And I have posted before about Audie Murphy.


Anyone that serves in Iraq these days is labelled by the media as a "hero".

What a load of shit!!!!

The guys listed above WERE heroes.

Lee Marvin does belong in Arlington.

As does (obviously) Audie Murphy (whose grave is the second most visited grave -the most visited being of course JFK).

http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/history/waughj/classes/civilwar/gburgtrip/gburg0805/images/NK010805064731_1852.jpg

Here is a page with all the detail on Audie's life:

http://www.hollywoodusa.co.uk/GravesOutofLA/audiemurphy.htm

[Nickdfresh]

British actor Michael Caine was a combat infantryman in the British Army during Korea, serving as a Royal Fusilier.

I once heard him remark that being interviewed by Howard Stern's "Stuttering John" was an experience tantamount to the "smell of fear," literally the smell of massing Chinese infantry, that he experienced in some fierce fights...

[Nickdfresh]

Jack Palance was wounded while on a mission in a B-24 bomber:

"With the outbreak of World War II, Palance's boxing career ended and his military career began. Palance's rugged face, which took many beatings in the boxing ring, was disfigured when he bailed out of his burning B-24. Plastic surgeons repaired the obvious damage but left him with a distinctive, somewhat gaunt look. After much reconstructive surgery, he was discharged in 1944."

http://www.answers.com/topic/jack-palance

[blueturk]

It's telling that when the only celebrity that went to war in Iraq was killed, the Army lied about the circumstances....

[bastardog]

Great find and information, Elvis

[Matt White]

http://www.snopes.com/military/images/marvin.jpg

[FORD]

Damn it, I should have known better than to buy the Captain Kangaroo shit......

Captain Kangaroo Court

Claim: Lee Marvin, actor, and Bob Keeshan, television's "Captain Kangaroo," fought together at Iwo Jima.

Status: Multiple:

* Actor Lee Marvin fought in the Pacific theater during World War II, received a Purple Heart, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery: True.

* Lee Marvin and Bob Keeshan, television's "Captain Kangaroo," fought together in the battle for Iwo Jima: False.

Origins: The above-quoted bit of purported dialog from the Tonight Show does have some elements of truth to it, but although actor Lee Marvin was a guest on that late-night talk show at least seven times during Carson's tenure as host, R.I.P. most of what is reproduced above is an outright fiction or a transcript based on someone's badly flawed memory.

Lee Marvin did enlist in the U.S. Marines, saw action as Private First Class in the Pacific during World War II, and was wounded (in the buttocks) by fire which severed his sciatic nerve. However, his injury occurred during the battle for Saipan in June 1944, not the battle for Iwo Jima, which took place several months later in February 1945. Marvin also received a Purple Heart and was indeed interred at Arlington National Cemetery (but he was not, as some versions of this piece claim, awarded a Navy Cross).

Bob Keeshan, later famous as television's "Captain Kangaroo," also enlisted in the U.S. Marines, but he did so too late to see any action during World War II. Keeshan was born on 27 June 1927 and enlisted two weeks before his 18th birthday, several months after the fighting at Iwo Jima. In a 1997 interview, Keeshan explained that he "enlisted in the U.S. Marines but saw no combat" because he signed up "just before we dropped the atom bomb."


Link (http://www.snopes.com/military/marvin.asp)

[FORD]

BTW, I found the above info totally by accident while researching an even more ridiculous rumor on another website.

That rumor being a story that John Denver was a military sniper in Vietnam.

Can you fucking imagine??

Rifles on my shoulder
Keep me happy
Bullets in a gook's head
Gets me high.......

[Nickdfresh]

LMFAO!!:D


On a more somber note, Hollywood action heartthrob Errol Flynn chose not to serve, and since he was Australian, he really didn't have too. But I read that he was thought of as a coward that may have even helped the Axis...

His son however became a journalist and a combat photographer. He was popular with the Marines and soldiers he photographed in Vietnam, and I believe he on more than one occasion saved lives of servicemen, or would pitch in a fire fight.

He disappeared during a bloody and chaotic fire-fight with the NVA, as his body was never found...

[Nitro Express]

Originally posted by Nickdfresh
LMFAO!!:D


On a more somber note, Hollywood action heartthrob Errol Flynn chose not to serve, and since he was Australian, he really didn't have too. But I read that he was thought of as a coward that may have even helped the Axis...


His son however became a journalist and a combat photographer. He was popular with the Marines and soldiers he photographed in Vietnam, and I believe he on more than one occasion saved lives of servicemen, or would pitch in a fire fight.

He disappeared during a bloody and chaotic fire-fight with the NVA, as his body was never found...

Errol Flynn was also a big time pedofile and a buddy of The Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard who was also a pedofile himself. This information is in a rare Penthouse interview with L. Ron Hubbard's son. Errol had an ensasiable fetish for everything apparently including little boys and sometimes more than one at once.

Scientology was a cult that would use an interrogation process called "auditing" to extract a person's sexual fetishes and then the church would fullfill those fetishes. Do this gave the church great control over the individual because they supplied the fix for the addiction but also could expose and ruin the person.

The church has been successful sucking in famouse people who are needy spiritual wise but also have some sexual dirt they don't want exposed. Pay and obey and Scientology provides the trip to Bangkok so to speak.

[FORD]

Originally posted by Nitro Express


The church has been successful sucking in famouse people who are needy spiritual wise but also have some sexual dirt they don't want exposed. Pay and obey and Scientology provides the trip to Bangkok so to speak.

So the "Super Adventure Club" shit wasn't just something they made up to get back at Isaac Hayes?

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7djgAKUMi8o"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7djgAKUMi8o" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

[Seshmeister]

Originally posted by ELVIS
James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) James Doohan is noted as having landed "with the US Army on D-Day".

In actuality he did not actually serve in the US Army, or land in any American operation. He served in the Canadian Army (Royal Canadian Artillery, landing as part of the Canadian Army's 3rd Division on Juno Beach). He was wounded no less than six times during the course of the war, including the loss of part of his right middle finger in the Juno Beach landings.


Maybe he shouldn't have worn a red shirt?

[Hardrock69]

LMFAO!!!

He was good at hiding his missing finger. The only instance where you can see it, is when he walks on the bridge with an armful of tribbles....

[Soul Reaper]

Laurence Olivier

"When World War II broke out, Olivier intended to join the Air Force, but was still contractually obliged to other parties. He apparently disliked actors such as Charles Laughton and Sir Cedric Hardwicke, who would hold charity cricket matches to help the war effort. Olivier took flying lessons, and racked up over 200 hours. After two years of service, he became a lieutenant in the Fleet Air Arm but never saw combat."

Richard Burton

"Before his war service with the RAF, he had made his professional debut in Liverpool, appearing in a play called Druid's Rest, but his career was interrupted by conscription in 1944."

Peter Sellers

"During World War II, Sellers was an airman in the Royal Air Force, rising to corporal by the end of the war."