WHAT HAPPENED TO THE
WW II MOVIE STARS
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.
Lee Marvin
U.S. Marine fought on Saipan and wounded earning the Purple Heart.
George C. Scott
decorated U. S. Marine.
Brian Keith
US Marine rear gunner in several actions against the
Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific.
John Russell
In 1942, he enlisted in the
Marine Corps, he received a battlefield commission,
was wounded and was highly decorated for valor at Guadalcanal
Robert Ryan
U. S. Marine who served with the O. S. S. in Yugoslavia
Tyrone Power
U.S. Marines, was a pilot flying supplies into, and wounded Marines out of, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Ernest Borgnine
U. S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945.
Eddie Albert
U. S. Naval officer aiding Marines at the horrific battle on the island of Tarawa in the Pacific Nov 1943
Awarded Bronze Star for his heroic actions.
Alec Guinness (Star Wars)
Operated a British Royal Navy landing Craft on D-Day
David Niven
Sandhurst Spy graduate and Lt. Colonel
British Commandos in Normandy
James Doohan ('Scotty' on Star Trek)
landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army
Charlton Heston
Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak Alaska
Charles Durning
U. S. Army Ranger at Normandy
earning a Silver Star and awarded the Purple Heart.
Charles Bronson
Army Air Corps tail gunner,
on B-29's in the 20th Air Force out of Guam,Tinian.
Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape)
Really was an R. A. F. pilot who was shot down,
held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.
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.
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.
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 WarII 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 Gue rre 1940 Palm.
So how do you feel the real heroes of the silver screen acted when compared to the hollywonks of today ?
If you enjoyed this bit of history, please pass it on.
