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. Earnest 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-29s 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 U.S. 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.
I knew about the first and last on this list. Very impressed with the ones in the middle. Who says actors only act?
Great list Doc. And here is a few from the German side. The Actor who played the Luftwaffe Oberst and Camp Kommandantur in "The Great Escape," had been in the German Army, was captured at Stalingrad and not released till I think 1955. Karl-Otto Alberty--stocky blonde blue-eyed German actor in many a fine war movie--served in the German Army--I don't know any details. Hans-Christian Bleth--also served in the German Army. Kurt Jurgens--also served in the German military--I think in the Kriegsmarine but--I am not positive on that branch of service. Werner Graf--served in the Luftwaffe. Kurt Kruger--Blonde haired blue-eyed German actor also served in the Luftwaffe in ww2. [ 17. June 2003, 02:21 PM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]
Actually I think it was Ed McMahon who was a Marine Fighter pilot in korea. James Garner was in the 5th Regemental Combat Team in Korea. Plus the baseball player ted williams, who was a marine corps fighter pilot in WWII and Korea. I read a story about how he was shot down in korea and didn't eject. He was worried that the ejection would break his kneecaps on the canopy and he wouldn't be able to play baseball, so he somehow took his plane down safely. I saw a documentary about the GI bill once, and how many famous actors went to acting school after they got home from the war on the GI bill. The only one I can remember off hand was Tony Curtis, who was on a sub in the Med. And maybe Sydney Poitier?
Don Rickles was a seaman second class in the pacific on a PT tender during WWII. Johnny Carson was an ensign during WWII Frank Sinarta attempted to join the military during WWII but was turned down because of his alleged mob connections. Ed McMan was a marine pilot in WWII, I believe, and not Korea. George Gobbles was pilot instructor in WWII based in OK. One of his jokes was that "No Japanese plane every attacked Oklahoma while he was on duty!". Actor James Stewart also flew a few B-52 missions on operation Linebacker II during the Viet Nam war. LBJ was in the navy for awhile during WWII and flew on one B-26 combat mission with the AAF in the Pacific.
Max Schmeling, the famous box champion was Fallschirmjäger and wounded at Crete. Gerd Fröbe (the baddy in Bond's "Goldfinger") served in the Wehrmacht German Presidents who served in the Wehrmacht: Richard von Weizäcker (Wehrmacht Officer 1939-1945) Karl Carstens (1939-45 Leutnant der Luftwaffe in a AAA-Battery) Walther Scheel (1939-45 Oberleutnant der Luftwaffe) The only German Chancellor who served in the Wehrmacht was Helmut Schmidt (1939-1941 Bremen AAA, 1941-42 East Front, T1942-44 trainer for light AAA, 1944-45 Battery Chief at the West Front, last rank Oberleutnant) Cheers, [ 18. June 2003, 02:21 AM: Message edited by: AndyW ]
Well, I guess he was both... He earned his wings as a Marine Flighter Pilot in 1944 and became an instructor teaching carrier landings and a test pilot. After World War II, he returned home to support a wife and child, attend college, and sell pots and pans door to door. His television career was interrupted in 1952 when he was called back into the Marine Corps. He flew 85 combat missions in Korea. Later he retired from the Marines as a full Colonel
