WWII MOVIE STARS
When Hollywood represented America's grass roots in the 1940s, it produced real-life heroes. But over the last several decades Hollywood has represents instead a differnet grass roots that has produced elitists and the worship of self-serving ideologues with a total disgregard of moral integrity and family values. It is as if Hollywood reflects the nation.
In contrast to the ideals, opinions, and feelings of today's "Hollywonk's" plastic stars, the real actors of yesteryear loved their country. They didn't make movies that would lie about the dedication of those who served in the military, such as in 2010 movies like the The Hurt Locker and Avatar, produced respectively by an ex-wife and her former husband. One is an anti-war activist while the other is sympathetic to eco-terrorism, as progressive anti-military critics, who control the business, wet their panties to give these two films as many awards as possible.The WWII Hollywood patriots had both class and integrity. They endangered their wealth, position, and fame to become one with the "enlisted men" who served in the armed forces. With the advent of World War II that began with the attack on Pearl Harbor, they served their country rather than stand and rant against it, as too many do today.
Some Hollywood actors and actresses even hang around Communist dictators and proudly wearing their symbols of revolution and mass murders on expensive shirts and chiche clothing accessories, not giving a damn of the message they send to America's youth. In fact America has left its rememberance so far behind makers of calendars had decided in 2009 to no longer recognize Pearl Harbor Day in the box for December 7, making room instead for a Muslim holiday.
Below are a few of the many actors who did serve their country in WWII with more listed at the bottom of the chart in a link title "Yesterday versus Today.
There you will find eighteen who represent over 70 Medals in Honor for their valor spanning from Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, Distinguish Service Cross', Purple Hearts and one Congressional Medal of Honor.
But here is what seems more important about this list.
Hollywood's actors at different snapshots in time in America's film history seem to be a reflection of the attitudes of America's grass roots at that same point in time, sometimes producing heroes who are glad to serve their country while at other times producing anti-heroes who are more than willing to spit on it.
I guess during each of these periods the attitudes in Hollywood can be said to reflect the attitudes on mainstreet, sometimes showing a population focused on "we" while at others times showing a population only focused on "me."
Sadly it seems those periods can be as different as night and day showing at times a country united while at others a country severely divided.
A Few of Hollywood's Real Heroes
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 a Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot who was shot down, held prisoner, and tortured by the Germans. David Niven (Casino Royal) was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy. James Stewart (The Glenn Miller Story) 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, Gone With The Wind) 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.
Gable 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 (The Ten Commandments) was an Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak. He served for two years as a radio operator and aerial gunner aboard a B-25 Mitchell stationed in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands with the Eleventh Air Force. He reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. Earnest Borgnine (McHale's Navy TV Series) was a U. S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945. Charles Durning (Spy Hard) was a U. S. Army Ranger at Normandy earning a Silver Star and awarded the Purple Heart. Charles Bronson (Dirty Dozen) 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 (Patton) 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 (Family Affair TV Series, Parent Trap) served as a U.S. Marine rear gunner in several actions against the Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific. Lee Marvin (The Dirty Dozen) was a U.S. Marine on Saipan during the Marianas' campaign when he was wounded earning the Purple Heart. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. John Russell: (Rio Bravo) 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 (Bad Day at Black Rock) was a U. S. Marine who served with the O. S. S. in Yugoslavia. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served as a drill instructor at Camp Pendleton, in San Diego, California. Tyrone Power (The Eddie Duchin Story) Was an established movie star when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He joined the U.S. Marines, was a pilot flying supplies in and wounded Marines out of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Audie Murphy, (To Hell and Back) little 5'5" tall 110 pound guy from Texas who played cowboy parts?
He was the 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.
Hats off to America's WWII heroes. May we never forget their service.
For A Complete List Of Famous People Who Served Their Country, Including More Hollywood Stars, Visit This Site:
- Ambassador Shirley Temple Black (1928-2014) -
