In contrast to the ideals, opinions 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" have been in all of the news
media lately I would like to remind the people of what the entertainers of
1943 were doing, (over 60 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' CandidateSchool 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.

So how do you feel the real heroes of the silver screen acted when compared
to the hollywonks today who spray 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?

Ronald Reagan is my hero, an idol of hollywood who loved America and was one of the best Presidents of all-time. Clearly in contrast to the Hollywood of today, yes. I think he's probably rolling in his grave when he sees people like Michael Moore.

Nah, I bet the Gipper is really rolling in his grave after seeing that punk Austrian doing a lame job with his precious California.

"After me, these actors think they can do it too!"

What about Ted Williams? He served in WWII and Korea.

Yeah, but he played for Boston. :p

Could you imagine how many of our actors today would go to war if there was a World War 3? I would venture to say zero. A lot has happened in 60 years. Americans have lost their patriotic values, and in no place is this more apparent then in the hills of Hollywood.

Have they? Funny, it seems to me that Americans are one of the most patriotic peoples in the world, if not the most patriotic at all.

Well, Sly would go. I mean, he made a career out of RAMBO and then he would not go?????

Not to take away from his service to his country...but it should be noted that Gable enlisted ONLY after the death of his wife Carole Lombard, who perished in a plane crash while on a tour selling U.S. Bonds. This was I believe in early 1942 - thereby making Miss Lombard the very first U.S. casualty of WWII. In fact I believe she was awarded a posthumous medal by FDR. Until this tragedy Gable had little to no interest in serving in the military - he enlisted to honor the memory and heroism of his wife.

It should also be noted that Gable happily attended gunnery school and volunteered for any and all bombing missions that he could possibly accomplish - never really concerned with whether he lived or died, and quite possibly expecting to die which would be fine with him because through it all, he was still in mourning for Carole.

Back to the original intent of the thread...you are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, greekdude111 for pointing out this vast difference between stars of yesterday and today. People like Sean Penn who apparently prefers to serve as a mouthpiece for the Middle East are an absolute disgrace when held up to true heroes that you have mentioned.

Another that comes to mind is Charles Durning who if memory serves took part in the D-Day invasion of 1944.

Best,
AppleOnYa

Well, Sly would go. I mean, he made a career out of RAMBO and then he would not go????? [/b][/quote] "Kill A Commie for Mummy..." Sorry, Ive read this somewhere and I had to post it :p

You can't compare WW II with any war since.

Haven't those who were against the war in Viet Nam and accused of being un-patriotic been fully vindicated by history as being the true patriots, rather than our government who consistently lied to us about how we were winning and "secret peace plans" and withdrawel with honor?

You can't tell me that had Iraq attacked us instead of the other way around that the feelings of Hollywood stars, not to mention all Americans, would be any different than it was when we were attacked by Japan.

You mean like Jane Fonda?

Apple

So long mom
I'm off to drop the bomb
So don't wait up for me
Although you may swelter
Down there in your shelter
You can see me
On your TV
So long mommy
I'm off to kill a commie
So send me a salami
And try to smile somehow
I'll look for you
When the war is over
An hour and a half from now

(Tom Lehrer, c. 1964 or so)

You mean like Jane Fonda?

Apple [/b][/quote]No, I mean like all of those patriotic Americans, myself included, who risked life and limb demonstarting and protesting at home against the war and helping to bring an end to it.

Patriotic as you felt (and feel)...what makes you think you did the world any favors by bringing and end to it?

Too bad I'm heading home early today (niece's H.S. graduation) This could've gotten interesting.

Carry on without me and somebody call Jimmy Buffer over to observe...!!!

Apple

This first part of my response is really splitting hairs - Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier of WWII became a movie star AFTER he served in the Army.

plaw touched on an important point - we haven't been involved in a war like WWII since 1945, and its doubtful we ever will again. Times have changed, too. How many well-to-do young people are being drafted into the Armed Forces now? Why single out Hollywood? We really have a volunteer army of poor kids defending us today.

Quite true. My nephew joined the army after flunking out of college. His boot camp graduation class was very sad. You could tell that all of the men and women who were there did so because they truly felt that they had nowhere else to turn. They were from small towns where the one plant where everyone worked had just closed down, etc. I was thinking that most of the class would be his age (19 or 20 at the time), but I was shocked to see how many (mostly the men) were in their 30's with wife, kids, etc.

Yes, Pl, but did you wear a tie-dye shirt and bellbottoms with your obligatory hippie sandals and a headband to hold back your long, hippie hair and smoke pot and then sing Kumbaya??

It's very true that the protests had a great deal to do with bringing home the troops, and thank God that they did. If even one life was saved, then it was all worth it.

What I think was awful was that those that did serve did not receive the hero's welcome that they deserved. Anyone who is willing to risk their lives in service to their country deserves that.

Um, are you really asking me that question?

Should the war have continued? hasn't history rendered it's verdict already?

The favor I did for the world was in helping to end an unwinnable war, fought for the wrong motives, and the saving of who knows how many more American lives than the 50,000+ who had died already.

All except singinf Kumbaya.

PL, I can so see you as a child of the '60's. Not to go off topic (which means that I'm so going off topic), but I heard on the radio that bongs are making a big comeback, but for legal tobacco. Apparently, that's the new trend because cigar bars are SO yesterday!!

OK, back on. I remember when my mother picked me up at school and she had just heard on the radio that the conflict was ending and the troops were coming home. We just cried and cried with happiness, but also so sad for all the families who had lost their loved ones. History HAS proven that it was a terrible waste of life.

The pot-smoking protest stories remind me of the (very classic) Taxi episode when Rev. Jim gets his driver's license.

They're all sitting around the table listening to Jim's accomplishments and contributions to the world... for example, he was at Woodstock, where there were half a million people. "If I hadn't been there, there'd only be four hundred thousand nine hundred and ninety nine thousand nine hundred and ninety nine people... they oughtta thank me!"

Then he said, "I marched and protested against their crummy war."

Tony interrupted him and said, "The only reason guys like you got to stay home protesting and getting loaded was because guys like me were over in Nam doin' your fighting for you. Whaddya say to that?"

Jim looked up at him, looking as confused and shocked as he always did, and said, "Thank you."

It's a hilarious scene, but it's also true... it just goes back to what we always say here. Even if you don't support the war, at least support the troops. I hate hearing about how the soldiers would get spit on and called names when they came back home... it disgusts me.

Greekdude, you bring up an interesting idea yet you've got to remeber something. When Japan attacked us we knew our enemy. It was a clearly established nation and we knew that the meatballs we saw on the wings of the Zero came for those Japs.

Now though we're declaring war against an ideal,and against an organization that isn't as clear cut. This can lead to dissent, and has done so.

However, I wish Sean Penn and all of them would shut the fuck up. If you don't like the fact that we are at war, that's just danndy. Personally, I don't either however I can't run as an elected offical yet. So my advice to these actors is to shut up, run for office and do something insted of just bitch.

Zia, I thought of that episode as well. Is that also the "What does a yellow light mean?" episode?

I agree with you Sully about people that want to shoot off their mouths, but not really do anything to make a difference. If you're unhappy with the way things are, then try to change it in a legal and professional manner.

SLOWWWWWW DOWN.


Don Cardi

Ha ha...my favorite Taxi episode. Hilarious!!!!


TIS

Of course, you should remeber to take to account what the American people want and not just go off and do whatever the fuck you want.

Hell, if Ahnold could win why hasn't any other actor tried to run for elected office so the evil conservatives can loose their death grip to the AMerican systen.

SLOWWWWWW DOWN. [/b][/quote]That's the one! I think that is the only episode of ANY show where I've laughed continuously, from beginning to end.

What about Jim's duet with Louie of "Moonlight Bay"? Or when he slipped something in Louie's coffee, then when they ask what it was, he goes, "Well, it was either a tranquilizer or a Chiclet."