On The Flip Side of Hollywood
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 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 2003" have been in all of the news
media lately (for it seems News Paper, Television and Radio has been
more than ready to put them and their anti-American, anti-Bush message
before the public) 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.
Hollywonk! Real Hollywood 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 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.
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 speaches,
marching in anti-American parades and saying they hate our president? I
thought not, neither did I! |
