OT: Hollywood vs Hollywonk heros

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 2004" have been in all of the news media lately I would like to remind the people of what the entertainers of

1943 were doing, (61 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 ear ned: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Star Medals, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Star Medals with "V",?3 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?

I thought not, neither did I!

Reply to
BillyRay
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Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

In the late 60's Gen. Stewart was filming a movie in South Texas. One of the pilot training classes asked him to present the wings to the new pilots and he not only graciously consented, he gave a marvelous speech at the ceremony. Remember the time frame: he also brought Rachel Welch and Dean Martin with him (she really impressed that bunch of young brown bars!). I heard him speak on several occassions and held him in highest esteem - unlike the current crop of 'stars'.

Reply to
Will Honea

In 1940 the British, fearing we would lose the war, formed a regiment to harass the Germans if they landed. They were highly trained with the most up to date weaponry, and specialised in hand to hand combat, intelligence and sabotage ; like the SAS. Their regiment did not officially exist and no group photographs were taken. They operated in small cells, hiding their base in the countryside. Secrecy was paramount ; as far as anyone was concerned they were part of the "home guard" comprised of those who couldn't make it to the front line, and this is what their families believed. No medals or recognition. Anthony Quale was a Captain in this elite "Auxilliary Unit". More info:

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Dave Milne, Scotland '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

Reply to
Dave Milne

Most of today's successful actors only have a high school education. While that doesn't affect their professional abilities, it certainly does make their political and social commentaries questionable.

Reply to
Paul Calman

Much as I agree with your views and enjoy reading such material, it's way off topic here and just contributes noise to the group with the attendant flame wars. Let's stick to Jeeps.

Reply to
Will Honea

Hollywood Heros John Wayne, Cary Grant, Bob Hope

Hollywonk, Tom Cruise, Sean Penn

Reply to
J Strickland

Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

We have a guy in the Jeepster club who is a main actor on "the shield". He seems to be a decent guy, in spite of his chosen profession.

Reply to
Paul Calman

On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 01:33:58 -0400 in , "BillyRay" graced the world with this thought:

you seem to have left out George Jessel, General.

Get back to us about war when we aren't attacking a bunch of people for no apparent reason other than we feel the guy insulted our dad. How is it our own President served his country during the war--for get the stars-- you know, the one he

Reply to
bizbee

...

Yes... who was smarter? __ Steve .

Reply to
Stephen Cowell

Alec Guiness, Donald Plesance, David Niven? Of course! They enlisted in order to defend the United States! Even though they served for Great Britian, as citizens of same... they

*really* did it for the good old U.S. of A.

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Yes, we all remember WWII... very much worth fighting. Extremely very much *more* worth fighting... nobody had to *lie* to get us to go. And we actually retaliated against the party that attacked us! And we got 'em! That's called

*keeping your eye on the ball*.

Now let's read the List of Infamy...

George Will, Pat Buchannan, Bill O'Reilly, Wolfowitz,=20 Richard Perle, Bill Kristol, Rush Limbaugh, Phil Gramm,=20 Clarence Thomas, Newt Gingrich, Saxby Chambliss,=20 Bill Bennett, Ken Starr, Judd Gregg, John Ashcroft, Tom Delay...=20 Dick Cheney... deferred. Chickenhawks, we call them.=20

Tell us a bedtime story about burning villages full of women and children again, Billy. __ Steve .

Reply to
Stephen Cowell

Actually, Mr. Doohan (R.I.P.) landed on Juno beach in Normandy with the Royal Canadian Artillery- (being Canadian and all.)

Reply to
Robert Francis

Salute! May he rest in space.

Steve

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Robert Francis wrote:

Reply to
Steve

Wasn't he actually the most decorated of all time? 28 medals!

Anyway, I believe he became a movie star _after_ he got fame from the war. He also said something to the effect that actors that played tough guys made him sick because they weren't anything like the characters they played and weren't tough at all. He also suffered nighmares and actually broke down and cried during the filming of "To Hell and Back" about him and the men he fought and served with.

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We need more Americans like him!

Reply to
Ruel Smith

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