Famous Veterans - Did you know they served?

[Traveling Man]

Lee Marvin left school at 18 to enlist in the United States Marine Corps Reserve on August 12, 1942. He served with the 4th Marine Division in the Pacific Theater during World War II. While serving as a member of "I" Company, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division, he was wounded in action on June 18, 1944, during the assault on Mount Tapochau in the Battle of Saipan, during which most of his company were casualties. He was hit by machine gun fire, which severed his sciatic nerve, and then was hit again in the foot by a sniper.

 

[Traveling Man]

Gene Hackman left home at age 16 and lied about his age to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. He served four and a half years as a field radio operator. He was stationed in China (Qingdao and later in Shanghai). When the Communist Revolution conquered the mainland in 1949, Hackman was assigned to Hawaii and Japan.

 

[Traveling Man]

100 actors who served in the military

Stacker takes a look at 100 actors who served in the military.

stacker.com

 

[luvmysuper]

100 actors who served in the military

Stacker takes a look at 100 actors who served in the military.

stacker.com

Yeah, I want to read them here though!

 

[Lefonque]

Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, 14 Mar 1933) British actor & author. From 1952 until 1954, he served in British Army's Royal Fusiliers on active service. He was in Korea during the Korean War.​

 

[Whilliam]

Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, 14 Mar 1933) British actor & author. From 1952 until 1954, he served in British Army's Royal Fusiliers on active service. He was in Korea during the Korean War.​

View attachment 1358798

I've met Caine and he's a big man, so I assume that's him in the top row, second from the right.

 

[Fawkes007]

Good thread.

 

[luvmysuper]

Sergeant George Keefer Brewer, stage name George Reeves, put his Hollywood career on hold and enlisted in the US Army Air Forces from 1943 to 1946.
Joining the Special Theatrical Unit of the U.S. Army Air Corps, he appeared in several training films.
His most famous role of course was after the war in the role of Clark Kent/Superman in the 1950's TV series "Adventures of Superman".

 

[luvmysuper]

Did you know they were brothers?

James Arness, born James King Aurness, was probably best known for his role as Marshall Dillon of the long running TV series Gunsmoke. Arness wanted to be a naval fighter pilot, he was concerned his poor eyesight would bar him. However, it was his 6-ft, 7-in frame that ended his chances because the limit for aviators was set at 6 ft, 2 in. As a rifleman, he landed on Anzio Beachhead on January 22, 1944, with the 2nd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division. Arness – due to his height – was the first man to be ordered off his landing craft to determine the depth of the water; it came up to his waist.
He was severely wounded in his right leg during the Battle of Anzio, and medically evacuated from Italy to the U.S., where he was sent to the 91st General Hospital in Clinton, Iowa. After undergoing several surgeries, he was honorably discharged from the Army on January 29, 1945. His military decorations included the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the American Campaign Medal, the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

His brother, Peter Duesler Aurness, was also later an actor and took the screen name Peter Graves, best known for his role as Mr. Phelps in the TV series Mission Impossible.
Peter Graves served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II from 1944 to 1945, reaching the rank of corporal, and was awarded the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

 

[Ad Astra]

Herman Munster scared America's enemies in the Navy...

Fred Gwynne - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

AA

 

[EclipseRedRing]

Dr. Who himself - Jon Pertwee served in the Royal Navy for six years during World War II including aboard HMS Hood although he transferred off shortly before it was sunk by the Bismark in 1941 with the loss of 1415 crew with three survivors. He joined Naval Intelligence where he worked alongside James Bond creator Ian Fleming who suggested him for the part of Q due to Pertwee’s familiarity with WWII spy gadgets, though the role would go to Desmond Llewellyn.

 

[Lefonque]

I've met Caine and he's a big man, so I assume that's him in the top row, second from the right.

You are correct…… Not many people know that.

 

[enrywivanh]

Lieutenant Basil Rathbone 2nd Battalion Kings Liverpool Regiment was awarded the Military Cross on 9th September 1918 -
‘For conspicuous daring and resource on patrol. On one occasion, while inside the hostile wire he came face to face with one of the enemy whom he at once shot. This raised the alarm and an intense fire was opened, but he crept through the entanglements with his three men and got safely back. The result of his patrolling was a thorough knowledge of the locality and strength of all enemy posts in the vicinity’.

Lieutenant Richard Todd 7th Parachute Battalion British 6th Airborne Division.
Landed Normandy D Day 6th June 1944.
Todd was promoted to Captain a few days later.

In the 1962 film The Longest Day Todd played the part of Major John Howard, DSO - Croix de Guerre, who led the British assault on the Caen canal and Orme river bridges.
The bridges were captured six hours before the beach landings on D Day 6th June 1944.

 

[Doc4]

Sir Michael Caine ... served in British Army's Royal Fusiliers on active service. He was in Korea during the Korean War.

I always thought that "Zulu" was his first film. IIRC, the opening credits even have an "and introducing ..." for him.

But ... I recently (like, this last weekend) found out that he was in the 1956 movie "A Hill in Korea". He had said that he believed he was cast due to his experience in the war. Interesting fact ... one of the "big stars" in that film was ... Stanley Baker!

 

[Doc4]

I've met Caine and he's a big man, so I assume that's him in the top row, second from the right.

Found this ...

PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions

Digital newsstand featuring 7000+ of the world’s most popular newspapers & magazines. Enjoy unlimited reading on up to 5 devices with 7-day free trial.

www.pressreader.com

... it appears you are correct.

 

[never-stop-learning]

Surely this guy deserves a mention.

View attachment 1357882

My dad served with Audie Murphy.

The 3rd Division 30th Infantry was dubbed the "Rock of the Marne" for their heroics in WWI.

In WWII, they continued to build their legend. From the Society of the 3rd ID website:

World War II added even greater glory to the Marne Legend. The Division was credited with 531 combat days which was the most combat days of any unit in the European Theatre. The 3rd Infantry Division fought in places like Casablanca, Anzio, Rome, the Vosges Mountains, Colmar, the Siegfried Line, Palermo, Nurnberg, Munich, Berchtesgaden, and Salzburg.​

​

The 3rd Infantry Division was the only U.S. unit that served in all 10 campaigns of the war, participated in four amphibious landings, and suffered the most casualties of any U. S. unit in the theatre.​

​

The most decorated Soldier in World War II was Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy, who served with the 15th Infantry Regiment in Italy and France. Thirty-nine (39) Soldiers of the Division were awarded the Medal of Honor. Further, 133 Distinguished Service Crosses and over 2000 Silver Stars were awarded.​

 

[BigFoot]

Did you know they were brothers?

James Arness, born James King Aurness, was probably best known for his role as Marshall Dillon of the long running TV series Gunsmoke. Arness wanted to be a naval fighter pilot, he was concerned his poor eyesight would bar him. However, it was his 6-ft, 7-in frame that ended his chances because the limit for aviators was set at 6 ft, 2 in. As a rifleman, he landed on Anzio Beachhead on January 22, 1944, with the 2nd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division. Arness – due to his height – was the first man to be ordered off his landing craft to determine the depth of the water; it came up to his waist.
He was severely wounded in his right leg during the Battle of Anzio, and medically evacuated from Italy to the U.S., where he was sent to the 91st General Hospital in Clinton, Iowa. After undergoing several surgeries, he was honorably discharged from the Army on January 29, 1945. His military decorations included the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the American Campaign Medal, the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

His brother, Peter Duesler Aurness, was also later an actor and took the screen name Peter Graves, best known for his role as Mr. Phelps in the TV series Mission Impossible.
Peter Graves served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II from 1944 to 1945, reaching the rank of corporal, and was awarded the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

View attachment 1358859
View attachment 1358863

Those of us who are Gunsmoke fans know Arness never lost that limp as it is quite noticeable on Gunsmoke, especially as Arness got older.

 

[luvmysuper]

Those of us who are Gunsmoke fans know Arness never lost that limp as it is quite noticeable on Gunsmoke, especially as Arness got older.

He said it got worse and flared up when riding a horse!

 

[BigFoot]

He said it got worse and flared up when riding a horse!

If you watched the "How The West Was Won" Mini -series you can really see that.

 

[never-stop-learning]

His brother, Peter Duesler Aurness, was also later an actor and took the screen name Peter Graves, best known for his role as Mr. Phelps in the TV series Mission Impossible.

And, of course, as Captain Clarence Oveur in Airplane!.