04/22/2024
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What Hollywood actor/actress went above and beyond to serve their country? How so?
Assuming that you are referring to actors who were already in the business & had gained at least some fame before the start of WWII, & entered military service after 1 Sept. 1939, there were several who went “above & beyond”, but one who comes to mind was actor Eddie Albert 1906–2005. Albert enlisted in the US Coast Guard in 1942. He was awarded the Bronze Star with V for rescuing 47 Marines who were stranded offshore under heavy machine gun fire during the invasion of Tarawa in Nov. 1943. He supervised the rescue of 30 others. He resigned from the Coast Guard later in 1943 & accepted a commission in the US Naval Reserve.
At his age at the time of Pearl Harbor 35, he could probably have avoided military service, not to mention he was already an established actor & could have probably have used his “Hollywood pull” to avoid military service, as some actors did (the age limit on the draft was 18–36) but Albert chose to serve. He would go on to a successful career in Hollywood, probably best remembered for his role as Oliver Douglas in the TV Show “Green Acres”.
Eddie Albert 1906–2005.
Another actor who went “above & beyond” was Clark Gable, who was not just an actor but probably the biggest star in Hollywood in 1941 as well as one of the most known people in the world. Gable’s wife Carole Lombard died in the crash of her DC 3 airliner while returning from a war bond drive one month after Pearl Harbor. Devastated, Gable wrote to President Roosevelt requesting a role in the military. Roosevelt advised Gable to “Stay where you are”. Gable did not. At age 40, overage for military service he attended Officer Candidate School & was assigned to the USAAF as an aerial photographer & Aerial Gunner. Official Army records indicate that Gable flew 5 combat missions over Europe, however Gables fellow soldiers of the 351st Bomb Group contend that he flew many more (the average was 25 combat missions if you survived). Gable resigned his commission on 26 Sept. 1947. His decommission papers were signed by fellow actor Capt. Ronald Reagan. At age 40, Gable could have easily stayed home & made movies, instead he chose to serve.
Captain Clark Gable. (1900–1960)
Heddy Lamar, film icon, often known as “The world's most beautiful woman”, in the 1940s-50s, an Austrian American of Jewish descent, who fled from the N***s in the 1930’s was an amateur inventor with a scientific nature. She didn’t drink, didn’t smoke, didn't like parties. She, along with co-inventor George Antheil developed a system, known as “Spread spectrum”, or frequency hopping, manipulating radio frequencies at irregular intervals between transmission and reception. The invention formed an unbreakable code to prevent classified messages from being intercepted by enemy personnel, it could also be applied (theoretically) to control the movement of torpedoes. The technology would become the forerunner of that used in today’s GPS, Wi Fi & Bluetooth technology, but the US Navy did not adopt it at the time. She & Antheil received a patent for their invention in 1941. After the war her contribution was forgotten, only to be” re-discovered.” Lamar was one of the true pioneers of Wireless Communication.
Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler, “Heddy Lamar” (1914–2000). Wireless Communication pioneer.
Caesar Romero who was arguably at the height of his acting career, & 34 years old, enlisted in the US Coast Guard in October 1942 & served aboard the USS Cavalier as a winch operator. Romero who requested that he be shown no special favors gained the respect of his fellow crew members for his hard work. Romero who portrayed the quintessential “Latin Lover” in numerous films from the 30s through the 50s, including the “Cisco Kid” serials from the 30s-40s, & would perhaps become best known to a later generation of Americans as “The Joker”in the 1960s “Batman” TV show would eventually reach Chief Petty Officer rank.
Caesar Romero (1907–1994).
Caesar Romero as “The Joker”. c. 1966
Robert Taylor had been in films since 1934, & by the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor was one of Hollywood's top leading men. Taylor would serve in the US Navy as an aviation flight instructor, as well as the making of training films. He also flew anti-sub reconnaissance flights in the Caribbean. He participated in War Bond drives as well.
Robert Taylor (1911–1969).
Tyrone Power, considered one of Hollywood’s handsomest leading men ( & one of it’s most bankable stars) was at the height of his fame between 1936 & 1943 when his service was interrupted by WW II. Already a pilot, Power was considered too old at 28 by the military for front line service. He would serve in the USMC as a transport Aviator. Power served in Marine Transport Squadron VMR 352 flying supplies & wounded during the Kwajalein, Iwo Jima, & Okinawa campaigns. He would remain in the Active Reserve ( & a devoted lover of aviation) until his untimely death in 1958 at age 44.
Tyrone Power (1914–1958).
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