[Cornpone]

I would like to add a name to the list. He didn't serve in the war but I think he did a lot to characterize the American spirit. He sure had a lot to do with my upbringing and values and he led me into a career in the military...John Wayne...my hero.

[Trepz]

Now those are people to be admired. Not only do they say they support the US, they prove that they supported the US and freedom.

[the Deejay]

The real heroes of the silver screen had brains and common sense & could *think* for themselves. They weren't sheeple and would never allow (the few) extreme leftists back then tell them how to think.

The real heroes of the silver screen back then, loved God and the U.S.A. & would defend BOTH to the death.

[stylin19a]

Some of those guys didn't become actors until after the war, but I'm not quibbling. Here's a guy that, though not a war vet, deserves a mention.



Canadian-born, Boston-raised paratroop sergeant in World War II, Russell joined the U.S. Army on Dec. 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, as an instructor in the parachute corps. He was working as an explosives expert in 1944 when a defective fuse exploded a charge of TNT he was holding as he instructed a demolition squad at Camp Mackall, N.C. Both hands were amputated. He appeared in an Army Signal Corps documentary entitled "Diary of a Sergeant" in which he acted out the various phases of the rehabilitation process of an amputee.

Director William Wyler saw the film while preparing THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946) and cast Russell as the film's disabled returning veteran. For his performance, Russell won both the Academy Award as the year's Best Supporting Actor and a second, honorary Oscar "for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans." He is the only actor ever to win two Oscars for the same role.

[the Deejay]

Remember the one scene in The Best Years of Our Lives", at the drug store counter a commie believer tries to tell the two soldiers how dumb they were for going to the war?

Back then, commies got taken to the ground real fast.

[Casloy]

To be fair, Audie Murphy became a movie start as a result of his medals and was unknown before the war. What makes these guys all so unique is that most people had no idea what they did. They went quietly and came back in the same manner, never trying to cash in on their exploits. So unlike Kerry.

[dfwgator]

As I recall Heddy Lamar (no, not Hedley from Blazing Saddles), came up with a patented scrambling device that was used in World War II.

[Argus]

A lot of big directors also aided the war effort, some making documentaries under fire. John Ford, John Huston, George Stevens, Frank Capra, many more.

[EllaMinnow]

Let's not forget Carole Lombard, who was killed in a plane crash during a War Bond selling tour. It was her death that pushed her husband, Clark Gable, into enlisting.

[stm]

Holy omission Batman!!! Where is Henry Fonda????!!!

Henry Fonda served in the Pacific from 1942 - 1945 reaching the rank of Lieutenant (same as a Captain in the other branches). He was awarded a Bronze Star for Valor.

There are a lot of prominent actors left off this list!

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Bob Hope was a hero in my eyes.........

[Publius]

In his book, The Moon is a Balloon, David Niven recounted a story from his days at Sandhurst.

Each day, a cadet was chosen to carry the orderly box, which was used by a cadre officer and contained any number of things the officer might need. Once day, Cadet Niven had the box, and for a joke, he put a box of condoms in it. Niven showed the box to the other cadets, and when the major saw them giggling over the contents, he asked Niven to bring it over. Upon seeing the condoms in the box, the major turned to Niven and said, "Good show, Niven. Always be prepared."

[Ptarmigan]

Hollywood had good movies. Also, they made more. No wonder why they call it the Golden Age. I like movies from the 1970s to 1980s.

[Publius]

Those who stayed and helped with the war effort also deserve some praise. There was a moment in 1953 that Edward G. Robinson thought was the proudest moment of his life.

When Korea ended and the first troop ships were preparing to dock in San Diego, the military decided to put on a show. This was to be something other than a navy band playing some marches to greet the troops. The military contacted the USO who in turn called Martha Raye.

Raye had been extremely active during the war with USO shows, and she was asked to bring along some other Hollywood folks who might like to participate. Raye called her friends Robinson, Victor Jory and Lloyd Nolan and arranged an impromptu carpool down to San Diego. Raye had sung, done stand-up comedy and was fully prepared to walk on stage and handle the MC role. Robinson, who had always worked from a script and had memorized his lines, got more and more nervous on the road as he began to panic at the prospect. What could he possibly say to men who had been through the hell of Korea, he thought.

As the greeting event unfolded, Robinson became more and more worried until it was his turn to come on stage. Grabbing at sudden inspiration, Robinson turned to the role that had defined his character in Hollywood -- the gangster. Bumming a cigar from Nolan, Robinson strutted on stage and grabbed the microphone.

"Well, I hear you guys have been to Korea. I hear you've been putting your lives on the line for the country, see. I hear you guys have been through hell." Taking a deep breath, Robinson yelled, "SO WHAT!!"

The place erupted, and the military men present gave Robinson the biggest ovation of his life. Robinson went to his grave proudest of that moment in his career.

[rcocean]

Lets not forget this guy. Wounded in Korea:

Or him, a Marine at Saipan

[rcocean]

Some of the not so greatest:

4-F