Since it is the weekend I figured I would post a little earlier in the day.
I particularly liked the episodes where he and Little Joe got into trouble. Sort of comic relief.
I never knew this. Was Dan from Oklahoma, or was he just drafted like everyone else and got assigned to the 45th?
He died too young, btw. Everybody loved Hoss.
Hollywood stars now display their absolute hatred for America and the military as a way to hide their cowardice. So many of the old time actors were veterans regardless of which political beliefs they held.
Famous veteran bump.
According to my mother, who was friends with one of Dan’s distant relatives, he was also a very nice and kind person. Her friend told her that when Dan found out his TV broke, he bought him a new TV and then drove several hundred miles to his house to give it to him.
Wow. Always liked him. His son was also an actor. Looked just like him.
i had it from a friend playing gigs in az/ca desert clubs that he was nicer in person then his great character “Hoss” on Bonanza. never missed that show as a kid. it makes me cry to think what poor kids are fed today on tv/video.
Doesn’t Ft. Polk have the infamous sand hill?
Hoss was my favorite.
Two more: Audie Murphy and Neville Brand.
My Dad commanded the 2nd Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division in Korea and had fond memories of Sgt.Blocker. Said that his chosen weapon was the BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) as his size and strength made it easy and effective for him to use. His report was that he was a very good soldier, never shirked the front lines and was well respected by his fellow soldiers.
Hoss was the only character I liked on Bonanza. Sad he died so young.
Dan Blocker was a big lefty, a friend of Communist “folk singers,” and a peacenik during Vietnam. I believe at one point he actually wanted to leave the country in protest.
I figured him for a tanker, not infantry!
I was there to visit a friend and we were at a dock on the lake to get ready to go water skiing for the day on his boat. Dan Blocker was on the same dock with his own ski boat.
We introduced ourselves, one thing led to another and before we knew it, he had invited us to go with him and his two friends on his boat.
We water skied and hung out on the lake all afternoon. No hint of celebrity in him all day. Very down to earth guy who was having fun like we were. It was an experience I will never forget.