Reminder of when Hollywood produced heroes

America's Victories (new edition) ^ | 5/29/2017 | LS

[miss marmelstein]

I don’t know but it’s a silly mistake to make.

[niteowl77]

Some time ago, I read a book or magazine wherein a medium bomber pilot told why Robert Preston gave him the nickname "The Scourge"… something about said pilot unloading ordnance on a German outhouse when returning from a mission.

Mr. niteowl77

[DoodleBob]

You learn something new everyday. I just bought this and two other books of yours from Amazon. Summer reading!

While on the subject of war and entertainers, I don't know if anyone is aware that Dr Seuss drew about 400 pro-WWII editorial cartoons for a leftist newspaper during the war. I read a book on the subject, "Dr Seuss Goes to War" which was eye-opening. Yes, it was surprising that the author of The Cat in the Hat and The Lorax also was the brains behind this anti-appeasement cartoon (could you imagine this appearing today in the Times?)...

...or these nasty sign of the times pieces of work.

My point is not to pass judgement nor stand up and cheer. Rather, I wish to point out that MANY Americans, from all political persuasions, have stood united against the enemy especially when American blood has been shed and lives lost.

I have first-hand accounts of self-professed Manhattan communists placing American flags in their apartment windows on Sept 12, 2001. On this Memorial Day, I hope and pray against all odds that we can get back to that point, without some horrific event to unify us all.

[Mears]

“-—— Captain Kangaroo Bob Keeshan did NOT fight alongside Lee Marvin———”

—

What does this mean?

.

[LS]

It’s a common myth that the two were in the same unit. Not true.

[LS]

No, you’re right. I used to teach this in my WW II section, showing that when your skin is on the line, all the PC crap disappears.

[LS]

LOL.

[niteowl77]

Dang… almost forgot-

Hughes Rudd, a gravel-voiced newsman of bygone days was an Army observation pilot in WWII, and he wrote a very obscure book about his war exploits. My hometown library had a copy of this book, which was withdrawn because "nobody checked it out," and I have tried to track another copy down for 20 years without success.

Mr. niteowl77

[Mears]

“It’s a common myth that the two were in the same unit. Not true.”

---

Thanks-—I missed that one.

.

[Hugin]

Don’t see Chuck Connors on the list. He served in WWII as an anti-tank instructor.

As for Jimi Hendrix, he did break his ankle. He wanted out by that time, so he told the doctors he also had back pain, which he didn’t, and eventually they let him out for that.

[Joe 6-pack]

Other recent musicians:

Orville Richard Burrell, aka "Shaggy" served as a Marine in Desert Storm.

I went to ROTC advanced camp with Shawn Mullins (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG9C0VwruXE).

[minnesota_bound]

They got Eddie Albert role all wrong.
He was under constant fire bringing in supplies and rescuing men. I read a book on Tarawa in the 1970’s that described his part. It was worse then described below.

Eddie Albert in the battle of Tarawa
http://ss.sites.mtu.edu/mhugl/2016/10/16/eddie-albert-in-the-battle-of-tarawa/

[octex]

Did you miss Audie Murphy?

If I missed his name when reading your very interesting posting, I apologize.

[DMZFrank]

Don’t forget tough guy character actor Neville Brand. Neville Brand participated in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central European campaigns, and received the Silver star while convalescing at the 21st General Hospital for gallantry in combat. His other awards and decorations are the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Ribbon, the European/African/Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with three Battle Stars, one Overseas Service Bar, one Service Stripe, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. In a rare 1966 interview in which he consented to speak of his wartime service, Brand recalled how he earned his Silver Star when his unit came under intense fire from German machine guns located within a hunting lodge. “I must have flipped my lid,” he said, for “I decided to go into that lodge.” Disregarding his own safety, he worked his way around to the rear of the lodge/command post, burst in through the back and single-handedly dispatched the enemy within.

Later, on April 7th, 1945, exactly one month and a day before the official German surrender, Sergeant Brand was wounded in action by the Weser River. Felled by a gunshot to his upper right arm, and pinned down by withering enemy ground fire, Brand lay there slowly bleeding to death. “I knew I was dying,” he said, “It was a lovely feeling, like being half-loaded.” Rescued and treated, Brand was evacuated to a military hospital and, on September 17th, 1945, he departed for the United States. Less than a month later, Staff Sergeant Brand was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.

[21twelve]

“...pilot unloading ordnance on a German outhouse when returning from a mission.”

Too late for the story I’m thinking of, as it was before we were in it. The story goes that the Brit’s bombed something like an outhouse or a barn or something instead of sticking to a “military” target.

Hitler used that as an excuse to bomb civilians in London.

I have no idea if an outhouse was actually bombed, or if Hitler really used it as an excuse. (Or if Hitler was the one that started bombing civilian targets).

[LS]

No, Murphy was the only one to BECOME an actor based on his wartime re ord.

[LS]

Good story. He’s in my book, but not the whole story. I didn’t include everyone.

[LS]

I didn’t include everyone.

There are at least three different versions of the Hendrix discharge. See his latest biography, “A Room Full of Mirrors.”

[Hugin]

I heard that version recently on the 2010 documentary Voodoo Child, I think it was from one of his letters home.

[octex]

Okay. I guess I didn’t realize you were only addressing Hollywood actors who THEN served in the military.