Famous Veteran: Steve Mcqueen USMC Cpl

TWS ^ | 2016 | Marcussen, David R., GySgt

[eastforker]

Before making his way back to the United States, McQueen worked in a brothel as a towel boy for a time. He returned home and began a series of odd jobs around the country, including working on oil rigs and in a carnival. In 1947, McQueen enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and became a tank driver. Showing his rebellious streak, he ended up in the brig for extending a weekend pass into a two-week holiday. McQueen was far from the model soldier. "I was busted back down to private about seven times. The only way I could have been made corporal was if all the other privates in the Marines dropped dead," he said, according to Marshall Terrill's Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel.

After being discharged from the Marines in 1950, McQueen spent some time in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C., before returning to New York City. He hung out in the Greenwich Village neighborhood, a Bohemian enclave at the time. For a time, McQueen seemed aimless, moving and changing jobs frequently. He discovered his calling with the help of a girlfriend who was also an aspiring actress. With support from the G.I. Bill, McQueen enrolled at the Neighborhood Playhouse run by Sanford Meisner in 1951. Career Breakthroug

[eastforker]

In April, 1947 he enlisted, just a month after his seventeeth birthday. Steve was not a model Marine at first. He was sentenced to fourty-one days in the brig (the first twenty-one on bread and water) for allowing a weekend pass to drag into two weeks and then fighting with the shore patrol when they went to pick him up. He would redeem himself later on, however. During a training excercise in the Arctic, a transport ship struck a sandbank and flung several tanks and their crews into the freezing water. Many Marines drowned immediately, unable to get out of their tanks. McQueen jumped into the Actic water personally saved the lives of five men, who were almost frozen to death. For this act of heroism Steve McQueen was chosen to be part of the Honor Guard protecting Harry S. Truman's yacht. He was honorably discharged April, 1950.

[Davy Crocket]

Another great American Hero!

[chajin]

McQueen effectively portrayed a sarcastic sailor in 1920s China in the movie The Sand Pebbles, probably drawing on his USMC experiences.

[dfwgator]

My favorite McQueen movie is “Papillon”

[TigersEye]

He was sentenced to fourty-one days in the brig (the first twenty-one on bread and water)...

He had some real-world experience for the part!

[BlueLancer]

McQueen effectively portrayed a sarcastic sailor in 1920s China in the movie The Sand Pebbles, probably drawing on his USMC experiences.

In my opinion, in the top five movies of all time (and well in the running for #1) ...

[Sacajaweau]

Pretty interesting life/guy.

The guy is a doll...Watch Wanted Dead or Alive every chance I can and I'm 75. Age is not a deterrent.

[SkyPilot]

He became a born again Christian before he died. The Rev. Billy Graham knew him, and visited him while he was undergoing cancer treatments.

The Untold Story of Steve McQueen: How the 'King of Cool' Met the 'King of Kings'

[Don Corleone]

They are running Wanted Dead or Alive on cable every afternoon.

[be-baw]

“My favorite McQueen movie is “Papillon”

Mine is “The Great Escape.” I didn’t think he was a great actor, but he fit the role of a rebel well.

[SkyPilot]

My favorite McQueen movie is “Papillon”

Mine as well. I just watched it about 3 weeks ago. Amazing acting. Probably Dustin Hoffman's best performance of his career as well.

[MuttTheHoople]

Sounds like a Chesty Puller Marine.

“Take me to the Brig. I want to see the “real Marines”.

– Major General Chesty Puller, USMC – while on a Battalion inspection.

[mylife]

Working as a Carnie will make ya mean.. LOL

[mylife]

Great film

[yarddog]

Yes that really was a good movie.

Steve, the San Pablo, and the BAR.

[laplata]

The Sand Pebbles was a very good movie.

[Castlebar]

Oh, HELL YEAH!

"Main Steam, Stop Valve, you find!"

[bobby.223]

The brig? So Steve spent some time in a real ‘Cooler’, (shameless ‘The Great Escape’ movie ref. there!), earlier in life!

[straps]

Mr McQueen later in his life met the best preacher in the history of the USA Billy Graham. He asked him for a Bible so he could learn about God. He was buried by his wife after dying in a Mexican Hospital who were attempting to help Steve with his Cancer Treatment. She placed on his chest what Steve asked her to do Billy Grahams Study Bible....I believe he might have been saved by Rev Graham as many had been....

[Jamestown1630]

I had to walk out of that one. My father was sick and dying when it came out, and he looked just like the character in his last days...