Stars by example

The Washington Times - Inside the Beltway column ^ | 27 Apr 06 | John McCaslin

[seanmerc]

Hollywood is missing in action when it comes to fighting for America in recent conflicts, not the least being the war against terrorism. We hereby challenge readers to name one modern American celebrity, apart from the late football star Pat Tillman, who served or fought for his or her country in the past 15 years. "Even Hollywood ... sent its best to wars prior to Vietnam," University of Dayton professor Larry Schweikart reminds us in his new book, "America's Victories," writing that professional actors were as "thoroughly represented" in the fighting military during World War II as any other group. In fact, we read an amazing list of Hollywood men who tossed aside lucrative scripts for their country. Topping the list, albeit technically too old to serve, was Clark Cable, who enlisted as a private and ended up flying B-17s over Europe. Jimmy Stewart started as a "buck private peeling potatoes," the author notes. Mr. Stewart's radioman was Walter Matthau, awarded six campaign stars. Charles Bronson was a tailgunner on B-29s; Gene Autry flew C-47s; Robert Conrad flew F4Us; Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry flew C-46s; Robert Altman flew B-24s; and Jack Palance crash-landed his B-17. (Let's see Tom Cruise try that when not leaping off Oprah Winfrey's sofa.) The list of Hollywood's brave soldiers, sailors and Marines (several of whom died or were injured in battle) is extensive, among them: Humphrey Bogart (a World War I vet, he tried enlisting in World War II, but was too old), Jason Robards (Pearl Harbor), Henry Fonda (the South Pacific), George C. Scott (Europe), Glenn Ford (France), Brian Keith (Rabaul), Ernest Borgnine (where else, the South Pacific), Eddie Albert (Tarawa), and Navy buddies Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Kirk Douglas, Shecky Greene, Paul Newman, Jack Lemmon, Bob Barker, Jackie Cooper, Rock Hudson...

[seanmerc]

How times have changed. Now we endure the lunatic rants of political wannabes and pinheads like Alec Baldwin, Sean Penn and Sharon Stone.

Gives new meaning to the phrase "good old days," doesn't it?

PLEASE READ THE WHOLE COLUMN. I could only post an excerpt on FR. Thanks!

[2banana]

A LTTE to the editor on mine printed on 10/2/01

---

Dear Editor,

After Fort Sumter, the sinking of the Maine, the sinking of the Lusitania, and Pearl Harbor there were lines outside recruitment offices and people lied about their ages and their physical disabilities just to get a chance to be in the fight. Politicians, actors, famous writers and sports legends resigned from their jobs in mass in order to sign up.

Today, people will fly the flag, play patriotic music and send patriotic email cartoons to each other (at least for a little while). The talk shows are full of people who want to show their concern and how much they care.

Meanwhile, our armed forces report no significant increase in enlistments. I do not know of one "famous" person willing to give up their life of luxury for the life of an infantryman.

It seems this will be a great war as long as it does not inconvenience us too much.

Regards,

2banana

[seanmerc]

Great letter! Thanks, 2banana!

[kinoxi]

ditto to #3

[in hoc signo vinces]

Seems to me, there was a certain former NFL player that enlisted, became a Ranger, and died serving in Afgahnistan...but you're right...H-wood is full of blowhards and people with the wrongheaded politics.

[2banana]

Seems to me, there was a certain former NFL player that enlisted, became a Ranger, and died serving in Afgahnistan...but you're right...H-wood is full of blowhards and people with the wrongheaded politics.

You are right - but Tillman sign up years after this letter was printed. And he (and another NFL player?) is about the only one...

[MizSterious]

I didn't know LS had a new book out, glad to hear this.

Sometimes, reading what the latest "Hollywood Thinktank Expert" is spouting, I wonder where this country is headed. Out here in "flyover country" there are still a lot of patriots--but even in this somewhat conservative area, we see bumperstickers that are variations of the "Bush lied..." myth. This myth is itself a lie made up by liberals, yet it is apparently believed by enough people to have given the Republicans a tough run in the last election.

There was once a column (published in the Washington Times among other places) telling of how most democracies will last only about 200 years. I keep hoping we'll beat the odds, but the odds (and oddballs) keep gaining on us.

[seanmerc]

You are correct. His name was Pat Tillman. McCaslin did mention him in the article. Very brave, patriotic man.

[MizSterious]

From the article: We hereby challenge readers to name one modern American celebrity, apart from the late football star Pat Tillman..."

[absolootezer0]

check out this link for more related stars in the military
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1520231/posts
also.. didn't bruce willis try to join recently?

[marlon]

I don't know about Bruce but isn't Demi Mooore a Navy Seal? :-)

[seanmerc]

I had seen this before--it's very cool! Thanks for passing it along.

[seanmerc]

Hoo-ya, master chief!

[ARCADIA]

Well if you can't appeal to a man's soul, you can always get the message across through his wallet. Put an exercise tax on all entertainment productions and a counter-balancing tax credit for public service. You would be surprised just how fast Hollywood rediscovers patriotism.

[LS]

What is worth noting, however, is that the sons and daughters of our Senators/Congressmen/women are in the military than in the population as a whole!!

[LS]

Hope you'll check out America's Victories" when it's released next month. I'm already scheduled to be on Michael Medved, "Mancow in the Morning," and many, many more. I'll post a full schedule when I know it.

[Getready]

How about a book or a piece of paper with information on
what "current" stars have ever been in the military?
I would bet it would be about 2 or 3 people.
The trouble is, we are so rich we can afford to pay for
an "acting" class of person. When we get broke enough
paying all our money for foreign oil, or foreign goods,
we won't have enough to pay big bucks for the "acting" class.

[newcthem]

Great article..........makes you truly admire the true Americans of the past and detest the fruitcake slimeball of today's Holywood.

[macamadamia]

I'll add Chicagoland's Ray Rayner. A great guy. He flew in a B-17 and spent a couple of years in a German camp. These guys are (were) all around us. He showed good cheer and optimism every day to countless people...even though he saw humanity at its worst in Germany.

You'd think the WWII generation would be the most cynical...and today's 20-somethings the happiest. But to me it looks upside down. In 1944 it was Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen's "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive." What is it today?

[ARCADIA]

You'd think the WWII generation would be the most cynical...and today's 20-somethings the happiest. But to me it looks upside down. In 1944 it was Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen's "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive." What is it today?

Lets be fair to the younger generations. The parents of the WWII crowd didn't saddle them with enough debt to choke the country for next 100 years. Nor had their parents allowed an undeclared invasion to fester for 20 years, or sold off our entire industrial and technological base for fast buck. They have a good reason to be angry. We are not doing right by them.