Posted on 09/02/2006 8:11:10 AM PDT by stm
When Glenn Ford died Thursday morning at the age of 90, major media recalled his long Hollywood career, recalling the 106 films in which he appeared, his many marriages and romances. Wrote the Associated Press, "He was a star to the end of his career."
Glenn Ford was far more than that, yet none of the obituaries bothered to mention his extraordinary patriotism or his distinguished military career. Ford rose to the rank of Captain in the United States Navy after years of dedicated service that began with World War II and continued through the Vietnam War.
He was undoubtedly a star, one of Hollywood's enduring major stars, but as his biography on a Web site devoted to his long life states, his accomplishments were even larger than life off-screen. As his son Peter once told NewsMax.com, Ford was "one of those Ronald Reagan, true-blue American types."
At the beginning of World War II Glenn served in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. In 1942 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. As a Marine he helped build safe houses in occupied France for those hiding from the Nazis and was among the first Americans to enter the infamous Dachau concentration camp at war’s end. He went on to serve in the Navy and at war's end he was commissioned a Commander in the Naval Reserves.
Committed to service in the armed forces, Ford also served two tours of duty in Vietnam with the Third Marine Amphibious Force in 1966-1968. He once went on a jungle mission with a Special Forces Team during the Vietnam War. Ford was the only actor to have served with both the Green Berets and the French Foreign Legion and his military record is well recognized in both the United States and France as a highly decorated veteran.
Among his numerous medals and commendations are the Medal of Honor presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars; the Medaille de la France Libre for the liberation of France; two commendation medals from the U.S. Navy; and the Vietnamese Legion of Merit. He received the rank of Captain with the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1968; retiring in 1977.
Ford bravely served his country in two wars (not on the sidelines, but in the front lines) facing enemy fire on many occasions and never expecting to be treated like a Hollywood star but as a fellow fighting man. He was indeed a hero both on and off the screen.
That's the way Glenn Ford would want to be remembered.
Ford was a conserative, so it's not surprising.
ping to "the rest of the story"
Holy sh*t...
I always liked Glenn Ford as an actor, but I am awed by his personal accomplishments and his commitment to his country. I never knew of them until now.
America lost one of its extraordinary heroes, Thursday, and we are richer for having known him. God rest his soul and give his family peace.
BTTT for MANY who never get their good deeds mentioned....-----The good a man does dies with him...etc etc etc
I wasn't sure to whether to believe this, that they didn't just downplay his service but didn't mention it at all, so I googled "Glenn Ford obituary." Sure enough, the top item is a CNN/AP obituary. They don't even mention in passing that Ford ever served his country. Not once, not even in the twenty-second paragraph.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/30/glenn.ford.dead.ap/index.html
George Orwell would say that they dropped his whole patriotic past down the memory hole.
And the thing is, Ford would probably have preferred that his record and accomplishments weren't mentioned.
That was truly a humble man.
Oh big deal! Sean Penn met with Saddam Hussein. Now THAT is courage!!!
His Dad also wouldn't let Glenn own a car until Glenn was able to take one apart and put it back together.
Yes, it had to be drivable after reassembly, too.
Heck of a guy.
Well said. I had no idea Ford was a Vietnam vet.
I got to meet this guy with my father back around 1959. He was a man and a gentleman.
Just as the media will drop all Hillary's indiscretions and illegalities over the years as she runs for PREZ in 2008. They report what will help to destroy the country.
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The socialist/marxist/liberal media is the most destructive, relentless, and ruthless enemy of this Republic.
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Hollywood used to be a different place, populated by different people. Jimmy Stewart, already a star, enlisted before Pearl Harbor, became a pilot, then an instructor, and made numerous training films. Not content with that, he landed a job with a B-24 Squardon headed for Europe. He rose to squardon commander and flew his 20 combat missions, including the Bloody Thursday raid on Schweinfurt. He could have rotated home and spent the rest of the War selling War Bonds and being wined and dined across America, but he stayed behind when the survivors of his squardon went home, and spent the rest of the European War as a staff officer, rising to full Colonel.
Is there even ONE actor today who could stand in Glenn's presence? I can't think of any.
Hand salute...................two
Actually his career went further, he joined the Air Force Reserves, and retired as a Brigadier General. He even flew in Viet Nam.
Actually his career went further, he joined the Air Force Reserves, and retired as a Brigadier General. He even flew in Viet Nam.
That was James Stuart, not Glen Ford.
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