Celebrities in the Armed Forces? Not These Days

Newhouse News Service ^ | 4/16/03 | Michele Melendez

[caisson71]

What Pat Tillman has done speaks more about the man than any sportswriter could do. The Follywood pukes who espouse and insist on their rights of "free speech" have Americans like Pat Tillman and the thousands of other soldiers/marines to thank for their priviledged lifestyles. Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon
(however-the-hell her name is spelled) and the rest of the Follywood slackers are not fit to carry their luggage, shine their boots or serve their meals. God Bless America!

[Fraulein]

[optik_b]

I would like to add that Reagan was not allowed to serve overseas due to failure to pass a health test. It is likely he would have actually done much more had he passed the vision test I believe.

[optik_b]

What is pathetic about today's hollywood is that not just that its impossible to imagine almost any of them pitching in to help with the war but its also that they actually work as activists of dissent. It is ok to have a couple lefties with off the wall points of view but Hollywood has a lot more than a couple!

[AFreeBird]

Greg Kelly, the intrepid FNC reporter embedded with the 3ID during the Iraq campaign, is a Major in the USMCR

And, IIRC, a Harrier driver to boot!

[Illbay]

It seems to me you might be right, but I'd have to go look it up.

[Illbay]

Doesn't matter; he served. Mostly, he made training films. But believe me, he didn't even get Hollywood scale for doing so.

The point isn't whether or where these people went, but that they served.

You'd NEVER see something like that today.

[Illbay]

Elvis was drafted.

[Illbay]

I've seen some of his training films, though. His service was essential. Remember, only about 30% of the military actually see action. Maybe less these days, with the technology that is essential to our military forces.

[Illbay]

I didn't know that.

That's brave; many people believe the Harrier is the most dangerous aircraft ever flown in our military.

[Fraulein]

Elvis was drafted.

Yes, but he proudly went and served.

[AFreeBird]

Ronald Reagan had very limited military service, never overseas.

I believe they had him turning out training films and such for the GI's. Still he chose to serve, they took him and gave him a job. Everyone had a part to play.

Nuff said.

[Mark17]

R. Lee Ermey (Drill Sgt from Full Metal Jacket) served as well.

If I am not mistaken, R Lee was wounded in Vietnam. Also, actor Charles Haid was a Vietnam vet.

[IYAS9YAS]

Band leader Glenn Miller, who at age 38 also was draft-exempt. Even so, in 1942 he approached the Navy, which turned him down. Miller eventually joined the Army Air Corps as a captain and performed for troops overseas. He died on active duty, when his Paris-bound plane crashed.

There is some speculation that his plane may have been hit by ordnance dropped by an Allied bomber returning for mechanical problems. It was said that he was flying in an area used by the bombers to rid themselves of ordnance before landing.

[IYAS9YAS]

Broncos can pound sand after taking up Jake "the Snake".

[Missouri]

Todays Hollywood IS the enemy.

[hattend]

I'm just happy to see Griese gone...LOL!!

Go Broncos!

[hattend]

BTW: You a race plane driver?

Don Rare Bear Fan Sponsor

[Illbay]

Well, I don't know about that. My father was an Army Lieutenant at the time, over there in Germany, and knew a fellow officer in Elvis' unit.

He said Elvis was pretty PO'd about being there, but just went through the motions.

He was a jeep driver, chauffered some brass around.

And I wouldn't compare Elvis to some of these others. These guys volunteered to leave their luxurious lives and serve their countries.

What could Elvis do? Go to jail?

[Illbay]

Again, these guys were NOT "celebrities" before they served. They didn't leave "glamorous lives" and put on the uniform.

Still haven't seen anyone current who has done that outside of Tillman, and I said, he isn't exactly a household name. Most people will draw a blank if you drop his name.