FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Hollywood Heroes Part 3 ~ June 24, 2013

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served
in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States
Armed Forces Today!

---

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Hollywood Part 3
 

           

This Hollywood hero may not be news to you, but it's always good to honor them!  The Hollywood "heroes" of today don't hold a candle to this one.

Jimmy Stewart

James Stewart wanted his war heroics kept a secret following WWII, but the truth is that he was one of it's great heroes.

One of the first Hollywood celebrities to be drafted into the United States Army, Jimmy was initially rejected for failing to meet the minimum height/weight ratio requirements (he was ten pounds under weight). He could have avoided war service with his dignity preserved, but instead set about getting up to the 148 pounds required of him by going on a high fat diet. On his second attempt to enlist (in the Army Air Corps) he just scraped through.

Enlisted as a private he began pilot training in the USAAC. It was during this time that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, bringing the US into the war. Continuing his training, he earned a commission as a second lieutenant in January of 1942.

Already a skilled pilot before the war, Jimmy was posted as an instructor pilot at various air bases within the US and used in a propaganda film to encourage Air Force recruitment and keep public morale high. The military, fearful of losing a major celebrity in action, wanted to keep him safe and sound in the United States, but this was not enough for Stewart. He wanted to serve in Europe.

Frustrated and concerned that he would be kept 'behind the lines' for the rest of the war, he appealed to his commander, who cooperated with his wishes, and in August of 1943 reassigned him to a unit which was shortly to be sent into action overseas. The unit was the 445th Bombardment Group. Arriving at their base in Norfolk England in December of 1943, the 445th immediately began combat operations flying missions over Germany. It was during this stage of his service that Stewart, as a result of bravery and intelligence in battle, was promoted to the rank of Major. In March of 1944 he was transferred as group operations officer to the 453rd Bombardment Group, and during this time he flew as command pilot in the groups lead B-24 plane on several missions deep into Nazi-occupied Europe.

In July of 1944, after flying 20 highly dangerous combat missions (note that this was the officially recorded number - he often instructed his personnel not to record his missions), having survived a major air battle with the Luftwaffe and a near fatal crash landing, James Stewart was made Chief of Staff of the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing of the Eighth Air Force, thus finally, to the Armies relief, removing him from direct combat.

By the end of the war he had achieved the rank of Colonel, had received the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions in combat TWICE, had been awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Air Force, and also received the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters.

Remaining an active member of the US Air Force Reserve after the war, he retired in May of 1968 with the rank of Brigadier General.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[Lady Jag]

[Lady Jag]

 

Beau

By Jimmy Stewart
1908-1997
[Beloved Actor, WWII Veteran, Humanitarian]

He never came to me when I would call
Unless I had a tennis ball,
Or he felt like it,
But mostly he didn't come at all.

When he was young
He never learned to heel
Or sit or stay,
He did things his way.

Discipline was not his bag
But when you were with him things sure didn't drag.
He'd dig up a rosebush just to spite me,
And when I'd grab him, he'd turn and bite me.

He bit lots of folks from day to day,
The delivery boy was his favorite prey.
The gas man wouldn't read our meter,
He said we owned a real man-eater.

He set the house on fire
But the story's long to tell.
Suffice it to say that he survived
And the house survived as well.

On the evening walks, and Gloria took him,
He was always first out the door.
The Old One and I brought up the rear
Because our bones were sore.

He would charge up the street with Mom hanging on,
What a beautiful pair they were!
And if it was still light and the tourists were out,
They created a bit of a stir.

But every once in a while, he would stop in his tracks
And with a frown on his face look around.
It was just to make sure that the Old One was there
And would follow him where he was bound.

We are early-to-bedders at our house--
I guess I'm the first to retire.
And as I'd leave the room he'd look at me
And get up from his place by the fire.

He knew where the tennis balls were upstairs,
And I'd give him one for a while.
He would push it under the bed with his nose
And I'd fish it out with a smile.

And before very long
He'd tire of the ball
And be asleep in his corner
In no time at all.

And there were nights when I'd feel him
Climb upon our bed
And lie between us,
And I'd pat his head.

And there were nights when I'd feel this stare
And I'd wake up and he'd be sitting there
And I'd reach out my hand and stroke his hair.
And sometimes I'd feel him sigh
and I think I know the reason why.

He would wake up at night
And he would have this fear
Of the dark, of life, of lots of things,
And he'd be glad to have me near.

And now he's dead.
And there are nights when I think I feel him
Climb upon our bed and lie between us,
And I pat his head.

And there are nights when I think
I feel that stare
And I reach out my hand to stroke his hair,
But he's not there.

Oh, how I wish that wasn't so,
I'll always love a dog named Beau.

[From Jimmy Stewart and His Poems, 1989]
 

[Arrowhead1952]

Good afternoon LUV and (((HUGS))). Another hot one for us here.

[Arrowhead1952]

I noticed a lot of houses here already have 4th of July banners on the eaves and fences. Mine is out too.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sneaking in to say Happy Monday!! Have a good rest of the day, beachy...((HUGS))

[Lady Jag]

Now that you mention it there were a lot of red, white and blue banners displayed. Not having July 4th on my mind I thought no further. This is Massachusetts, too.

I hope it’s a sign.

[luvie]

Howdy! (((hugs)))

Stay cool if ya can! I run from AC to AC as fast as possible. Gonna be over 100 by midweek. Ugh!

[Arrowhead1952]

Our area is very conservative. We are one of the precincts in Travis county Texas that votes for the (R) with a 75% or higher margin and has a lot of retired military. People with 0 bummer stickers on their cars are hard to find.

[Arrowhead1952]

We gave the dog a shave yesterday. She loves her new cut and had a bit of spunk in her step this morning.

[Lady Jag]

That’s why I mentioned Massachusetts, the bluest of blue having a preponderance of patriotic banners on homes 2 weeks before July 4th.

[Arrowhead1952]

That’s why I mentioned Massachusetts, the bluest of blue

You must feel like we do, the one small blood red area in the blue cancer spot of Travis county.

[luvie]

I’ll bet she feels so much better! :)

[Lady Jag]

Spot on! I have made a few conversions and a few enemies as enjoy my political perversion in Mass.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Lady J...what a wonderful poem.

Thanks.

[Kathy in Alaska]

That should be a fun visit. Whatever will you do with yourself. LOL!

[Lady Jag]

I remember the Johnny Carson Show that Jimmy Stewart read his poem on. Both men were crying at the end of it. Stewart read it with love.

[SandRat]

I was laft with bunch of tasks that Mrs. SR wants done while she is gone as well to MI.

[beachn4fun]

We gave the dog a shave yesterday. She loves her new cut and had a bit of spunk in her step this morning.

Good morning dear ((HUGS))
I bet she did. LOL

[Arrowhead1952]

I’ll bet she feels so much better! :)

Yup. She was in the AC panting on Saturday evening.

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning beachy and (((HUGS))) to you too.