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Gobel graduated from Chicago's Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1937. Initially a country music singer, he appeared on the National Barn Dance on WLS radio and, after service in World War II, turned to comedy. During World War II, Gobel served in the United States Army Air Forces as a flight instructor in AT-9 aircraft at Altus, Oklahoma and later in B-26 Marauder bombers at Frederick, Oklahoma. In a 1969 appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Gobel joked, "There was not one Japanese aircraft got past Tulsa.

Ira Hamilton Hayes (January 12, 1923 – January 24, 1955) was a Pima Native American and a United States Marine who was one of the six flag raisers immortalized in the iconic photograph of the flag raising on Iwo Jima during World War II. Hayes was an enrolled member of the Gila River Pima Indian Reservation located in the Pinal and Maricopa counties in Arizona. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve on August 26, 1942, and after recruit training, volunteered to become a Paramarine. He fought in the Bougainville and Iwo Jima campaigns in the Pacific Theatre...

Eric Fleming was born Edward Heddy Jr. on July 4th 1925 in Santa Paula, California, an area renowned for its oil refineries. His father, an oil worker, mercilessly beat his only child, so severely on one occasion that he was unable to get up for two days. In 1934 aged eight, Eric held a revolver to his sleeping father's head, in an attempt to kill him. The revolver misfired, and Eric ran away from home. He made his way to Chicago, where he lived rough, begging for food and running errands for gangsters. He committed petty thefts and delivered liquor...

Born July 2, 1916 in Lamar, Colorado, Ken Curtis was the youngest of three sons born to Dan Gates and Nellie (Sneed) Gates. His real name was Curtis Wain (not Wayne) Gates and he grew up in Las Animas, Colorado where his father was the sheriff. Circa 1939-1940, he was a staff/studio singer doing non-country and non-western tunes over the NBC radio network. In the 1940 census, he's living in Yonkers, New York and his occupation is "Singer - radio". In 1941-1942, he sang with the bands of Shep Fields and Tommy Dorsey (more details on his connection with Dorsey...

Morrow was born in the Bronx, (New York) to a middle class Jewish family, the son of Jean (née Kress) and Harry Morrow, an electric engineer. When he was 17, Morrow dropped out of high school and joined the U.S. Navy. While on active duty he finished his high school requirements and upon his discharge he enrolled under the GI Bill at Florida Southern College, 1948 and 1949, where he first studied pre-law and switched to drama/theatre. Vic then moved to Mexico City and attended college there majoring in drama. He was also a student of the famous "Actors Workshop"...

Enlisting in the United States Navy during World War II, he was an active participant in the Battle of Tarawa in November, 1943, one of most savage battles in the Pacific Theatre. He is credited with braving enemy fire during 26 rescue missions saving wounded United States Marines, and was awarded the Bronze Star with a combat ‘V

Fess Elisha Parker Jr. was born Aug. 16, 1924, in Fort Worth and grew up on farm near San Angelo, Texas. He was named after his father ("Fess" means "proud" in Old English). After graduating San Angelo High School he served in the U.S. Navy in World War II on board the USS Clay (APA-39) and participated in mopping-up operations in the Philippines aboard the USS YMS-334. Parker's height prevented him from entering Navy flight school. Then he tried for aviation radio gunners school in the Navy. "They threw me out because I was too big. They said, "You'll never...

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...

Mickey Rooney's Service Record. In June of 1944, Mickey was inducted into the United States Army at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, Calif. Three days later he boarded a troop train headed for Fort Riley, Kansas where the Mick was instructed in cavalry tactics. A trooper for sure, Mickey particularly enjoyed basic training: the forced marches with heavy packs, the obstacle courses, and especially time spent on the rifle range where he qualified as sharpshooter with the automatic rifle. He was quite clearly leadership material and within two weeks time was promoted to squad leader. Despite that the Mick excelled...

In 1942, following Lombard's death, Gable joined the U.S. Army Air Forces. Before her death, Lombard had suggested Gable enlist as part of the war effort, but MGM was obviously reluctant to let him go, and until her death he resisted the suggestion. Gable made a public statement after Lombard's death that prompted Commanding General of the AAF Henry H. Arnold to offer Gable a "special assignment" in aerial gunnery. Gable, despite earlier expressing an interest in officer candidate school (OCS), enlisted on August 12, 1942, with the intention of becoming an enlisted gunner on an air crew. MGM arranged...

After Basic Training Stone landed in Vietnam on September 16, 1967, and was assigned to the 2nd Platoon of Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th infantry, stationed near the Cambodian border. He was wounded twice in action, and was later transferred to 1st Cavalry and assigned to a Long Range Reconnaissance Platoon in April of 1968. It was during this time that he Juan Angel Elias, who would become the inspiration for Sgt. Elias (Willem Dafoe) in Platoon, which drew heavily on Stone's Vietnam experiences. Eventually Stone was discharged in November 1968 after 15 months of duty, and received two personal...

Jones went to the University of Michigan to study medicine, but soon discovered acting. After college, he served in the military during the Korean War, returning to his passion of performing once he finished his service. Moving to New York City, Jones studied at the American Theatre Wing, and found a job as a janitor to make ends meet during the early days of his career.

Naval Service PO1 Boone first shows in US Navy Muster Reports Show his sqaudron being transporter aboard the USS Prince WIlliam leaving San Diego on June 14, 1943 and his rank at that time was AOM3c (E-4) or Petty Officer 3rd Class. He arrived somethime after that at Naval Air Station Maui, Hawaii On June 29, 1943, the squadrom was once again transported via the USS Panay from NAS Maui to NAS Pearl Harbor. for possible departure on a carrier. Muster reports do not show PO Boone again untile he being transported on November 5, 1943 from Maui to Pearl...

Born in Kentucky in 1920, Conrad was the son of a theatre-owner who moved to southern California, where he excelled at drama and literature while at school. He began his career as an announcer, writer and director for the Los Angeles radio station KMPC, before becoming a Second World War fighter-pilot in 1943. Two years later, he left the US Air Force with the rank of captain, having finished his time in it as producer-director of the Armed Forces Radio Service. Back in civvy street, Conrad acted in radio dramas and was the original Marshal Matt Dillon in the so-called...

In October 1951 while Clint was on leave, he was a passenger on a Douglas Torpedo Bomber heading back to his base. The bomber experienced some major problems and had to ditch at sea just north of San Francisco about a mile or so off Point Reyes. Clint survived the crash and had to swim about three miles to safety! A map in included among the pictures we have posted here on his profile page.

The apprentice seaman remained in the Navy for ten years (including one hiatus), from October 1935 to October 1941 and then from January 1942 to September 1945. His first tour was served on board the four-stacker USS Lamberton (DD-119). During the 1930s the Lamberton operated out of San Diego, towing targets for surface combatants, submarines, and aircraft, a role that was to serve her well during World War II. She also participated in experimental minesweeping exercises and was redesignated DMS-1 (minesweeper, destroyer) in November 1940. In 1941 Borgnine left the Navy, only to reenlist after Pearl Harbor. From January 1942...

Van Cleef’s first love was the sea; he volunteered as both an air warden and plane spotter in high school and enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating at age 17 in compressed high school course in 1942. He enter service on Oct 16, 1942 and went to Sonorman School and graduated as a third class petty office Sonorman. His reported to his first vessel a subchaser with no name called USS SC-681 from March 15, 1943 to January 16,1944. During his time on board he was promoted to 2nd Class Petty Officer Sonorman. This SC-681 patrolled the Caribbean in...

Gene was born Eugene Alden Hackman in San Bernadino, California on the 30th of January, 1930 to Eugene Ezra (newspaper pressman) and Lyda Hackman. He is 6'2" and has been married twice. Once to Faye Maltese (1 January 1956 to 1986), whom he had three children (Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie) with before they divorced, and currently to Betsy Arakawa. Gene and Betsy were married in December of 1991. Faye was a bank Clerk and Betsy, a classical pianist. When he was 16, Gene joined the Marines for three years and then found himself in New York, working various jobs. Eventually,...

After graduating Principia College in 1953, Duvall decided to follow a path similar to his father's and enlisted in the U.S. Army. During his time in the Army, Duval leveraged his passion and took up acting. While stationed at Camp Gordon, he acted in plays such as "Room Service." Later, due to his having served during the years of the Korean War, the media would often misunderstand his participation during the fighting. He left the military after two years of service at the rank of Private First Class.

Rod Serling served as a U.S. Armyparatrooper and demolition specialist with the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division in the Pacific Theater in World War II from January 1943 to January 1945 (Discharged stateside in 1946). He was seriously wounded in the wrist and knee during combat and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Serling's military service deeply affected the rest of his life and influenced much of his writing. Due to his wartime experiences, Serling suffered from nightmares and flashbacks. During his service in World War II, he watched as his best friend was crushed to...