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Re: Celebs that served in the Military


Jimmy Stewart could be summed up in one word, persistent. He had a private pilot certificate in 1935 and a commercial pilot's license in 1938. He was drafted in 1940 but was turned down for being underweight. He was accepted on his second attempt to enter the Army Air Corps.

He was a corporal when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Due to his college education and commercial pilot's license he was allowed to enter flight training, even though he was over the maximum age restriction, and was commissioned as a 2nd LT on Jan. 1, 1942. He wanted to fly combat missions but was initially used for recruiting and training pilots. He persisted in wanting fly in combat missions and finally became commander of the 445th Bombardment Group with B-24 Liberators, and flew in his first combat mission to bomb a U-boat facility in
Kiel, Germany.

In 1944 he was promoted to Major and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1945 he was promoted to full Colonel and received a second Distinguished Flying Cross and French Croix De Guerre. All in all he flew in 20 sorties during the war. He was the first major Hollywood star to wear a military uniform in the war, and one of very few people to go from a Private to full Colonel in 4 years.

After the war he continued on in the new Air Force Reserve. In 1959 he was promoted to Brigadier General. He flew as an observer during an arc bombing run in Vietnam in 1966 and retired from the Air Force in '68.

In 1983 President Reagan promoted him to Maj. General on the retired list.




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Re: Celebs that served in the Military


And in 2018 we have Stephen Colbert.
7/24/2018, 1:52 am Link to this post Send Email to Physical Culturist   Send PM to Physical Culturist Blog
 
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Re: Celebs that served in the Military


Ted Williams made it into the major leagues in 1939. In Jan of '42 he was drafted into the Army and classified as 1-A. His lawyer got him reclassified as 3-A claiming he was the sole provider for his mother. There was a public outcry, and Quaker Oats dropped him as a sponsor (it happened then too). Ted, who said he always ate Quaker Oats, quit eating them after that.

In May of '42 he enlisted in the Navy Reserve.
He went on active duty in '43 and was commissioned a 2nd LT in the Marines as a Navy Aviator. He completed all his training on the "Corsair", but by late '43 the need for fighter pilots was diminished in the Pacific so he was made an instructor. He played baseball on some military teams including the Army League in Pearl Harbor along with Joe DiMaggio, Joe Gordon and Stan Musial. He was discharged in '46.

In 1952 Williams was called back into active duty for service in Korea. He was trained to fly the F9F-5 "Panther". In Korea he served with VMF-311. He flew 39 combat missions, survived a crash landing, and was awarded 3 Air Medals. He was sent home due to a severe ear infection and recurring viruses. He was discharged in '53 after the cease fire went into effect.
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Re: Celebs that served in the Military


oats give me gas worse than beans do.
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Re: Celebs that served in the Military


Tyrone Power was another star that had a great career going when the US entered the war. He enlisted in the Marines in 1942 and did his boot camp in San Diego, then OCS and was commissioned a 2nd LT. He had 180 hours logged as a civilian pilot so he was sent to flight school. He became a 1st LT after completing that. He was over the age for flying combat missions so he flew C-46 "Commando" cargo planes in combat zones. At the battles of Iwo Jima, and Okinawa he flew in cargo and evacuated wounded Marines.

He was discharged from active duty after the war, but stayed in the Marine Reserves. He was promoted to Capt. in '51, and Major in '57. He had the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 bronze stars, and the WW2 Victory Medal. He was buried with full military honors.

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Re: Celebs that served in the Military


bob crane of hogan's heroes fame, spent 2 years in the connecticut national guard.

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Re: Celebs that served in the Military


Curt Gowdy said Ted Williams was the best at about everything he tried to do.

Last edited by Physical Culturist, 7/29/2018, 6:30 pm
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He had it really rough growing up. When he discovered baseball that became his passion. He had a lot of anger inside and strong stubborn streak. He took his anger out on hitting baseballs, that is why he is still the best hitter that ever played the game. Because of his background I think he also had a lot of pride and that helped him to succeed with everything he tried.
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He was relentless as far as reaching the goals he set for himself.
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Re: Celebs that served in the Military


tennessee ernie ford was a bombardier on a b29 over japan.
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