Today, July 4th, we are celebrating our nation’s independence. What does Independence Day mean to us? Sadly, for far too many Americans, it’s merely a day when we can get drunk and raise hell with fireworks. Sure, there are many flags flown, parades held and enjoyable family get-togethers, but the real significance of this special day is lost upon many Americans, even unknown to some of them.
First and foremost, July 4th should be a day when we assert our patriotism. Unfortunately, the word "patriotism" has become closely associated with the right-wing and is a politically incorrect term unless it is used in the context of speaking out against our government’s policies.
We are a nation obsessed with celebrities. Most of today’s movie stars are just a bunch of "girlie boys" who, while they may portray action heroes on the silver screen, would never think of joining our armed forces in defense of their country.
Instead, practicing their own brand of self-professed patriotism, many entertainment celebrities run around at home and abroad protesting against U.S. government policies they don’t like and badmouthing those American leaders they detest.
This Fourth of July is an appropriate time to recall the past when patriotism meant standing up for the good old USA and led many actors to take up a call to arms. Here is a partial list of true heroes among American and British actors who served their respective countries with distinction on the front lines during World War II:
Alec Guinness
Operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.
James Doohan
Captain in the Royal Canadian Artillery Landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day.
Donald Pleasance
R. A. F. pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.
David Niven
Sandhurst graduate - Royal Army Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy.
James Stewart
Stewart entered the Army Air Force as a private. During World War II, he served as a bomber pilot leading more than 20 missions over Germany and took part in hundreds of air strikes during his tour of duty. Stewart earned the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, France's Croix de Guerre, and seven Battle Stars during World War II. In peace time, Stewart continued to be an active member of the Air Force as a reservist, reaching the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in the late 1950s.
Clark Gable
Although he was beyond the draft age, Gable enlisted as a private in the AAF on Aug. 12, 1942 at Los Angeles. He attended the Officers' Candidate School at Miami Beach , Fla. and graduated as a second lieutenant on Oct. 28, 1942. He then attended aerial gunnery school and in Feb.1943 he was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook where he flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s from which he obtained the combat film footage for the movie Combat America. Capt. Gable returned to the U.S. in Oct. 1943 and was relieved from active duty as a major on June 12, 1944 at his own request, since he was over-age for combat.
Charlton Heston
An Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak.
Ernest Borgnine
A U. S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945.
Charles Durning
A U. S. Army Ranger at Normandy earning a Silver Star and awarded the Purple Heart. Durning landed at Omaha Beach in the D-Day invasion. He survived the landing, but was wounded in an ambush during the Battle of the Bulge. He was captured, escaped, and narrowly missed assassination at the Malmedy Massacre. He still carries his memories and battle fatigue to this day.
Charles Bronson
A US Army Air Corps tail gunner on B-29s in the 20th Air Force out of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan.
George C. Scott
A decorated U. S. Marine.
Eddie Albert
Awarded a Bronze Star for his heroic action as a U. S. Naval officer aiding Marines at the horrific battle on the island of Tarawa in the Pacific Nov. 1943. At Tarawa, he was wounded and lost most of his hearing.
Brian Keith
A US Marine rear gunner in several actions against the Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific.
Lee Marvin
A U.S. Marine on Saipan during the Marianas campaign where he was wounded earning the Purple Heart.
John Russell
Enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942 where he received a battlefield commission and was wounded and highly decorated for valor at Guadalcanal.
Robert Ryan
A U. S. Marine who served with the O. S. S. in Yugoslavia.
Tyrone Power
Joined the U.S. Marines after the Pearl Harbor attack. He served as a pilot flying supplies into, and wounded Marines out of, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Don Adams
USMC, Contracted malaria on Guadalcanal.
James Arness
US Army, Wounded at Anzio. Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
Art Carney
US Army. Carney went to Normandy in July of 1944 as a replacement to the 28th Division in position around St Lô. He was part of a 30 calibre machine gun squad. On 15 August 1944 he had just taken up his position and was hit in the right leg by mortar shrapnel.
Jackie Coogan
A glider pilot who volunteered for hazardous duty with the 1st Air Commando Group. In Dec. 1943, the unit was sent to India where, by using CG-4A gliders, it airlifted crack British troops under Gen. Orde Wingate during the night aerial invasion of Burma (Mar. 5, 1944), landing them in a small jungle clearing 100 miles behind Japanese lines.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
US Navy. He joined the naval reserves before the war. During the war he served on the Battleship Massachuesetts and was a Commando raider sent on several land attack missions.
Henry Fonda
US Navy. Bronze Star for Valor.
Glenn Ford
US Navy. In addition to his WWII service, he served in the reserves during the Korean War and the Viet Nam War. He retired as a Captain in the US Naval Reserve.
Jack Palance
US Army Air Corps. 455th bomb group. Required facial reconstruction from terrible injuries received in 1943 when his B17 crash landed in Britain.
Jason Robards Jr
US Navy. He was a radioman on duty at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack.
Ronald Reagan
Captain, US Army Air Corps. Because of a severe hearing loss, he was not allowed any flying duties. Prior to the war, he was a cavalry officer in the Nebraska National Guard.
Jack Warden
Served in the 101st Airborne.
James Whitmore
Served as an officer in the Marine Corps.
And last, but certainly not least, there was America’s most decorated war hero who became a movie star after WWII ended.
Audie Murphy
US Army - the most decorated soldier of WWII. Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Star Medals, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Star Medals with 'V', 2 Purple Hearts, U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Distinguished Unit Emblems, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France), World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar, French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre, French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier, French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Medal of Liberated France, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm.
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