Last week on Aces High we wrote about Jimmy Stewart, the legendary Hollywood actor, who served for his country during WWII. Today we are going to take a closer look at some more of the Hollywood actors who served this nation during times of peril.
Serving in the infantry were these wonderful actors:
- James Arness, from Gunsmoke, served in Anzio, Italy, as a rifleman, and was wounded.
- Charles Durning, who was in the movie The Sting, saw intense combat at Omaha Beach.
- Mel Brooks of Blazing Saddles fame, was an artillery observer.
- Don Knotts was a male nurse for the Army in the Pacific.
- Rod Serling of Twilight Zone fame was a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne in the Pacific.
Those who served on the seas included:
- Eddie Albert won a bronze star at the Battle of Tarawa.
- Buddy Epsen, the Beverly Hillbillies, served in the Coast Guard.
- Henry Fonda won a bronze star in the Navy.
- Douglas Fairbanks served in the British special forces.
- Rod Stieger served at the age of 16.
- Paul Newman was a radioman in torpedo bombers.
- Johnny Carson was an officer on the USS Pennsylvania.
- Kirk Douglas suffered wounds in the Pacific.
And those who served in the sky included:
- Lee Marvin was at the invasions of Kwajalein and Eniwetok and wounded on Saipan.
- Charles Bronson was a tailgunner on a B-29.
- Charlton Heston was a radio man on a B-25 in the Aleutians.
- Jack Palance was disfigured while bailing out of a burning B-24.
- Ed McMahon was a fighter pilot and retired a Brigadier General.
Next week we’ll take a look at United States Presidents who served during World War II, but for now we salute these great actors and commend them for a job well-done during the war.
Anything having to do with World War 2 we are interested in. That probably explains why Aces High has been the number one combat flight simulator for over thirteen years. We live and breathe this stuff, and it shows in our attention to detail in every facet of our online flight sim game.
If you don’t know what we are talking about, try our free download and enjoy our game for no cost. We are willing to bet that once you do, you will be signing up for life.
Grab your helmet, strap in, and fly the skies of Aces High!
