In contrast to many of today's 'action hero movie' stars most of the Hollywood tough guys of the WWII era actually were decorated heroes.

They gave up their wealth, position and fame to become soldiers, many as simple "enlisted men".

This page lists but a few and from this group of only 18 men came over 70 medals in honour of their valour and bravery, spanning Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, Distinguish Service Crosses, Purple Hearts and one Congressional Medal of Honor.

So while some of the current crop of actors and actresses have been in all of the news media lately whining and moaning about various 'important' (i.e. divorce, taxes etc.) issues I would like to remind the people of what the entertainers of 1943 were doing 65 years ago.

Most of these brave men have since passed on.

Alec Guinness (Star Wars) operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.

James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day.

Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) really was an R.A.F. Pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.

David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy

James Stewart Entered the Army Air Force as a private and worked his way to the rank of Colonel. During World War II, Stewart served as a bomber pilot, his service record crediting him with leading more than 20 missions over Germany and taking 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 7 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 at the time the U.S. Entered WWII, Clark Gable enlisted as a private in the AAF on Aug 12, 1942 at Los Angeles. He attended the Officers' Candidate School at Miami Beach 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 Bomber Group at Polebrook where he flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s.
Gable returned to the U.S. In Oct 1943 and was relieved from active duty as a major on Jun 12, 1944 at his own request, since he was over-age for combat.

Charlton Heston was an Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak.

Ernest Borgnine was a U. S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945.

Charles Durning was a U. S. Army Ranger at Normandy earning a Silver Star and awarded the Purple Heart.

Charles Bronson was a tail gunner in the Army Air Corps flying in B-29's in the 20th Air Force out of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan.

George C. Scott was a decorated U. S. Marine.

Eddie Albert was 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.

Lee Marvin was a U.S. Marine on Saipan during the Marianas campaign when he was wounded earning the Purple Heart.

Robert Ryan was a U. S. Marine who served with the O.S.S. In Yugoslavia.

Tyrone Power (an established movie star when Pearl Harbour was bombed) joined the U.S. Marines, was a pilot flying supplies into and wounded Marines out of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Audie Murphy, little 5'5" tall 110 pound Guy from Texas who played cowboy parts:
Most Decorated serviceman of WWII and earned: 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.

So next time you see the Hollywood hard men, Tom Cruise, Sly Stallone etc. in the latest all action blockbuster just have a thought for what they have achieved on real battlefields......