Do you remember these men? Movie/tv stars MILITARY SERVICE

[WarPig1976]

The writer of this piece decries Wayne dissenters as being "liberal" and "left wing"

I take the sentence to mean the leaf lickers praise Wayne for being a "Draft dodger". Think about it, why would other draft dodgers condemn another dodger?

[Bob Womack]

Well now, gents. Let's enjoy our discussion without venturing into politics. Thanks!

Bob Womack
AGF Moderator

[Iditarodjoe2]

A very impressive list. Truly an amazing generation from another time. I find it almost as interesting to note those who are absent from that list. I believe folks like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Desi Arnaz, Perry Como, and Sammy Davis Jr, to name a few, would all have been of age. I also noticed that there are no females on the list, although many non-Hollywood women served and served very well during the war.

[Seaspriter]

also noticed that there are no females on the list, although many non-Hollywood women served and served very well during the war.

I'm a great fan of Marlene Dietrich, who was one of the movie starlets who really went to war against Adolf. Here's what was said in the NYTimes in her obituary:

"Miss Dietrich was a Berliner who was an early and passionate opponent of Nazism. When Hitler started arresting Jews, she financed the escape of several friends. In 1937, while filming the melodrama "Knight Without Armour" in England, she was approached by agents of Hitler offering her an almost blank check to return to Germany to star in movies of her choice. She angrily rejected the offer, and her films were banned in Germany. Soon after, she applied for American citizenship, which was granted in 1939. During World War II, Miss Dietrich became somewhat of a symbol of free Germany. She made anti-Nazi broadcasts in German, took part in many war-bond drives and, in three years, entertained half a million Allied troops and war prisoners across North Africa and Western Europe. Tirelessly and good-humoredly, she roughed it with the G.I.'s, standing patiently in food lines, washing with snow and sleeping in dugouts and ruins, often near the front lines. She sang her movie songs, the international wartime ballad "Lili Marlene" and some current songs, and even played a musical saw, a skill she had mastered for the Berlin stage. The troops loved her. After the war, she was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor the United States Government bestows. France named her a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor and Belgium dubbed her a Knight of the Order of Leopold."

"Marlene Dietrich played to Third Army audiences for nine weeks, by far the longest tour of the "name" shows, during which time over 37,000 troops saw her performance. " She ate with them in chow lines, always going to the back of the line, insisting the boys eat first. (Of course, the boys all then went to the back of the line to stand beside her.)

Marlene was courageous, insisting on performing close to the front lines. She was on Hitler's death lists. In December 1944 she was following the Allies into Germany when Hitler mounted a massive counteroffensive. The 82nd Airborne was sent in to rescue Marlene because she would have been butchered as a traitor by Hitler, who had already imprisoned Marlene's sister in Belsen. The rescue was personally conducted under General Gavin, who reportedly swept her off the ground and carried her to a Jeep to be raced back to safety behind the lines.

The 82nd Airborne had a deep sense of gratitude toward Marlene Dietrich. As they raced into Berlin, General Gavin's senior officers, Colonels Oldfield and McCleery made a bee-line to an address given to them by Marlene -- that of her mother -- to be sure she was safe. The story can be found at:http://www.ww2-airborne.us/division/82_memories.html

While many admire her for her sexuality, often she was dressed in fatigues -- a modern Joan of Arc. It is her courage in the face of battle, asking no reward, that is the sign of real commitment to a cause. She deserved all the medals showered upon her by the allies after the war.

[Seaspriter]

Guess I couldn't resist passing this tidbit along to our Canadian brethren from Marlene Dietrich's autobiography regarding her thoughts about Canadians:

"The Canadian [troops] were the liveliest of all. We met them a lot in Italy. Every time there was some kind of trouble and we heard that the Canadians were coming to help us, everybody was pleased, including the General Staff. They were dependable. They had a combination of the best of the American and British qualities. They exhibited a British stoicism when they were entrusted with an impossible mission. And they didn't swear as much as the Americans."

[FlyingDutchman]

A few surprises in there. Mel Brooks and Don Rickles, who 'da thunk it?

Haha I was surprised too