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Started By
Message
re: World War 2 soldiers who went on to be famous
Posted on 5/9/22 at 10:52 am to BestBanker
Posted on 5/9/22 at 10:52 am to BestBanker
quote:
Don Rickles
Came to say this. Don served on the USS Cyrene in the Philippines during WWII. One of his go-to jokes was "I spent 3 years in the jungle looking for your uncle".
2
Posted on 5/9/22 at 11:34 am to StrongOffer
Russell Johnson aka The Professor in Gilligans Island.
After graduating from high school, Johnson enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet. On completing his training, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He flew 44 combat missions in the Pacific Theater during World War II as a bombardier in B-25 twin-engined medium bombers.[4]
On March 4, 1945, while flying as a navigator in a B-25 with the 100th Bombardment Squadron, 42nd Bombardment Group, 13th Air Force, his B-25 and two others were shot down during a low-level bombing and strafing run against Japanese military targets in the Philippine Islands. The B-25s encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire, and all three had to ditch in the sea off Zamboanga. Johnson broke both ankles in the landing, and his bomber's co-pilot was killed. Johnson received a Purple Heart for his injuries. He was also awarded the Air Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one campaign star, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Johnson was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant on November 22, 1945, then joined the United States Air Force Reserve.[5]
IMMA do this again....
This is why I have came to despise the NFL.
After graduating from high school, Johnson enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet. On completing his training, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He flew 44 combat missions in the Pacific Theater during World War II as a bombardier in B-25 twin-engined medium bombers.[4]
On March 4, 1945, while flying as a navigator in a B-25 with the 100th Bombardment Squadron, 42nd Bombardment Group, 13th Air Force, his B-25 and two others were shot down during a low-level bombing and strafing run against Japanese military targets in the Philippine Islands. The B-25s encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire, and all three had to ditch in the sea off Zamboanga. Johnson broke both ankles in the landing, and his bomber's co-pilot was killed. Johnson received a Purple Heart for his injuries. He was also awarded the Air Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one campaign star, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Johnson was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant on November 22, 1945, then joined the United States Air Force Reserve.[5]
IMMA do this again....
quote:
He flew 44 combat missions
quote:
and his bomber's co-pilot was killed.
This is why I have came to despise the NFL.
This post was edited on 5/9/22 at 11:42 am
Posted on 5/9/22 at 11:34 am to StrongOffer
Bea Arthur ("Maude", "Golden Girls") in the Marines during WWII. Interestingly, she caught the clap and was docked pay for 5 weeks while she was unable to perform her duties.
Posted on 5/9/22 at 11:45 am to SoFla Tideroller
Todays Queen of England...
Posted on 5/9/22 at 11:46 am to fool_on_the_hill
Warren Spahn - Pitched in only four Major League games in 1942 before serving. Spahn received a Purple Heart and was in the Battle of the Bulge as a Army combat engineer at the famous Ludendorff Bridge. He went on to a Hall of Fame career after the war. Had he not lost three full seasons to World War II, he likely would have won over 400 games in his career.
And no he did not serve in the German military...that is from a 1963 cameo in the tv series "Combat."
Bob Feller was already an all-star pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, but put his career on hold and became the first Major Leaguer to enlist after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in the Navy on the U.S.S. Alabama and also missed three full seasons due to the war.
And no he did not serve in the German military...that is from a 1963 cameo in the tv series "Combat."
Bob Feller was already an all-star pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, but put his career on hold and became the first Major Leaguer to enlist after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in the Navy on the U.S.S. Alabama and also missed three full seasons due to the war.
This post was edited on 5/9/22 at 11:56 am
Posted on 5/9/22 at 11:47 am to fool_on_the_hill
Audie Murphy
Posted on 5/9/22 at 12:00 pm to Kafka
quote:
Todd had in fact been offered the opportunity to portray himself in the film, thus publicizing his own real-life heroism, but turned it down because the part was too small.
The line in The Longest Day, "The Paras are always late." While the character Todd was playing was the commander and went in by glider, Todd himself was one of the "Paras" who notoriously were "always late." He wore the beret from the operation during the film (just as Hank Fonda wore his wartime USN cap during the play and film of Mr. Roberts.)
(ETA: This was the last film by Todd and Connery before Connery was cast as James Bond. Both men had been up for the role, with Todd the leading early candidate and was Fleming's favorite for the role.)
This post was edited on 5/9/22 at 12:03 pm
Posted on 5/9/22 at 12:02 pm to SantaFe
quote:
Audie Murphy
When Murphy returned to the United States, Life magazine did a big story on him, and Murphy was on the cover:
If I recall my history correctly, it was James Cagney who saw that issue, called Murphy up, and had him brought to Hollywood to become a star.
Posted on 5/9/22 at 12:03 pm to fool_on_the_hill
GW Bush survived getting shot down at Midway and was lucky enough to get rescued by an American sub instead of a Jap ship where he would have been executed on the spot.
Posted on 5/9/22 at 12:10 pm to VADawg
quote:
GW Bush survived getting shot down at Midway and was lucky enough to get rescued by an American sub instead of a Jap ship where he would have been executed on the spot.
It wasn't Midway, that was June 1942. HW didn't even enlist in the Navy until he turned 18, about a week after Midway. He was shot down during operations around Peel Island (Chichijima) in mid-1944. Everything else is accurate (other aviators shot down during the same timeframe were executed by the Japanese).
Posted on 5/9/22 at 12:29 pm to Ace Midnight
I think there’s newsreel footage of GHWB getting rescued by the sub. I also think he was the youngest naval aviator in WWII, if I remember.
Posted on 5/9/22 at 4:55 pm to SoFla Tideroller
Former hoops coach Jack Ramsey was training for the invasion of Japan when the war ended.
Posted on 5/9/22 at 5:09 pm to OlGrandad
quote:
Williams served as a Naval Aviator during World War II and the Korean War.
He had to crash land in Korea. His plane took AA fire and was damaged.
He flew almost 40 combat flights flying the F9F Panther.
This post was edited on 5/9/22 at 5:24 pm
Posted on 5/9/22 at 5:16 pm to SoFla Tideroller
Posted on 5/9/22 at 5:23 pm to fool_on_the_hill
Bob Barker of Price is Right was a naval aviator in WWII
Posted on 5/9/22 at 6:10 pm to fool_on_the_hill
Ronald Reagan
Posted on 5/9/22 at 6:31 pm to fool_on_the_hill
Shug Jordan
Auburns All time winning coach
Left Georgia as head basketball coach and asst football coach and became a Major in the Army Combat Engineers. One of the very few who participated in every major landing during WWII.
Landed in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, and Okinawa. Won Silver Star on D Day when he refused to leave the beach after being wounded until his objective had been captured.
Auburns All time winning coach
Left Georgia as head basketball coach and asst football coach and became a Major in the Army Combat Engineers. One of the very few who participated in every major landing during WWII.
Landed in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, and Okinawa. Won Silver Star on D Day when he refused to leave the beach after being wounded until his objective had been captured.
Posted on 5/9/22 at 6:51 pm to fool_on_the_hill
quote:
james doohan
joined the Royal Canadian Artillery and was a member of the 14th (Midland) Field Battery, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division.[9] He was commissioned a Lieutenant in the 14th Field Artillery Regiment of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. He was sent to England in 1940 for training. He first saw combat landing at Juno Beach on D-Day. Shooting two snipers, Doohan led his men to higher ground through a field of anti-tank mines, where they took defensive positions for the night. Crossing between command posts at 23:30 that night, Doohan was hit by six rounds fired from a Bren gun by a nervous Canadian sentry:[2] four in his leg, one in the chest, and one through his right middle finger. The bullet to his chest was stopped by a silver cigarette case given to him by his brother.[7] His right middle finger had to be amputated, something he would conceal on-screen during most of his career as an actor
Sounds like he gave 'er all she's got, captain.
Posted on 5/9/22 at 6:59 pm to Pauldingtiger
Bud Moore, longtime NASCAR team owner, was a Silver Star recipient.
Posted on 5/9/22 at 7:48 pm to mdomingue
Dole wrote a short book about his service in the war. It’s been a long time since I’ve read it, but I don’t think he considered himself any kind of hero. IIRC he did some college which delayed his deployment and reading the book, I think he judged himself for it.
He suffered horrible injuries.
My father knew him. He remembered Dole doing his own grueling self prescribed physical rehabilitation, every day.
He suffered horrible injuries.
My father knew him. He remembered Dole doing his own grueling self prescribed physical rehabilitation, every day.
This post was edited on 5/9/22 at 7:52 pm
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