The outbreak of World War II in September 1939 put the entire world arms machinery to work and, above all, put human capacity to the test because, as General George S. Patton said: “Wars are fought with weapons but are won by men”. Out of that huge number of men who swelled the ranks of the armies and who fought against the enemy to serve their country, prominent personalities of the 20th century came out in various fields such as the American presidents John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, George HW Bush, writers like JD Salinger, sportsmen like Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, and James J. Braddock “Cinderella Man” or authorities of the stature of Benedict XVI himself (whose secular name is Joseph Ratzinger) or Queen Elizabeth II of England.
Here we are going to make a brief mention of some of the most renowned actors who had some type of military occupation during World War II.
charles bronson
The tough American actor, Charles Bronson, who achieved fame from the 1960s with works such as “The Great Escape”, “Twelve of the Gallows” either “I’m the justice” Y “The vigilante of the night” enlisted in the US Air Force’s 760th Flexible Artillery Training Squadron. In 1945, he was assigned to the Pacific front, specifically to the Guam base at the 61st Bomber Squadron, which was within the 39th Bomber Division, carrying out 25 missions on the Japanese islands aboard a Boeing B29 and reaching be awarded a Purple Heart.
Richard Burton
Welshman Richard Burton, winner of a Golden Globe in 1977 for his performance in the film «Equus”, After completing his 6-month fellowship at the University of Exeter, he sat for the RAF pilot’s entrance exams in 1944 at the tender age of 19. However, he was not accepted due to the vision problems that he suffered, being assigned to other functions in the Wiltshire Military Hospital of the RAF, such as Aircraftman 1st Class. His journey in the RAF lasted until he was relieved of his military duties on December 16, 1947.
Kirk Douglas
One of the most renowned actors in the world and who, a few months ago, reached a whopping 100 years of age, also had the honor of serving his country during such a turbulent period. the actor of “Paths of Glory” Y “Spartacus”, He was called up in 1942, joining the United States Navy. He was then sent for instruction to the University of Notre Dame midshipman’s school, from which he would come out with the rank of ensign. Later he was assigned to the Pacific front where he would serve as a communications officer in the Antisubmarine Unit 1139 during the years 1942 and 1943.
Henry Fonda
The winner of two Oscars, Henry Fonda, who stands out for his participation in films such as “Fort Apache” either “On Golden Pond”, also did not want to remain oblivious to the conflict that was ravaging the entire planet and, despite having already begun his film career, he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943 stating that «I did not want to be in a fake war in a studio ». He was originally assigned to the destroyer USS Satterlee as Quartermaster Third Class. Later he was promoted to ensign, doing anti-aircraft duty in the Central Pacific, for which his unit would receive a Presidential Award and he himself would be awarded a bronze star. He was discharged with honors in the year 1946.
Clark Gable
We will never forget Clark Gable as Rhett Butler saying to Vivien Leigh’s Scarlett O’Hara his famous “frankly darling I don’t care about that” in “Gone With the Wind”, when she finally made sure of her love for him. What it seems that good old Clark cared about was not remaining oblivious to the war in which his country was fully involved, despite already being a world-renowned actor and the reluctance of the Metro Goldwyn Mayers to let him leave for The front. It is then that he enlists in the United States Air Force in August 1942, reaching the rank of captain in 1943 when he was in the 351st Anti-Aircraft Squadron at the Pueblo Army Air Base in Colorado. In that same year he was posted to England, where he served with the RAF as an observer gunner on a Boeing B17, participating in 5 missions for which he was awarded the Air Medal of the United States Air Force and with the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1944, with his return to the United States, he was promoted to major, serving as a reserve officer until September 1947, when he resigned his position. When authorities such as Hermann Göring or Adolf Hitler himself found out about his participation in the conflict, they offered a juicy reward for whoever was able to capture the actor alive. Among other distinctions that he obtained we find the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medalthe European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the Aerial Gunner Wings.
charlton heston
The famous actor of “Planet of the Apes”, was another of the personalities who performed a notable military service during World War II. During 1944 he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he worked as a radio operator and aerial gunner aboard a B-25 Mitchell of the 77th Bomber Squadron (Eleventh Air Force) operating in the Aleutian Islands, located in the Pacific, reaching the rank of sergeant. He was discharged with honors in the year 1946.
Benny Hill
Few people could imagine that the affable-smiling British comedian Benny Hill could have carried out some kind of action related to the military field throughout his life. However, the Second World War was a conflict that left no one unaware, much less the United Kingdom, continually punished by Luftwaffe bombing. Therefore, in the year 1942, Benny was called up and trained as a mechanic for the British Army. Although he did not get to fight, he was stationed in Normandy in 1944 after the landing, where he worked as a truck driver and as a light operator, to later finish his service in the Combined Entertainment Services division, where he would remain until that the fight ended.
William Holden
Of the personalities mentioned so far, perhaps William Holden is the one who had a more discreet participation in the war, but no less important for that. The actor of movies like “Startag 17”, “The Burning Colossus” either “Wild Bunch”enlisted in 1943 in the United States Air Force, where he managed to reach the rank of lieutenant thanks to his work as an actor in instructional films for Air Force pilots.
burt lancaster
Another of the icons in the history of United States cinema, known for that synthesis of gallantry and toughness that characterized him so much, also joined the ranks of the US Army in 1942. The actor who won an Oscar for his performance in “Elmer Gantry”, who until that year worked as a circus acrobat thanks to his gymnastic skills and as a salesman or singer in small venues, was assigned to the 21st Special Services Division, whose mission was to entertain the soldiers to try to keep their morale from falling. completely depleted by the war. He remained with the United States Army in Italy until he was discharged in 1945.
Christopher Lee
One of the actors who performed military duties between 1939 and 1945 and who is perhaps one of the best known on this list, for his long career that extends almost until his death in 2015 and to which fans of the sagas of “Star Wars” either “The Lord of the rings” We have special affection for him, he is the British Christopher Lee. In addition, his military career is very special because his services began when he was only 17 years old and enlisted in the Volunteer Corps assigned to Finland, which had been invaded by the USSR in November 1939 in what is known as “Winter War”. Later, he served until 1944 in the RAF in the 260th Squadron, which operated in missions in North Africa and Italy. He was later assigned to the intelligence services where he remained until the end of the war, retiring with various decorations for his service and the rank of flight lieutenant.
Jack Lemon
The achievements of John Uhler Lemmon III, better known as Jack Lemmon, are not only limited to his artistic career, where he won the Oscar for best supporting actor in 1955 for his performance in “Layover in Hawaii” and the Oscar for best actor for “Save the tiger” in 1973. During his stay at Harvard University in 1944, the actor in films such as “Apartment” either “Days of wine and roses”pointed to V-12 Navy College Training Program, a program designed to supplement and assist officers in the United States Navy. During World War II he served at a rank equivalent to today’s second lieutenant on a Navy aircraft carrier, then returned to Harvard and graduated in 1947.
Lee Marvin
A young Lee Marvin, with a large frame but still without his characteristic white-dyed hair, left school when he was only 18 years old to join the United States Marine Reserve Corps in August 1942. Major Reisman of “Twelve of the Gallows”, served in the Fourth Marine Division, which was active on the Pacific Front during World War II. When he was part of the I Company of the Third Battalion in the 24th Marine Regiment, he was sent to the Battle of Saipan in June 1944, where he was wounded during the assault on Mount Tapochau by machine gun fire, which severely damaged his sciatic nerve, also receiving a sniper shot in the foot. After spending an entire year in a military hospital recovering from his war wounds, he was honorably discharged in 1945, earning a rank equivalent to corporal and various decorations including a Purple Heart.
Meredith Burgess
The endearing actor Burgess Meredith, twice nominated for an Oscar, and who left us with such good times by embodying the strong-willed but big-hearted coach Mickey Goldmill in the legendary film saga “Rocky”, also showed his patriotism by enlisting in February 1942. He was part of the United States Air Force, where he rose to the rank of captain. From here, he was transferred to the Office of War Information, where he was involved in filmmaking for military purposes, even acting in a short military film during his service in 1943 known as “Rear Gunner”. He graduated with honors in 1945…