Famous people in WW2 - Paul Harvey and others

[MAW]

I saw in one write up about the death of the great radio personality Paul Harvey that he was a WW2 Air Corps veteran. Does anyone know what unit he was in or what he did?

 

 

I know Ed McMahon was a Marine in WW2...but I don't know his unit, etc.

 

 

The late senator Strom Thurmond was a major in the 82nd Airborne. There was a local vet who corresponded with him regularly because they met on D-day. Thurmond called the local vet at least once a year to check on him and chat.

 

 

Can anyone give more information, and do you know of other celebrities/famous people that were in the service?

[BEAST]

How about Humphrey Bogart? Saw service in the US Navy during WWI.

[MAW]

I found this listing... http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/20112

 

1. Pete Rose was in the Ohio Army National Guard. He served at Fort Knox for six months, where he was a platoon guide, and then with a Reserve Unit at Fort Thomas for three years, where he was a company cook.

 

2. Glenn Miller really wanted to serve his country. Because he was too old (38), the Navy turned down his services. He actually had to convince the Army Air Forces to accept him. He said he wanted to lead a “modernized army band”, and he did. He and his band had a weekly radio broadcast that was so successful, he was upgraded to a 50-piece band that traveled all over the world playing for troops. In England alone, he and his band gave 800 performances. On December 15, 1944, Major Glenn Miller was on his way to Paris when his plane disappeared over the English Channel. Neither Miller or the plane have ever been found. Is it just me, or is that picture a dead ringer for Ben Affleck?

 

 

3. Elvis. OMG, did you guys know Elvis was in the military? I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Elvis was drafted on December 20, 1957, completed basic training on September 17, 1958, and then served in Friedberg, Germany (where he met Colin Powell), from October 1, 1958 through March 2, 1960. He could have joined “Special Services,” which basically would have allowed him to receive special treatment because he was Elvis. But he preferred to serve just like everyone else, and the guys who served with him have said that he just wanted to be one of the guys. He was honorably discharged as Sergeant Elvis Presley.

 

 

4. Jimmy Stewart was born to a family of military men – both of his grandfathers were in the Civil War and his dad served in the Spanish-American War and WWI. He was an accomplished pilot before the war even broke out, so when he enlisted in 1941 (the first major movie star to do so), it was no surprise that he began pilot training immediately. When it seemed like he was going to be taken off of pilot duty to make recruitment films and things like that instead, Jimmy appealed to his superior and said that he really wanted to serve in combat. His wish was granted. We don’t know how many missions he flew, because he requested that the total never be released, but we do know that many of his missions were deep into Nazi territory – he wasn’t just running cargo. Jimmy Stewart’s military history could be a whole post by itself, it’s so impressive – but I’ll try to keep it short by just saying that he ended up going from private to colonel in only four years, something only a handful of Americans have ever done. In 1959, he was named Brigadier General. His honors included the Distinguished Service Medal, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, four Air Medals, an Army Commendation Medal, an Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm.

 

 

5. Clark Gable. This is my second post in a row that refers to Clark Gable. I’m going to see if I can fit him in all week! Anyway, I think Gable’s story is the saddest. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces after his wife, Carole Lombard, died in a plane crash. She had been at a war bond rally in Indiana. She had encouraged him to enlist before her death, but MGM didn’t want to lose one of their biggest stars. After she was gone, Gable insisted on enlisting and ended up serving in five high-profile combat missions. Here’s an especially creepy fact: Hitler knew Gable was serving in the U.S. forces and offered a reward to any of his men who brought Gable to him, unharmed. Fortunately, that didn’t happen and was he was honorably discharged as Captain Clark Gable after D-Day. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

 

 

6. Ted Williams not only served in WWII, like most of this list – he also served in the Korean War. His first stint saw him as a flight instructor at the Naval Air Station Pensacola. Although he was no longer on active duty after WWII, he did stay in the reserves and was called back to duty in 1952 and served in the same unit as John Glenn. And don’t think that his celebrity status let him sit back at a cushy desk job – nope, Ted flew 38 combat missions and even received an Air Medal for bringing his damaged plane back to base. When he turned 40, General MacArthur sent him an oil painting and personalized it with this:

“”To Ted Williams - not only America’s greatest baseball player, but a great American who served his country. Your friend, Douglas MacArthur. General U.S. Army.”

 

 

7. Henry Fonda famously enlisted in the Navy with the quote, “I don’t want to be in a fake war in a studio.” He served for three years, first as a Quartermaster (navigator) and then as a Lieutenant, Junior Grade. He received a Presidential Citation and the Bronze Star.

 

 

8. Gene Autry was inducted into the Army Air Forces on July 26, 1942, during a live broadcast of his radio show. He already had a pilot’s license and made it his goal to become a Flight Officer, which he earned on June 21, 1944. His chief duty as a pilot was to haul fuel and other necessities, but he also served at war bond rallies, recruiting drives and with the USO. He was honorably discharged in 1946. His awards included the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.

 

 

9. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., was a reserve officer in the Navy, but he was assigned to Lord Mountbatten’s staff in England, which gave him lots of opportunities that most reserve officers didn’t have. As a result, he came extremely proficient in military deception skills. So, he used those skills to form the Beach Jumpers. The mission of the Beach Jumpers was to land on beaches and convince the enemy that they were the force to be worried about, when in fact the real attacking unit was landing elsewhere. For his ingenuity, Fairbanks was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Merit, the Croix Guerre with Palm, the Legio D’Honneuer, the Italian War Cross for Military and was made an Honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire.

 

 

10. Gene Roddenberry was the creator of Star Trek, so it’s fitting that he was a combat pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941. He was part of the 394th Bomb Squadron that referred to themselves as the Bomber Barons. Like Ted Williams, Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart, he also received the Air Medal. And, also like Stewart and Gable, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross as well.

[General Apathy]

Hi MAW, regarding your request for famous people in WWII, here's a few

 

Audie Murphy, turned down for marines, also for paratroops underweight ended up in the Infantry.

 

Lee Marvin, MARINES ( check out the little story at the bottom of the page )

 

Tony Curtis, USN

 

Kirk Douglas, USN

 

Charlton Heston, USAAF, Radio op.

 

Burt Lancaster, ARMY

 

Ernest Borgnine, USN, 1935-1946

 

Lee Van Cleef, USN

 

Rod Steiger, USN, Destroyer in Pacific

 

Glenn Ford, MARINE

 

Robert Webber, MARINE

 

Richard Brooks, MARINE

 

Dick Van Dyke, USAAF

 

Robert Altman, USAAF, Pilot

 

Charles Bronson, USAAF, Tail Gunner

 

Telly Savalas. ARMY

 

John Huston, Spied for the government when in the Pacific filming pre-war

 

Douglas Fairbanks Jr, USN

 

Clark Gable, USAAF

 

Mickey Rooney, ARMY, Entertainer

 

Robert Stack, USN

 

Robert Ryan, MARINE

 

William Holden, ARMY

 

Robert Taylor, USN

 

James Stewart, USAAF, Pilot

 

William Wyler, USAAF

 

Mel Brooks, ARMY

 

Ben Lyon, Army

 

Jack Palance, USAAF

 

Walter Matthau, USAAF

 

Paul Newman, USN Aircrew Radio op

 

Regarding Lee Marvin, during the filming of the ' Dirty Dozen' one of my friends ( not named to save him embarrassment) worked as a stunt performer and weapons instructor, not knowing anything about many of the actors he proceeded to show Lee Marvin an M-3 Grease Gun. Lee took it from his hands field stripped it, rebuilt it, cocked and triggered it, gave it back to him and said U.S. Marines, Pacific, five years, WWII. OOOOps

 

Cheers ( Lewis )

[normaninvasion]

Great info Lucky Luciano helped US Military Intellegence during WW2 using his mafia connections in Italy and Sicily aiding GIs in the invasion.

[mdk014]

General Apathy,

Awesome story on Lee Marvin. He's always been one of my favorite actors. I always thought him to be bad @$$. You're story just makes me think even more so now!

 

Mike

[1stDivVet]

Alec Guinness (Star Wars~Bridge over the River Kwai) operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.

 

 

James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) landed in Normandy with the Canadian Army and was woundedHe was shot by a machine gun and lost a finger.. . Also served in the RCAF as a pilot flying arty observation planes.

 

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 1950's.

 

 

Clark Gable (Mega-Movie Star when war broke out) Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the U.S. entered WW II, 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 , Fla. 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 Bomb Group at Polebrook where flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s. Capt. 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.-The bomber Clark Gable flew in, Delta Rebel No.II, was lost with all hands on the next mission it flew after Gable returned to the US.

 

 

Charlton Heston was an Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak.

 

 

Earnest 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, more

specifically on B-29s in the 20th Air Force out of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan.

 

 

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

 

 

Eddie Albert (Green Acres TV) was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroic

acti! on as a U. S. Naval officer aiding Marines at the horrific battle on the

island of Tarawa in the Pacific Nov. 1943.

 

 

Brian Keith served as a U.S. Marine rear gunner in several actions

against the Japanese on Rabaul in the Pacific.

 

 

Lee Marvin was a U.S. Marine on Saipan during the Marianas campaign

when he was wounded earning the Purple Heart.

 

 

John Russell: In 1942, he enlisted in the Marine Corps where he

received a battlefield commission and was wounded and highly decorated for valor at

Guadalcanal .

 

 

Robert Ryan was a U.S. Marine who served with the OSS in Yugoslavia.

 

 

Tyrone Power (an established movie star when Pearl Harbor was bombed)

joined the US. . 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 Bay City, Texas who played cowboy parts.

2nd most decorated serviceman of WWII(after Col. Matt Urban) 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 deGuerre 1940 Palm.

 

- Red Skelton (Southern Yankee) was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944 and discharged in 1945

 

-Red Buttons (Longest Day) was a Marine

 

-Bob Keeshan ( Capt. Kangaroo) was a Marine during the war. He did not see action during the war with Lee Marvin as th! e story goes.

 

-Ronald Reagan (Bedtime for Bonzo) was a reserve officer who had enlisted in 1935. He served in the Army Air Force with the 1st Motion Picture Unit making training and education films stateside.

 

-Spike Milligan (BBC The Goon Show) was a gunner with a British AA unit in Tunisia and Europe.

 

-Leslie Howard (Gone With the Wind) was a wounded WW1 vet who worked for the war effort in England during the war. He died on June 1, 1943 when the BOAC plane he was on was shot down by the Luftwaffe. He was returning from Lisbon where he had flewn to meet with Winston Churchill possibly on a secret mission.

 

-Don Knotts (Andy Griffith Show) was in the Army in the South Pacific during the war as a military entertainer in a show called Stars and Gripes. It was his first taste of showbiz.

 

-Johnny Carson (Tonite Show) joined the Navy on the V-12 program and served from 1943-1946 as an officer.

 

-Ed McMahon (Tonite Show) was a decorated USMC fighter pilot and later flew 85 missions in Korea and retired a Brigadier General from the California National Guard

 

-Frank Sutton (Sgt Carter on Gomer Pyle. USMC) took part in 14 assault landings, including Leyte, Luzon, Bataan and Corregidor. The actor who's best known role was playing a Marine Gunnery Sergeant, was unable to pass the Marine Corps physical and ended up serving in the Army.

 

-Alan Hale (Gilligan's Island ) was in the US Coast Guard during the war.

 

-Richard Burton(The Wild Geese) was an RAF cadet Jeffrey Hunter (Star Trek) was in the Navy, but was discharged medically on the eve of his transfer to the Pacific.

 

-Rod Steiger (American Gothic) served in the Navy in the Pacific

 

-Eli Wallach (the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly) was a captain in the Army Medical Corps

 

-Lee Van Cleef (many westerns with Clint Eastwood) served on minesweepers and sub chasers in the Navy

 

-Dean Martin was in the army in 1944, but was invalided out.

 

-Rod Serling was in the US Army(service number 32 738 306), from January 1943 to January 1946, as a paratrooper and combat demolition specialist. He saw heavy fighting in the Phillipines and was WIA there. Serling was discharged as a Technician 5th Grade (the equivalent of a Corporal). Serling's decorations included the World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (w/ Arrowhead Device), Good Conduct Medal, Phillippine Liberation Medal (w/1 bronze service star), Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Honorable Service Lapel Pin. He was also retroactively authorized the Bronze Star Medal, based on receipt of the Combat Infantryman Badge. Serling reportedly suffered from what we now call PTSD--he had "flashbacks" and insomnia for the rest of his life

 

-Jackie Robinson (Brooklyn Dodgers) was a Lt in the US Army

 

-Joe Lewis (heavyweight boxing champ) was a Cpl in the US Army

 

-'Joltin' Joe DiMagio (New York Yankees, married Marilyn Monroe) was in the US Army

 

- Jimi Hendrix was a Cpl in the 101st AB. He was medically discharged after breaking his leg severely on a jump.

 

-Chris Christopherson was in the 1st Air Cav in Vietnam.

 

-Peter Gabriel snuck into the US from Canada to join the US Army and go to Vietnam.

[Cobrahistorian]

Tony Randall served in the AAF during WWII. Friend of mine has a photo of his unit. Pretty cool thread!

 

Charles Durning was not a Ranger, however. He hit Omaha Beach with the 1st Infantry Division on D-Day.

 

Jon

[m1ashooter]

Great Post.

 

Walter R Voorhees Cpl 4th Marine Division, Boys Scout Leader and my late uncle.

 

JFK PT Boats

 

Gerald Ford Navy escort carriers

 

George Bush Navy Pilot

 

Richard Nixon Navy

 

McGovern USAAF Pilot

[Brig]

I thought I heard somewhere that Don Knotts was a Marine, a feared DI on Parris Island. guess we can chalk that up with the rumor that Mr Rogers was a Marine Sniper and wore his sweaters to hide his tats. Rumor mill...

[J_Andrews]

Strom Thurmond was NOT "in" the 82nd Abn Div. He was direct-commisioned in Military Government (latterly known as Civil Affairs).

 

For Normandy, his Mil Gov unit was ASSIGNED to First Army (which SSI he wore) and was ATTACHED to the 82nd, for a few days -- less than a week. Some sources credit him with arriving by GLIDER, but Glider Pilot vets I ran into said "No, he came in by sea, but had his picture taken on the LZs, with gliders in the background."

[J_Andrews]

Charles Durning made it to 1st Sgt. He went in at age 18 and IIRC had his 21st birthday AFTER making MSgt. IIRC he was in the 16th Inf Regt, and was denied re-enlistment in the post-war Army because of his wounds/injuries/health. His birthday was in the last few days -- 85?

[doyler]

There were many silver screen stars that served.There are as many internet urban legends about them.One that surfaces and is not true is about Lee Marvin being a Navy cross reciepiant.Also the Ranger service myth of Charles Durning.

 

RD

[Brig]

the only film 'stars' I've coached on the Rifle Range these past few months have been amateur 'adult film' stars

 

yeah, they get harrassed about that all week long

[trenchbuff]

Great thread! Things sure have changed with the Hollyweird crowd of today.

[Brig]

Great thread! Things sure have changed with the Hollyweird crowd of today.

yeah...they'll PLAY soldier, but they won't actually do it

[El Bibliotecario]

This has been very informative--some of it I knew, much of it I did not.

 

I don't think this forum is the appropriate place, but I suspect a very lively discussion could be started about the many movie personalities who did not serve.

 

Instead, I'll offer this bit about David Niven. I understand that in the '30s he gave up regular soldiering to go to Hollywood, but at the beginning of the war returned to his regiment. An elderly field grade officer spotted him in the mess, and asked what he'd been up to the past few years.

 

"I've been doing pictures, sir," Niven replied.

 

"Really?" the old boy asked. "Watercolors?"

[ItemCo16527]

Sterling Hayden served under the name John Hamilton as a Captain in the Marine Corps during the war, and was seconded to the OSS. He earned a Silver Star and a decoration from Yugoslavia (can't remember the name offhand) for his services supplying arms to Yugoslavian partisans.

[MAW]

Strom Thurmond was NOT "in" the 82nd Abn Div. He was direct-commisioned in Military Government (latterly known as Civil Affairs).

 

For Normandy, his Mil Gov unit was ASSIGNED to First Army (which SSI he wore) and was ATTACHED to the 82nd, for a few days -- less than a week. Some sources credit him with arriving by GLIDER, but Glider Pilot vets I ran into said "No, he came in by sea, but had his picture taken on the LZs, with gliders in the background."

 

 

Interesting.

 

I did a search for Strom in WW2, and came up with this apparently credible biography online http://www.strom.clemson.edu/strom/bio.html

 

"In 1933 Thurmond was elected to the South Carolina Senate and represented Edgefield until he was elected to the Eleventh Circuit judgeship. When the United States entered World War II he left the judgeship temporarily to serve in the U.S. Army. Thurmond was with the Civil Affairs section of the First Army headquarters and participated in the Normandy invasion on assignment with the 82nd Airborne Division. After Germany surrendered in May 1945 he briefly served in the Pacific before returning to South Carolina. In 1946 Thurmond ran successfully for governor of South Carolina. "

 

 

 

I can only add what the local veteran told me. The local vet told me he landed on D-day and ran across an open field to take cover in a fenceline or a hedgerow. He was exhausted and tring to catch his breath and get his bearings...he had his back to a tree. He felt something poke him behind the ear and realized it was the muzzle of a gun....he didn't have time to react, but only heard a "click", followed by cussing in German. The German either forgot to take his rifle off of "safety" or his gun jammed. The local vet told me he turned around and emptied an entire clip from his Thompson into the guy. Soon thereafter, he met Thurmond on the field, and they spent most of D-day together....forming a bond that lasted until Thurmond's death.

 

So....maybe he wasn't in the 82d, but from everything I know he was inland a bit early on June 6th.....which I doubt he could have done if he had landed in a landing craft.

[Lee Ragan]

I have read somewhere (and I can't remember where), that the story about Charles Bronson being a B-29 tail gunner is false. The story said he was a truck driver in the AAF stationed at one of the bases in Arizona. Can anyone confirm which story is correct?

Also ad to the list George Goebel the comedian. (George has been dead for many years now.) Anyway, he was an AAF B-26 instructor pilot stationed in Oklahoma. I remember seeing an old Tonight show clip and he jokingly stated that as long as he was stationed there, that no Japanese plane ever got past Oklahoma.

Actor Raymond Burr who played Perry Mason and later Ironsides, had an official bio sheet written that stated he had been a Navy officer on a ship hit by a Kamakize plane. Turns out he never served a day in his life and enhanced his resume becsue it was the "in" thing back in the 50's to have been a veteran.

[craig_pickrall]

I thought I heard somewhere that Don Knotts was a Marine, a feared DI on Parris Island. guess we can chalk that up with the rumor that Mr Rogers was a Marine Sniper and wore his sweaters to hide his tats. Rumor mill...

 

Brig, this may help some. Hugh O'Brian that played Wyatt Earp on the old TV series in the late 1950's was a DI at PI. He went straight from boot to DI and never served anywhere other than PI. This was during WW2. He has been written about several times in Leatherneck over the years.

 

One that you don't hear about much and might surprise you is Steven Segal is a qualified USMC sniper. This info is from Marine Corp Sniping - Death From Afar Volume 4 by Chandler & Chandler. When the Chandler brothers were making their version of the sniper rifle one of the first went to Segal. He is bad news up close and far away.

[General Apathy]

Hi Everyone here, reading and adding to this thread I just suddenly thought, no mention has been made so far of that most famous of sergeants Phil Silvers, does anyone have any details on him ????

 

Cheers ( Lewis )

[El Bibliotecario]

I don't know if Phil Silvers was ever in the military. He was younger than both Gene Autry and James Stewart, so age would have not been a disqualifier.

From 1940 to 1945 he appeared in one or more films released in each of those years, so I would speculate his military service was limited to roles in YOU'RE IN THE ARMY NOW (1941) and FOUR JILLS IN A JEEP (1944)

 

As for Silvers' TV persona as MSG Bilko, I've heard the army felt the show aided recruiting, and supplied the producer with a veteran NCO as technical advisor. But the old sarge got the acting bug, and when it came time to re-enlist decided to get out and go for an acting career. The sergent's name was George Kennedy.

[teufelhunde.ret]

I know Ed McMahon was a Marine in WW2...but I don't know his unit, etc.

 

When the United States began gearing up for World War II, McMahon wanted to become a Marine fighter pilot. Since the Navy's V-5 program required two years of college, he enrolled in Boston College. When the Navy relaxed the two-year requirement, McMahon dropped out of school and signed up. In early 1943, he first went to a civilian-run Wartime Training School in Texarkana where the Navy evaluated cadets' potential by checking them out in a Piper Cub. Then came the three-month Preflight School at Athens, Georgia. McMahon received primary training at Dallas and intermediate training at Pensacola. McMahon received the single engine carrier syllabus and was assigned to the Marines. After receiving his commission and wings in early 1945, McMahon was sent to the Corsair Operational Training Unit at Lee Field, Green Cove Springs, Florida. Upon completion of training, he was "plowed back" and became an instructor in the same unit. On the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, McMahon received orders to join the Marine carrier program on the West Coast. His orders were canceled and he returned to civilian life. In 1952, he was recalled into the Marine Corps due to the Korean War. After several months of training at Miami and El Toro, McMahon arrived in Korea in February 1953. He flew 85 artillery-spotting missions in the Cessna OE Bird Dog before returning home in September 1953. In 1966 he retired from the reserves as a Colonel.

[General Apathy]

I don't know if Phil Silvers was ever in the military. He was younger than both Gene Autry and James Stewart, so age would have not been a disqualifier.

From 1940 to 1945 he appeared in one or more films released in each of those years, so I would speculate his military service was limited to roles in YOU'RE IN THE ARMY NOW (1941) and FOUR JILLS IN A JEEP (1944)

 

Hi and thanks for the update on Silvers, I have never managed to see the film ' Four Jills in a Jeep ' wish I could, as I would like to see the build details on the jeep as hopefully it would have been a factory issue one and not one that had been rebuilt several times with unspecified manufacture parts.

 

( Yes, Yes I know I live a sad life wanting to see the manufacture details of a Jeep, and I have seen plenty in real life and owned as well but there's never been a chance to see one that has not been through the mill )

 

Cheers ( Lewis )