Military Service
War: WWII
Werner Klemperer joined Army's Special Services unit, touring the Pacific entertaining the troops. (before film career)
Werner Klemperer joined Army's Special Services unit, touring the Pacific entertaining the troops. (before film career)
Werner Klemperer
WWII
War: WWII
Alan Ladd took a brief timeout for military service in the United States Army Air Force's First Motion Picture Unit.
Alan Ladd took a brief timeout for military service in the United States Army Air Force's First Motion Picture Unit.
Alan Ladd
WWII
War: WWII
Burt Lancaster performed with the Army's 21st Special Services Division & served with Gen Mark Clark's 5th Army in Italy. (before film career)
Burt Lancaster performed with the Army's 21st Special Services Division & served with Gen Mark Clark's 5th Army in Italy. (before film career)
Burt Lancaster
WWII
War: post-WWII
Jack Lemmon received V-12 training & served as ensign. (before film career)
Jack Lemmon received V-12 training & served as ensign. (before film career)
Jack Lemmon
post-WWII
War: WWI
Herbert Marshall lost part of his right leg in WWI, serving in the London Scottish Regiment of the British Army. Walked with limp rest of his life.
Herbert Marshall lost part of his right leg in WWI, serving in the London Scottish Regiment of the British Army. Walked with limp rest of his life.
Herbert Marshall
WWI
War: WWII
Strother Martin served as swimming instructor in US Navy. (before film career)
Strother Martin served as swimming instructor in US Navy. (before film career)
Strother Martin
WWII
War: WWII
Walter Matthau served with 8th Air Force in England as B-24 Liberator radioman gunner (same Bombardment Group as James Stewart) (before film career)
Walter Matthau served with 8th Air Force in England as B-24 Liberator radioman gunner (same Bombardment Group as James Stewart) (before film career)
Walter Matthau
WWII
War: WWII
Victor Mature interupted career to serve; served in US Coast Guard aboard Storis doing Greenland patrol work; also War Bond tours & morale shows.
Victor Mature interupted career to serve; served in US Coast Guard aboard Storis doing Greenland patrol work; also War Bond tours & morale shows.
Victor Mature
WWII
War: post-WWII
Steve McQueen saved the lives of 5 Marines during Arctic exercise pulling them from a tank before it broke through ice into sea. (before film career)
Steve McQueen saved the lives of 5 Marines during Arctic exercise pulling them from a tank before it broke through ice into sea. (before film career)
Steve McQueen
post-WWII
War: WWI
During World War I, Adolphe Menjou served as a captain in the ambulance service.
During World War I, Adolphe Menjou served as a captain in the ambulance service.
Adolphe Menjou
WWI
War: WWII
Gary Merrill
WWII
War: WWII
Ivan Moffat enlisted as writer in Special Coverage Unit of US Army Signal Corps, serving under director George Stevens.
Ivan Moffat enlisted as writer in Special Coverage Unit of US Army Signal Corps, serving under director George Stevens.
Ivan Moffat
WWII
War: WWII
Robert Montgomery interupted career to serve; joined US Navy & rose to the rank of lieutenant commander.
Robert Montgomery interupted career to serve; joined US Navy & rose to the rank of lieutenant commander.
Robert Montgomery
WWII
War: WWII
Jeff Morrow
WWII
War: WWII
Audie Murphy was the most decorated US soldier of WWII during 27 months in action in the European Theatre. (served before film career)
Audie Murphy was the most decorated US soldier of WWII during 27 months in action in the European Theatre. (served before film career)
Audie Murphy
WWII
War: WWII
Paul Newman served as radioman-gunner on USS Bunker Hill during Battle of Okinawa; flew as turret gunner in Avenger torpedo bomber. (before film career)
Paul Newman served as radioman-gunner on USS Bunker Hill during Battle of Okinawa; flew as turret gunner in Avenger torpedo bomber. (before film career)
Paul Newman
WWII
War: WWII
David Niven interupted career to serve; took part in Normandy Invasion arriving several days after D-Day; served in Phantom Signals Unit reporting enemy positions
David Niven interupted career to serve; took part in Normandy Invasion arriving several days after D-Day; served in Phantom Signals Unit reporting enemy positions
David Niven
WWII
War: WWII
Jack Palance's face was disfigured when he bailed out of burning B-24 Liberator bomber while on training flight. (before film career)
Jack Palance's face was disfigured when he bailed out of burning B-24 Liberator bomber while on training flight. (before film career)
Jack Palance
WWII
War: WWII
H.C. Potter served as Superintendent of Operations, Falcon Field, Phoenix AZ, training Royal Air Force pilots.
H.C. Potter served as Superintendent of Operations, Falcon Field, Phoenix AZ, training Royal Air Force pilots.
H.C. Potter
WWII
War: WWII
Tyrone Power interrupted film career to enlist; flew cargo in & wounded out during Battle of Iwo Jima & Battle of Okinawa.
Tyrone Power interrupted film career to enlist; flew cargo in & wounded out during Battle of Iwo Jima & Battle of Okinawa.
Tyrone Power
WWII
War: WWII
Robert Preston interupted career to served in US Army Air Force as intelligence officer with US 9th Air Force during WWII.
Robert Preston interupted career to served in US Army Air Force as intelligence officer with US 9th Air Force during WWII.
Robert Preston
WWII
War: WWII
Anthony Quayle was a WWII army officer; joined Special Operations Executive & served as liaison officer with partisans in Albania.
Anthony Quayle was a WWII army officer; joined Special Operations Executive & served as liaison officer with partisans in Albania.
Anthony Quayle
WWII
War: WWI
Claude Rains served in the London Scottish Regiment during WWI; was involved in gas attack that left him nearly blind in one eye for the rest of his life.
Claude Rains served in the London Scottish Regiment during WWI; was involved in gas attack that left him nearly blind in one eye for the rest of his life.
Claude Rains
WWI
War: WWI
Basil Rathbone served as an intelligence officer during WWI, attaining rank of captain; scouted enemy positions (before film career)
Basil Rathbone served as an intelligence officer during WWI, attaining rank of captain; scouted enemy positions (before film career)
Basil Rathbone
WWI
War: WWII
Steve Reeves enlisted in the Army during WWII & served in the Pacific. (before film career)
Steve Reeves enlisted in the Army during WWII & served in the Pacific. (before film career)
Steve Reeves
WWII
War: WWII
Hal Roach oversaw 400 training, morale & propaganda films at at "Fort Roach" (studios). Members of unit included Ronald Reagan & Alan Ladd.
Hal Roach oversaw 400 training, morale & propaganda films at at "Fort Roach" (studios). Members of unit included Ronald Reagan & Alan Ladd.
Hal Roach
WWII
War: WWII
Jason Robard's battleship was sunk by torpedoes at Battle of Tassafaronga on Guadalcanal; USS Nashville was struck by kamikaze aircraft in Philippines.
Jason Robard's battleship was sunk by torpedoes at Battle of Tassafaronga on Guadalcanal; USS Nashville was struck by kamikaze aircraft in Philippines.
Jason Robards
WWII
War: WWII
Cesar Romero interupted career to serve; saw action during the invasions of Tinian & Saipan.
Cesar Romero interupted career to serve; saw action during the invasions of Tinian & Saipan.
Cesar Romero
WWII
War: WWII
Mickey Rooney interrupted career to serve; 21 months with unit that entertained troops in America & Europe; also radio personality on American Forces Network.
Mickey Rooney interrupted career to serve; 21 months with unit that entertained troops in America & Europe; also radio personality on American Forces Network.
Mickey Rooney
WWII
War: WWII
While Army instructor & training with US 13th Airborne Division stateside in 1944, Harold Russell lost both hands when defective fuse detonated.
While Army instructor & training with US 13th Airborne Division stateside in 1944, Harold Russell lost both hands when defective fuse detonated.
Harold Russell
WWII
War: WWII
After securing a contract guarantee from RKO, Robert Ryan enlisted in US Marine Corps & served as drill instructor at Camp Pendleton, San Diego, CA
After securing a contract guarantee from RKO, Robert Ryan enlisted in US Marine Corps & served as drill instructor at Camp Pendleton, San Diego, CA
Robert Ryan
WWII
War: WWII
Tellly Savalas worked for the US State Dept as host of Your Voice of America series (before film career)
Tellly Savalas worked for the US State Dept as host of Your Voice of America series (before film career)
Telly Savalas
WWII
War: post-WWII
George C. Scott served as guard at Arlington National Cemetery; taught English literature & radio speaking/writing at Marine Corps Inst (before film career)
George C. Scott served as guard at Arlington National Cemetery; taught English literature & radio speaking/writing at Marine Corps Inst (before film career)
George C. Scott
post-WWII
War: WWII
Robert Stack interupted career to serve; gunnery instructor in US Navy during WWII.
Robert Stack interupted career to serve; gunnery instructor in US Navy during WWII.
Robert Stack
WWII
War: WWI
Rod Steiger ran away from home at age 16 to join US Navy during WWII where he saw action on destroyers in the Pacific.
Rod Steiger ran away from home at age 16 to join US Navy during WWII where he saw action on destroyers in the Pacific.