Military Service
War: WWII
Eddie Albert interupted career to serve; rescued 47 stranded Marines while under heavy enemy fire during Tarawa Invasion; supervised rescue of 30 others.
Eddie Albert interupted career to serve; rescued 47 stranded Marines while under heavy enemy fire during Tarawa Invasion; supervised rescue of 30 others.
Eddie Albert
WWII
War: WWII
Frank Albertson served in the US Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit making training films.
Frank Albertson served in the US Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit making training films.
Frank Albertson
WWII
War: WWII
Gene Autry interupted career to serve; C-47 Skytrain pilot in US Army Air Forces flying dangerous missions over Himalayas.
Gene Autry interupted career to serve; C-47 Skytrain pilot in US Army Air Forces flying dangerous missions over Himalayas.
Gene Autry
WWII
War: WWII
Richard Barthelmess enlisted in US Navy Reserve during WWII & served as a lieutenant commander.
Richard Barthelmess enlisted in US Navy Reserve during WWII & served as a lieutenant commander.
Richard Barthelmess
WWII
War: WWII
Freddie Bartholomew enlisted in US Army Air Force at age 18 & worked in aircraft maintenance.
Freddie Bartholomew enlisted in US Army Air Force at age 18 & worked in aircraft maintenance.
Freddie Bartholomew
WWII
War: Korean War
Bill Bixby served stateside duty and was honorably discharged (before tv/film career).
Bill Bixby served stateside duty and was honorably discharged (before tv/film career).
Bill Bixby
Korean War
War: post-WWI
Humphrey Bogart enlisted in Navy at age 18. He was a model sailor ferrying troops back from Europe after Armistice was signed. (before film career)
Humphrey Bogart enlisted in Navy at age 18. He was a model sailor ferrying troops back from Europe after Armistice was signed. (before film career)
Humphrey Bogart
post-WWI
War: WWII
Ernest Borgnine served aboard destroyer USS Lamberton (DD-119); rank of Gunner's Mate 1st Class; served 10 yrs (before film career)
Ernest Borgnine served aboard destroyer USS Lamberton (DD-119); rank of Gunner's Mate 1st Class; served 10 yrs (before film career)
Ernest Borgnine
WWII
War: WWII
Sonny Bupp served in the U.S. Army during World War II
Sonny Bupp served in the U.S. Army during World War II
Sonny Bupp
WWII
War: WWII
Howard Caine joined the US Navy & fought in the Pacific theater during WWII.
Howard Caine joined the US Navy & fought in the Pacific theater during WWII.
Howard Caine
WWII
War: WWI
Ronald Colman served in London Scottish Regiment; was seriously wounded by shrapnel at Battle of Messines; had limp he attempted to hide throughout acting career.
Ronald Colman served in London Scottish Regiment; was seriously wounded by shrapnel at Battle of Messines; had limp he attempted to hide throughout acting career.
Ronald Colman
WWI
War:
Sean Connery joined the Royal Navy (before he began his acting career).
Sean Connery joined the Royal Navy (before he began his acting career).
Sean Connery
War: WWII
Jackie Coogan enlisted & volunteered for hazardous duty with 1st Air Commando Group transporting men & supplies far behind enemy lines.
Jackie Coogan enlisted & volunteered for hazardous duty with 1st Air Commando Group transporting men & supplies far behind enemy lines.
Jackie Coogan
WWII
War: WWII
Tony Curtis served aboard submarine tender USS Proteus; witnessed Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay from about a mile away. (before film career)
Tony Curtis served aboard submarine tender USS Proteus; witnessed Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay from about a mile away. (before film career)
Tony Curtis
WWII
War: WWII
Sabu interupted career to serve; flew several dozen missions over the Pacific & was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Sabu interupted career to serve; flew several dozen missions over the Pacific & was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Sabu Dastagir
WWII
War: WWII
Kirk Douglas enlisted in US Navy in 1941 & was medically discharged for war injuries in 1944. (before film career)
Kirk Douglas enlisted in US Navy in 1941 & was medically discharged for war injuries in 1944. (before film career)
Kirk Douglas
WWII
War: Korean War
Clint Eastwood was stationed at Fort Ord in California as a life-saving and swimming instructor. (before film career)
Clint Eastwood was stationed at Fort Ord in California as a life-saving and swimming instructor. (before film career)
Clint Eastwood
Korean War
War: WWII
Douglas Fairbanks Jr interupted career to serve; Father of US Navy Beach Jumpers (hazardous shallow water ops); commanded landing craft during Sicily invasion.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr interupted career to serve; Father of US Navy Beach Jumpers (hazardous shallow water ops); commanded landing craft during Sicily invasion.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
WWII
War: WWII
John Fiedler enlisted in the US Navy after high school & served until the end of WWII.
John Fiedler enlisted in the US Navy after high school & served until the end of WWII.
John Fiedler
WWII
War: WWII
Henry Fonda interrupted career to enlist; Quartermaster 3rd Class on destroyer USS Satterlee & Lt Junior Grade in Air Combat Intelligence in Central Pacific.
Henry Fonda interrupted career to enlist; Quartermaster 3rd Class on destroyer USS Satterlee & Lt Junior Grade in Air Combat Intelligence in Central Pacific.
Henry Fonda
WWII
War: WWII
John Ford served in Office of Strategic Services making documentaries; filmed at Omaha Beach on D-Day; cited for bravery.
John Ford served in Office of Strategic Services making documentaries; filmed at Omaha Beach on D-Day; cited for bravery.
John Ford
WWII
War: WWII Vietnam
Glenn Ford interrupted film career to volunteer for duty as Marine in WWII. Joined Naval Reserve in 1958 retiring in the 1970s as captain.
Glenn Ford interrupted film career to volunteer for duty as Marine in WWII. Joined Naval Reserve in 1958 retiring in the 1970s as captain.
Glenn Ford
WWII Vietnam
War: WWII
Clark Gable enlisted after wife Carole Lombard's tragic death; flew 5 combat missions as observer-gunner in B-17 Flying Fortresses.
Clark Gable enlisted after wife Carole Lombard's tragic death; flew 5 combat missions as observer-gunner in B-17 Flying Fortresses.
Clark Gable
WWII
War: Korean War
James Garner served 14 months in 5th Regimental Combat Team of the 24th Division (Victory Division); awarded 2 Purple Hearts. (served before film career)
James Garner served 14 months in 5th Regimental Combat Team of the 24th Division (Victory Division); awarded 2 Purple Hearts. (served before film career)
James Garner
Korean War
War: WWII
Alec Guinness interupted stage career to serve; commanded landing craft during Sicily & Elba invasion; ferried supplies to Yugoslav partisans.
Alec Guinness interupted stage career to serve; commanded landing craft during Sicily & Elba invasion; ferried supplies to Yugoslav partisans.
Alec Guinness
WWII
War: WWII
Sterling Hayden established air crew rescue teams in enemy-occupied territory; hazardous sea voyages in enemy-infested waters.
Sterling Hayden established air crew rescue teams in enemy-occupied territory; hazardous sea voyages in enemy-infested waters.
Sterling Hayden
WWII
War: WWII
Charlton Heston served 2 years as radio operator & aerial gunner aboard B-25 Mitchell in Alaskan Aleutian Islands; reached rank of Staff Sergeant.
Charlton Heston served 2 years as radio operator & aerial gunner aboard B-25 Mitchell in Alaskan Aleutian Islands; reached rank of Staff Sergeant.
Charlton Heston
WWII
War: WWII
William Holden served as a 2nd lieutenant, acting in training films.
William Holden served as a 2nd lieutenant, acting in training films.
William Holden
WWII
War: WWII
Tim Holt interupted career to serve; B-29 bombardier in Pacific Theatre; decorated war hero.
Tim Holt interupted career to serve; B-29 bombardier in Pacific Theatre; decorated war hero.
Tim Holt
WWII
War: WWII
William Hopper interupted career to serve; was frogman; won Bronze Star for bravery & heroic action during operations in Pacific.
William Hopper interupted career to serve; was frogman; won Bronze Star for bravery & heroic action during operations in Pacific.
William Hopper
WWII
War: WWII
John Howard interupted career to serve; Exec Officer aboard minesweeper; saved ship & crew when vessel struck mine off French coast.
John Howard interupted career to serve; Exec Officer aboard minesweeper; saved ship & crew when vessel struck mine off French coast.
John Howard
WWII
War: WWII
Norman Jewison served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II.
Norman Jewison served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II.
Norman Jewison
WWII
War: Korean War
Dean Jones served in the US Navy during the Korean War. (before film career)
Dean Jones served in the US Navy during the Korean War. (before film career)
Dean Jones
Korean War
War: WWII
DeForest Kelley served in WWII as an enlisted man in the US Army Air Forces between March 1943 & Jan 1946. (before film career)
DeForest Kelley served in WWII as an enlisted man in the US Army Air Forces between March 1943 & Jan 1946. (before film career)
DeForest Kelley
WWII
War: WWII
George Kennedy served in the US Army for 16 years; saw combat & worked in Armed Forces radio. (before film career)
George Kennedy served in the US Army for 16 years; saw combat & worked in Armed Forces radio. (before film career)