Current Actors With Military Experience
- Thread starter Texas Star
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Gyrene6891
US Veteran
I call BS totally! I do not doubt that you watched Johnny Carson nor do I doubt you saw Lee Marvin on the Tonight Show. Lee Marvin was in the Pacific during WWII and was awarded the Purple Heart & is buried in Arlington. However NEVER was on IWO and Bob Keeshan never saw combat. So...
mc5aw
Member
With the exception of MMA's Randy Couture and Ice-T, everyone on that list a baby boomer or older. It seems that military service for thespians is something that skipped the current generation.
imjin138
US Veteran
After reading a little bit I found that actors Robert Vaughn and Ray Danton both started acting and were getting better roles when both were drafted during the Korean War. Neither one refused to go in fact Danton was in Korea for 2 years and came back to make films and Vaughn went onto the Magnificent Seven and the Man from Uncle. Robert Vaughn still has roles on TV shows.
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Before you damn the young actors for not serving like the older performers, it might be well to remember that we haven't had the draft for a number of years now. Many of the older guys either were drafted or knew they were going to be and chose to enlist. Many served very honorably in combat. Others were assigned to entertainment units, like some of the baseball players drafted (or enlisted) who played exhibition ball to enhance the morale of the troops. Think Glen Miller's band.
One of the things about having an all-volunteer professional military is that it's going to involve a lot fewer people than when everybody physically and mentally fit will be called on to serve.
Remember also that John Wayne played military roles although he was never in the military due to his age.
One of the things about having an all-volunteer professional military is that it's going to involve a lot fewer people than when everybody physically and mentally fit will be called on to serve.
Remember also that John Wayne played military roles although he was never in the military due to his age.
the ringo kid
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He was also in the midst of fighting during the Battle of the Bulge along with Mel Brooks. In fact, I think Mel Brooks served in Colonel Dave Pergrins outfit--who was close by where the Malmedy Massacre happened and actually heard that gunfire that killed so many G.I's.
Depending on what site your on--at least they got it correct that Charles Bronson (then_ Buchinsky--was in the Army. One story says he was a gunner on a bomber-the other story is that he served in Arizona during the war as a truck driver. At any rate--I highly respect Bronson for serving.
Also, Eric Fleming was in the Navy in WWII and that scar above his nose-was due to an accident during his Navy job--a multi-ton item slipped restraints and cracked him a good one. It cost him several surgeries to fix.
the ringo kid
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The above has been proven to be a "Schiesshaus Patrouille" or: Latrine Rumor. Marvin was on Iwo--Sheehan was NOT Marvins Sergeant.
the ringo kid
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Wasn't Mr. Rogers of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood once a sniper. I want to say somewhere along the line I read that he had several "kills". Partly why he became the soft appearing on the kids show?????????????
WuzzFuzz
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the ringo kid
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Charles Durning was in the Battle of the Bulge but was not a Malmedy Massacre survivor. Read: The Malmedy Massacre by: John M. Bauserman. His book gives a detailed list of all Massacre victims names as well as survivors. Most of those in the massacre were part of these units: Also, the rest of the victims were civilian locals.
B Battery 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, 575th Ambulance Company, Recon Co, 32nd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, M Company, 23rd Inf Rgmt, 2nd Inf Div, C Co, 518th MP Battalion,
Book also lists the survivors names who became PoWs-who mainly come from the 285th FAOB. No name in there even close to Charles Durnings name--and who never changed his name.
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shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Absolutely not. Pure urban myth, to describe it gently. Fred Rogers was never in the military at all. He was an ordained Presbyterian minister, and by all accounts was in real life very much the same guy the kids saw in "the Neighborhood".
I saw a tribute to him on television not long after he died. His widow and others said he was the gentlest of men. He seemed to see the TV show as his non-denominational ministry to kids.
rog8732
US Veteran
I always thought Mr. Rodgers was an under water demo man, what we call Navy Seals today. Also, that he had full "sleeves" of tats, and always wore long sleeves on the show. Did't watch, can't testify.
REM 3200
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Absolutely not. Pure urban myth, to describe it gently. Fred Rogers was never in the military at all. He was an ordained Presbyterian minister, and by all accounts was in real life very much the same guy the kids saw in "the Neighborhood".
I saw a tribute to him on television not long after he died. His widow and others said he was the gentlest of men. He seemed to see the TV show as his non-denominational ministry to kids.
Thanks...Now I know for sure....
WuzzFuzz
Rintimtin
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George Jones, George Strait, Jamie Johnson, Craig Morgan, Josh Gracin
The first two are older but the later are all younger country singers.
The first two are older but the later are all younger country singers.
MaximumLawman
Member
I wonder how many Hollywood types would have had military experience in the 40's if there wasn't a draft on, and if they were headed for a combat job instead of a "support" position if they didn't sign up. I really don't think today's "stars" are all that different than yesteryear's. Over-paid, egotistical entertainers and not much else really as a rule. I also think the down-to-earth type was just as much an anomaly back then as it is today. People really don't change all that much when you look at the fundamentals.
Don't forget Lee Ermey.
I believe that is an urban myth, as well.
It is interesting that John Wayne played so many roles as a soldier but never served, and asked for and received several deferment requests during WWII.
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Didn't know that. I always understood he was too old to be drafted.
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