We are all too painfully aware of the goofy “Stars” of movies and television, who are so biased and off-the-wall that they are bordering on being anti-American. Who hasn’t heard the flapping mouths of “Hanoi” Jane, Susan Serandon, Barbara Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, Martin Sheen……….the list of today’s personalities goes on and on. But what about yesterday’s

These were great patriots, helping their countries rather than tearing them apart. How many know that:

Alex Guinness of STAR WARS fame, operated a Royal Navy landing craft off the Normandy beaches on D-Day?

James Doohan who we all knew as “Scotty” on the STAR TREK TV series, landed at Normandy with the U.S. Army on D-Day? Donald Pleasance, one of the stars in the movie “THE GREAT ESCAPE” actually was an RAF pilot who was shot down and was a P.o.W. of the Germans?

Sandhurst graduate David Niven was a Lt. Colonel of the British commandoes and he too, landed at Normandy on D-Day?

James Stewart, star of more movies than we have space for, joined the U.S. Army as a private! He worked his way up to the rank of Colonel during World War II and was a bomber pilot. He led more than 20 bombing raids. He was decorated with the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Croix d’Guerre from France, and seven Battle Stars. He ultimately retired as a Brigadier General?

Charlton Heston, another star of many movies, was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps…..in Kodiak?

Super star Clark Gable was beyond the draft age when the USA entered World War II, he signed up as a private in the Army Air Force. After Officer’s Candidate School, he was a 2 nd Lieutenant and went to aerial gunnery school. Upon graduation, he flew bombing missions over Europe in B-17 bombers. In June of 1944, Major Clark Gable requested discharge from active duty since he was beyond the age for combat?

Ernest Borgnine, another with many movies to his credit and the starring role in the television comedy “McHALE’S NAVY” was a gunner’s mate in the U.S. Navy 1935 until 1945?

Charles Durning was a U.S. Army Ranger who landed on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. He was decorated with a Silver Star and the Purple Heart?

Charles Bronson was a tail gunner in the U.S. Army Air Corps on B-29 bombers operating out of Guam, Tinian and Saipan?

George C. Scott, best known for his portrayal of General George S. Patton, was a decorated U. S. Marine?

Eddie Albert, best known for his portrayal as Oliver Wendell Douglass on the TV comedy “GREEN ACRES” operated a landing craft, bringing U.S. Marines to the bitter fight on the island of Tarawa. He was a U.S. Navy officer & earned the Bronze Star?

Brian Keith was a U.S. Marine rear gunner in several actions against Japanese positions on Rabaul?

Lee Marvin was a U.S. Marine who landed on Saipan during the Marianas Islands; he was wounded and received the Purple Heart?

John Russell enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1942 and received a battlefield commission….. was wounded and was highly decorated for valor on Guadalcanal?

Robert Ryan was a U.S. Marine who served with the OSS (later known as the CIA) in Yugoslavia?

Tyrone Power was already a huge star when the war started, but he went into the U.S. Marines as a pilot, bringing supplies into Iwo Jima and Okinawa – and taking wounded Marines back out?

Audie Murphy was a short skinny kid from Texas who was refused enlistment by the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Navy, joined the Army where he became the most highly decorated serviceman of World War with too many awards and decorations to list here?

Sterling Hayden was in several movies and probably was best known for the crooked police captain in the movie “THE GODFATHER” but in the war years, because he had experience as a Skipper of sailing ships, was an agent with the OSS taking supplies into Yugoslavia with wooden sailing ships to avoid radar?

Julia Childs is best remembered for her cooking with lots of real butter and wine, was an OSS agent in (then) Ceylon?

Tony Curtis was a major movie star after the war, but he served in the U.S. Navy?

The list could go on and on, but these are some of the better known stars of movies and television. These people had class, honor and integrity. They gave up their wealth, position and fame to become servicemen and women…..many joined as buck privates! How many of today’s “stars” would give up everything – their immense fortunes, their drugs and drinking, to defend their country?