WWII Movie Star Veterans and Notables.

[junnie]

Martha Ray.....

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Many remember Betty White for her comedic and acting talents, we remember her for those attributes but also as a member of the greatest generation - those who served during World War II.

Betty put her acting career on hold in 1941 and volunteered for service with the American Women's Voluntary Services. Her role required the responsibility of handling the transportation of military supplies throughout California. She also volunteered her time hosting events for the troops before their deployments.

Aside from her professional work, Betty was quite the philanthropist, notably showing support to animal welfare organizations. A great supporter of the ASPCA and The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. Her love for animals began when she was a child.

Betty passed away on December 31, 2021 at the age of 99. A few days shy of her 100th birthday.

Please take a moment to join us in remembering one of the great National Treasures of the United States. Betty You were one of a kind. A greatful Nation thanks you for a lifetime of service. Lest We Forget.

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Donald Jay Rickles was born on May 8, 1926 in Queens New York. After graduating from Newtown High School in Elmhurst Queens, Don joined the US Navy as soon as he turned 18 years old. Originally, Don wanted to serve and entertain the troops with his quick sense of humor. That did not work out for him.

After being stationed at the Naval Training Center in Sampson New York, Seaman 1st Class Don Rickles served on the USS Cyrene, a motor torpedo boat tender, that served as an escort around New Guinea and Leyte in the Pacific Theater.

"I got to know a lot of really good people on that boat, a lot of good memories. But that is not what I signed up for. One day we were out shooting the guns, and all you hear is this loud "Boom! Boom! Boom!" and I told the guy in charge, "Hey I can entertain, you need to send me over to Special Services." You know what he said to me? "Keep firing!" -Don Rickles Navy Times June 10, 2015

Don was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946. Unfortunately, he never made the USO tour - but Don had a military career that he could be proud of. That mattered a lot to him.

After the war he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. With intentions of becoming a dramatic actor Rickles once again did not find his niche. He did however begin a career that would be one of the most epic in Hollywood as the original insult comic. No heckler ever stood a chance against the Merchant of Venom. Early in his career Don befriended Frank Sinatra - with Sinatra's help Rickles soon became a headliner in Las Vegas.

In 1958, he made his film debut in 'Run Silent, Run Deep" with fellow World War II veterans Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. Don made his first appearance on the "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" in 1965. Rickles would go on to join Johnny as a regular guest appearing in more than 100 episodes.

By the mid-1960s Don Rickles parlayed his comedic styles to establish himself as one of the top comics in Hollywood. As an unofficial member of the Rat Pack, Rickles was a regular on the Dean Martin Roast Series and inked a deal with ABC for the The Don Rickles Show.

In 1970 Don would portray the character of Supply Sergeant Crapgame in the World War II film "Kelly's Heroes." He also starred in C.P.O. Sharkey for two seasons on NBC in 1976.

Don Rickles would go on to headline in many comedy specials but one of his most proud moments in his career was when he was asked to perform at Ronald Reagan's second inaugural celebration.

In 1995, Rickles portrayed Billy Sherbert in Martin Scorsese's "Casino" and he would go on to lend his voice to Mr Potato Head in 'The Toy Story" trilogy.

With a career that lasted over 60 years, Don Rickles finally realized his dream as a 18-year-old - not only did he entertain the troops of World War II - he would go on to entertain thousands of enlisted men and women for years to come.

Seaman 1st Class Don Rickles passed away on April 6, 2017 at the age of 90 years old. He lies in rest at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles California. Lest We Forget.

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After graduating from Shaker Heights High School, near Cleveland Ohio, Paul Newman enlisted in the Navy on January 22, 1943 just 4 days before his 18th birthday. According to his autobiography Paul Newman enlisted with hopes of becoming an aviator. While waiting for his application for officer training to go through, Newman attended Ohio University in Athens.

On July 1, 1943 Paul was sent to the Navy V-12 program at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Upon completing his flight physical it was found that Paul was color blind which eliminated his chances of becoming an aviator. During basic training at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Jacksonville, Florida in January of 1944 he qualified as a rear seat radioman and gunner for torpedo bombers. In 1944 Newman was sent to Barbers Point in Hawaii where he was trained as a replacement pilot for torpedo bomber squadrons.

According to Naval History and Heritage Command records Aviation Radioman 3rd Class Newman was later ordered aboard the USS Bunker Hill which took part in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.

"Operating from Saipan, Newman and a number of other aircrews from his squadron had been ordered with their TBM Avenger aircraft to be replacements onboard the Essex-class aircraft carrier Bunker Hill operating off Okinawa. But Newman's pilot suffered from an ear infection thus grounding the aircraft and crew until he could recover. On May 11, two Japanese kamikaze aircraft hit the ship within 30 seconds and in the resulting fires and explosions 346 sailors lost their lives — among them, the entire contingent from Newman's squadron. Returning home after the Japanese surrender, Newman served with Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 7 in Seattle, Washington before being Honorably Discharged on January 21, 1946."
(Naval History and Heritage Command and Ancestry Database)

Paul Newman was decorated with the Good Conduct Medal, the American Area Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal and his aviation wings.

After the war Paul earned his bachelor degree in drama from Kenyon College in Ohio. He soon went on to study at the Actor's Studio in New York City under the direction of Lee Strasberg. In 1958 Paul married Joanne Woodward and the couple would remain married for 50 years until his passing.

Paul Newman would go on to star in such classic films as "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "The Hustler," "Cool Hand Luke,"The Verdict, "Harry and Son," "The Sting," "The Color of Money" in addition to lending his iconic voice to the character of Doc Hudson in the Disney Pixar's animated film "Cars."

Newman was the recipient of numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

Paul Newman was also known for his philanthropy. Through the Newman's Own Foundation numerous charities have benefited from his generosity over his lifetime. In addition to all of this he was an avid race car enthusiast honing numerous National Championships as a driver competing in with the Sports Car Club of America.

Paul Newman passed away on September 26, 2008 at the age of 83. Rest in peace Mr Newman. A grateful Nation thanks you for a lifetime of service. Lest We Forget.

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Henry Fonda had already established his career as a successful actor coming off of an Academy Award nomination for the classic "The Grapes of Wrath" when he enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 37 on August 22, 1942.

According to the National World War II Museum: "After basic training, Fonda went to Quartermaster School, graduating in the top 10 of his class of 200. He was briefly assigned to the destroyer USS Satterlee (DD-626) as Quartermaster Third Class. Less than a year after enlisting, Fonda underwent the application process to become an officer. Due to his age (he was 38) Fonda was commissioned at the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade, instead of Ensign.

According to his biography Fonda wanted to serve because he “didn’t want to be a fake in the war studio.” On D-Day, he gave support to the Allies by serving as Quartermaster on the destroyer USS Satterlee. In the first week of May 1944, Satterlee underwent training for a special mission assigned to her for the Normandy landings. She was to support a unit of 200 Army Rangers in eliminating a German gun battery at Pointe du Hoc which commanded the Omaha landing beaches. After escorting minesweepers to the beach area on the night of 5 and 6 June, she commenced pre-arranged fire on Pointe du Hoc at 05:48, 6 June. As the Rangers landed, she broke up enemy units attempting to oppose them from the top of the cliff. (Naval History and Heritage Command)

After receiving a commission, Fonda became an Assistant Air Combat Information Officer and Air Operations Watch Officer in the Pacific Theater. In this role Fonda assisted in the planning and execution of air operations for the Marianas, Western Carolines, and Iwo Jima campaigns. For his involvement in the air operations in those campaigns, Fonda was awarded a Bronze Star. Although Fonda left active duty in November 1945, he remained a reserve officer until his resignation in 1948 because he was “overage in rank.” Despite being overage in rank to remain a naval reserve officer, Fonda would go on to portray a military officer in not only Mister Roberts, but also in iconic World War II films such as: Battle of the Bulge, Midway, and The Longest Day.


Henry Fonda passed away on August 12, 1982 at the age of 77. Lest We Forget.

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Douglas Fairbanks Jr set aside his Hollywood career and entered service with the US Navy Reserve in April of 1941 at the age of 32 years old. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on October 7, 1943 and Commander on October 23, 1945.

"Commander Fairbanks served aboard USS Mississippi from November 14 1941 until January 1942, on temporary duty under training while that battleship operated on patrol duty in the Atlantic. After briefly serving under the Director of Public Relations of the Navy on April 22, 1942 Fairbanks was detached from the Office of Public Relations and ordered to report to Commander, Task Force 39, in which assignment he served as Assistant Gunnery Officer on the staff, with additional duty as Aide and Flag Lieutenant, and later as Special Naval Observer. He was attached to USS Wasp when she carried airplanes to the Island of Malta in the Spring of 1942, and to USS Wichita, employed in convoying vessels to Murmansk, Russia in June and July of that year. He had duty as a Special Naval Observer at Headquarters, Commander US Naval Forces in Europe, London, England, from July until November of 1942. He was released from active duty with the rank of Commander on February 5, 1946."
(Source: Naval History and Heritage Command Database and Ancestry Database)

According to Naval History and Heritage Command records: "In addition to the Silver Star Medal and the Legion of Merit, Commander Fairbanks had the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, with bronze "A," (USS Mississippi); the American Area Campaign Medal; the European-African-Middle Eastern Area Campaign Medal with one bronze star (USS Wichita); the World War II Victory Medal; and the Expert Pistol Shot Medal. He also had the Decoration and Diploma of Officer of the National Order of the Southern Cross, conferred by the Brazilian Government; the Legion of Honor (Chevalier), and the Croix de Guerre with Palm, by the Government of France; and the Distinguished Service Cross, awarded by the Government of Great Britain."

"King George VI, gave Fairbanks an honorary knighthood in 1949 partly for his work as a US Navy officer for the Commando Corps of British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten and for his postwar work raising money for the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe (CARE) which sent more than $150 million worth of food and other goods to war-torn European countries."

Silver Star Citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while attached to a special task group during the amphibious assault on Italy in September 1943. While attached to the staff of Commander United States Naval Forces, Northwest African Waters, Lieutenant Commander Fairbanks ably assisted in formulating important plans for mixed Allied operations of a highly technical and complex nature. While temporarily assigned to the staff of a Naval Task Group Commander, Fairbanks accompanied the combat units which successfully executed these plans and contributed materially to the unit's accomplishment. During the occupation of the Island of Ventotene, he led a landing party ashore and established important picket positions while exposed to enemy rifle fire, thereby contributing greatly to the successful accomplishment of this mission. The exceptional courage and fearless leadership under fire displayed by Lieutenant Commander Douglas E. Fairbanks, Jr., US Naval Reserve, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service."

Legion of Merit Citation: "For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Special Operations Planning Officer on the Staff of a Major Naval Task Force Commander and as Commander of a Naval Task Force Unit prior to and during the amphibious invasion of Southern France in August 1944. Working tirelessly and with sound application of superior tactical knowledge, Lieutenant Commander Fairbanks participated in the development and coordination of plans for the execution of special operations in support of the main Allied landings. Subsequently, as Commander of a Task Unit, he expeditiously established special troops on the flank of the major assault area for the purpose of immobilizing enemy reinforcements attempting to resist the landings. On the morning of August 17, when two hostile vessels attacked a group of smaller craft, he courageously led the ships of his unit into action and, aggressively directing the combat operations with expert seamanship against heavy odds, greatly aided in the ultimate sinking of the two vessels. By his brilliant leadership and steadfast devotion to duty throughout this vital period, Lieutenant Commander Fairbanks contribute materially to the successful invasion of a highly strategic area."

Fairbanks is best known for starring in such films as "The Prisoner of Zenda", "Gunga Din," "The Corsican Brothers," "Sinbad the Sailor," and "That Lady in Ermine."

Silver screen star and US Navy war hero Douglas Fairbanks Jr passed away on May 7, 2000 after suffering a heart attack at the age of 90. Commander Fairbanks lies in rest at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles California. Lest We Forget.

[duke]

James Arness