Thanks so much for this post -- truly heart warming to see Hollywood boosting morale (and I never knew about Clark Gable enlisting...so thanks for that as well).

Another interesting fact about Hedy Lamarr: she invented (with composer George Antheil) a frequency-hopping guidance system to allow radio control of missiles without enemy jamming. (The idea was to have synchronized player-piano rolls at both ends, so that transmitter and receiver would change frequencies at the same instant.) The technology was never actually used in WWII, although it became common later, in somewhat different form.

Jameel:

You're very welcome. In truth, so many Hollywood stars of old volunteered selflessly in the war effort, this is just a tiny sample.

Wonderful post....

I would like to add....Jerry Coleman.
Coleman, one of the best Yankee second baseman, and current voice of the San Diego Padres, flew missions for the marines during the Korean War.

He earned the rank of Lt. Colonel....

There is no doubt that his service to our country cut short his major league career...but he doesnt regret it for a moment.

The fans adore him in San Diego.

Also...Jerry Coleman ia a member of the broadcasters wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Thank you to all of the Veterans who gave so much for us....You are not forgotten.

David:

Very true, the brainy beauty did help invent the frequency-hopping guidance system. Her smarts, unfortunately, did not extend to her personal life. She was married 6 times, and she managed to lose a 30 million dollar fortune to her various conniving husbands.

She was also arrested for shoplifting in 1966, and again in 1991.

Reading her ghost-written autobiography "Ecstasy and Me" induces whiplash in the mind. So many incidents Lamarr narrates are just, well, beyond normal human comprehension. She ended up suing the publisher, claiming that many incidents in the book were fictitious. She lost the suit, the judge reasoned that Lamarr had ample time to object to the offending passages when she was given the proofs before publication.

I think she was desperate for money and never really contemplated the effect her book, and its very risque content, would have in the public sphere.

Lance:

Thanks so much for the valuable information about Coleman. Sounds like quite a guy.

To quote Bob Hope's theme song, "Thanks For the Memories" in your post. Just solidifies my feelings about current Hollywood. Your post shows a different era of Hollywood. A different culture. SO different from today's Hollywood. A sad, sad change. As a "babyboomer" charter member ('46) this was my parent's Hollywood. They'd be appalled to see today's Hollywood. No actors of the class of the previous generation. Or at least, the one's who make the news have NO class.

"In 1944, Warner Bros. made a star-studded film—a revue really— about the Hollywood Canteen."

Robert, is there anything else you can tell us about this film -- name, run time, etc?

Pearl:

Here's the information on "Hollywood Canteen"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036922/

Floyd:

Thanks so much for writing.

Lack of class did you say?

Take a look at Jessica Lange's tirade against America and her troops. It's the new patriotism among my Hollywood friends.

http://www.libertyfilmfestival.com/libertas/?p=10586

There are a few from the Modern Era - Bruce Willis, Robin Williams, Charlie Daniels. Then again, it's the 99% that give the other 1% a bad name

Just came back from Fleet Week here in NYC

You put together some of the most fascinating (and moving) posts. Bravo!

kg2v:

Gary Sinise is also incredibly active on behalf of our troops. Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie both visited wounded servicemen. A friend of mine from my synagogue here in Los Angeles, comedian Avi Lieberman, traveled to Afghanistan to entertain our troops.

Yes, there are a few Hollywood stars who perform patriotic service, but the majority are indifferent, or secretly hold our government and our troops in contempt.

The proof is in the vile films that Hollywood has produced in the past few years.

Kae:

Thanks so much for your kind words. It's the least we can do for our troops——present and past.

Back then stars still thought of themselves as first and foremost Americans.Today they are part of a supranational elite that knows no loyalties to anybody but themselves.

All I can say after reading today's site is a million thank you's! I love the star's of yesteryear and loved all they did for this great country of ours. I will not only keep those that fight and protect our country but also you and your readers forever in my prayers.

Thud:

In the old Hollywood, most stars, executives and crew people were not college educated. The majority came from modest if not impoverished backgrounds, and they understood America as a land of opportunity.

Hollywood now is stuffed to the gills with Ivy League elitists; their jaded, post-modern attitudes have corrupted not only the movies, but the very foundations of patriotism and love of country in tinsel town.

Tamster:

Thanks so much for your kind words and for your prayers. Greatly appreciated.

Jimmy Stewart also flew on a few missions during Vietnam as a B-52 crewmember as I recall...they don't make em' like that anymore.

Red Sox great Ted Williams served as an ace bomber pilot in WWII AND Korea. He never talked about it publicly, but he always felt that had he been a Yankee, he never would have been drafted twice. Of course, he was proud to serve his country, but when you look at the gold bricking duty Dimaggio was given in WWII, he has a point.

Today we have guys like Pat Tillman, an All-Pro NFL player who VOLUNTEERED to go to Afghanistan and was killed by friendly fire. Sadly, his self-sacrifice has been used mostly to bash the military, (and by extension, Tillman himself. If you read closely, most articles at least hint at the idea that Tillman was stupid; a terrible insult), instead of showing how the military must have something going for it if honor-seeking men like Tillman choose to join it.

Jake,

There's been a second effort with Tillman and that he was a follower of Noam Chomsky. Google Tillman and Chomsky and see what comes up.

Outlaw:

Yes, Jimmy Stewart flew as a non-duty observer in a B-52 on a bombing mission in Vietnam. He refused to release details his participation lest it be treated as a publicity stunt.

A great American, a great actor, a great man.

Jake:

Thanks so much for the baseball information. I'm afraid most civilians are not aware that friendly fire incidents take place in every war.

Soccer Dad:

The attempt to reinvent Tillman as a radical leftist reminds me of PETAS' insistence that Hitler was not a vegetarian.

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