California People
Celebrities Who Served in the Armed Forces
By Craig MacDonaldAcademy Award-winning actor Paul Newman, a sailor in the U.S. Navy on the USS Bunker Hill during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, is just one of many famous Hollywood stars who served our country in the military. Gunsmoke's James Arness earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star while in the U.S. Army in Italy during World War II. Chuck Connors, who played professional basketball with the Boston Celtics and baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was the star of "The Rifleman," went to Basic Training in the Army and ended up teaching tank warfare.
Green Acres' Eddie Albert served in the Navy and even drove half-tracks at the famous Saipan landing in 1943. He earned the bronze star for rescuing stranded, wounded Marines. Maverick's James Garner was in the Merchant Marine during the Korean War. Bonanza's Hoss Cartwright, Dan Blocker, was in the Army during the Korean War. Gene Autry joined the Army Air Corps and ended up a flight officer during World War II.
Before Gene Hackman, who was born in San Bernardino, California, earned an Academy Award, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Jimmy Stewart enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was stationed at Moffett Field, California before becoming a pilot and flying combat missions in World War II. The two-time Academy Award winner ended up a Brigadier General in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
Several who served our country also appeared in movies or TV shows about the military, including Ernest Borgnine of McHale's Navy fame, who was actually in the Navy during World War II, Jamie Farr of MASH, who served in the Army during the Korean War, Alan Alda of MASH, who served in the Army and Don Rickles , Navy, who starred in the San Diego-based TV series, CPO Sharkey.
Some other notable patriots include Jonathan Winters, a U.S. Marine in World War II; Tony Curtis, Navy in World War II; Walter Brennan, Army in World War II; Herman Munster, Fred Gwynne, Navy in World War II; Art Carney, Army; Rod Steiger, Navy; Charlton Heston, Army Air Corps; Humphrey Bogart, Navy; Clark Gable, Army Air Corps; Henry Fonda, Navy; Kirk Douglas, Navy; George C. Scott, Marines; Gene Hackman, Marines; Sidney Poitier, Navy; Sammy Davis, Jr., Navy; Morgan Freeman, Air Force; Johnny Cash, Air Force; Montel Williams, Marines; Mel Brooks, Army; Elvis Presley, Army; James Earl Jones, Army; Tony Bennett, Army; Chuck Norris, Air Force; Kris Kristofferson, Army; Bill Cosby, Navy; Drew Carey, Marines; MC Hammer, Navy, Tom Sellers, Army; Leonard Nimoy, Army; Clint Eastwood, Army and Steve McQueen, Marines; Johnny Carson, Navy; Mr. T, Army.
Some women actors also served in the military, including Golden Girl's star, Bea Arthur, Marines. Longtime USO entertainer Martha Rae, became an honorary Marine Colonel and Army Lt. Colonel, and was buried with full military honors at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.
We salute these actors, and everyone who served both past and present, for their service that has helped keep America free.
(The writer and his father both served in the U.S. Army.)