Charles Durning. Do you know this name? He is an actor. And WWII veteran! "He was awarded several decorations, including the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and three Purple Hearts."
I quote one article: "Months later in Belgium, he was stabbed eight times by a German teenage soldier wielding a bayonet; Durning eventually bludgeoned him to death with a rock. He was released from the hospital in time to fight in the Battle of the Bulge, where he was taken prisoner. After escaping a subsequent massacre of the other prisoners, he was obliged by American forces to return to the scene and help identify bodies. Finally, a bullet in the chest a few months later ended his relentless tour of duty - and began four years of repeated hospitalizations for his physical and psychological injuries." And I didn't copied here his Omaha Beach story!
I give some links: http://www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert/wwii/durning.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Durning
http://imdb.com/name/nm0001164/ http://imdb.com/name/nm0001164/bio http://imdb.com/name/nm0001164/board/nest/12352583 use google for more.
I haven't seen many movies with him (although i remember his funny apearance in Burt Reynolds-Dolly Partons "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas") but i'm sure i'm gonna keep an eye out of him since now.
i found out something more: Donald Pleasence was (he was a wireless operator in Lancaster bombers in 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force) a RAF Officer in a World War II and after his plane was shot down was in German POW Stalag camp. He has played in such movies like "The Great Escape" (1963) what is about Nazi POW camp and in Sean Connery's James Bond movie "You Only Live Twice" where he was bad guy Ernst Blofeld (this guy influenced Austin Power's Dr Evil). While a POW during World War II, he organized a theatre company in order to pass the time. Unfortunatly he is long dead by now. http://imdb.com/name/nm0000587/bio
James Garner is alive. He didn't fought in WWII (he was too young) but he later fought in Korea War where he got wounded and was awarded with Purple Heart. He also played in "The Great Escape". I never seen his Bret Maverick adventures but he played in Mel Gibson's Maverick remake and there he was cool (as whole movie).
Many of U may already know this, but... About Clark Gable: "When his third wife Carole Lombard died in a plane crash returning from a War Bond drive, a grief-stricken Gable joined the US Army Air Force and was off the screen for three years, flying combat missions in Europe." I also saw one less known and now dead actor in imdb who also fought in WWII but I forgot his name. He had birthday 4-5 days ago. I wasn't able to post his name here when i noticed it and now i say sorry that i missed it.
i don't know... i don't have time either but sometimes some web pages just suck me into. That's funny because i just ended my 2 h study of 2 ve-ery interesting web pages: http://www.pegasusarchive.org/pow/frames.htm http://www.merkki.com/ A LOT to read and watch. Yesterday I surfed in Wikipedia and about and hour i read about United States warships in Pacific in WWII (and what happened them after).
"Lee worked as an office clerk in a couple of London shipping companies until 1941 when he enlisted in the RAF during World War II." From Wikipedia: "His mother then married Harcourt 'Ingle' Rose, a banker and uncle of the James Bond author Ian Fleming. Lee then attended Wellington College, where he won scholarships. He volunteered to fight for the Finnish forces during the Winter War against the Soviet Union in 1939 - though, as Lee admits in his autobiography, he and his fellow British volunteers were in Finland only a fortnight and kept well away from the Russian forces the whole time. He went on to serve in the Royal Air Force and intelligence during World War II. He trained in South Africa as a pilot but was forced to drop out by eyesight problems. He eventually ended up in North Africa as Cipher Officer for No. 260 Squadron RAF and was with them through Sicily and Italy. Additionally, he has mentioned serving in Special Operations Executive. Lee retired from the RAF after the end of the War with the rank of Flight Lieutenant."
Ernest Borgnine (I know now 90 years old actor mostly from Airwolf series), also one actor i really admire, was in a navy during WWII. He was in service 10 years before leaving after war in 1945. You can read more:
Here is an interview with Eugean Sledge. It is from the very excellent documentory "Hell In the Pacific" His story will be covered in the upcomming HBO mini series "The Pacific"
Yes, but I still recommend seeing the documentory "Hell in the Pacific" I think it is one of the best WWII documentories I have ever seen. There are two versions, an American version and a British version. I prefer the American version becuase it seems less dry, and is put together allot better. I saw it orignally on the Millitary Channel in the US and I recorded it to my DVR. maybe I can upload it here sometime when I figure out how to get my recordings onto my PC. Very, very good and powerful documentory.
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