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Has anyone ever come across a complete list of celebrities (actors and singers) who served in the military? Most of the list I've found focuses on WW2. Charles Durning's story was a real shocker. He's probably the most decorated living Hollywood military veteran today. Some other celebrities had some great tales of heroism in WW2 including Eddie Albert of Green Acres. Also, do any of you know of any modern celebrities who served in the Military who are below the age of 60? I can think of Drew Carey and Montel Williams but after that I draw a blank. I have a theory as to why Hollywood no longer makes great military movies. In the past, many of their actors, writers, and directors had actually served in the military. They knew what the military was about. Today's Hollywood doesn't have this pool of former military service members. Where are the Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Steve McQueen, Ernest Borgnine, Johnny Carson, Ed McMann, Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, Mickey Roony, Chuck Norris, and many others?
But some of those actors volunteered to serve in WW2. After 9/11, actor Bruce Willis volunteered to serve but was turned down because he was beyond the maximum age limit.
What also surprised me was the number of British actors who served. David Niven is so prim and proper and yet he was real military. Christopher Lee was special forces in WW2. Julia Childs, Ms. Hathaway of the Beverly Hillbillies (US Navy officer), and even Dr. Ruth (Israeli sniper?) served. Captain Kangaroo was also military. The Skipper on Gilligan's Island was US Coast Guard.
Pat Tillman was a sports celebrity/star. You see soldiers become celebrities (Chuck Norris?), but rarely today do you see celebrities volunteering to be soldiers.
The closest thing I see is the celebrities who volunteer for USO tours. Gary Sinise is a huge supporter, Drew Carey is, too - WWE wrestlers and sports stars also. I was deployed to Afghanistan and those guys were very much morale boosters. Some placed themselves in danger that even I as a soldier didn't face.
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