Jimmy Stewart humiliated today’s Hollywood elites with one patriotic act that put them all to shame

---

Today Hollywood is awash in left-wing ideology.

Studios, actors, and actresses are constantly preaching wokeness to their American audiences, lecturing them how they should live their lives.

But Jimmy Stewart left modern celebrities speechless when he made one sacrifice for America that none of today’s Hollywood stars would dare to make.

In the past, there were quite a number of Hollywood patriots who loved America so much they were willing to put their lives on the line in her defense.

And on this day, March 22, 1941, Academy Award winner Jimmy Stewart proudly answered the call to serve his nation in World War II.

Stewart becomes first major movie star to enlist in the U.S. Army to fight in WWII

Jimmy Stewart was already a household name when he enlisted in the Army. He had already won an Academy Award for Best Actor for the film The Philadelphia Story and was loved for his work in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

But Stewart would put his acting career on hold and not work in Hollywood again until 1947. As an experienced pilot he entered the Army Air Corps, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. Initially, he stayed stateside as a flight instructor, both for the B-17 and B-24, which were 4 engine heavy bombers.

Eventually, after a lot of prodding, his commanding officers allowed Stewart to be sent to England in November 1943 and he joined the 703rd Bomber Squadron, which he would later command. The Squadron flew the “Liberator,” a four-engine heavy bomber.

Stewart became a full colonel and the 2nd Bomber Wings chief of staff in July 1944, and then in the spring of 1945 became the wing Commanding Officer.

Jimmy flew a total of 20 bombing missions over enemy territory. On his most momentous mission, Stewart served as the flight leader of a 1,000 plane raid on the German capital of Berlin.

On one mission in 1944, an anti-aircraft round hit his plane, and exploded in the front wheel well. It created a hole so large in the floor, between the pilot and co-pilot, that down through the opening went Stewart’s parachute and map case. The pilots could look through the hole and see the countryside below. When they landed the plane, it split apart into two pieces.

For his service, Stewart was awarded many medals, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm.

By the end of the war, he had risen to the rank of Colonel and remained with the US Air Force Reserves and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1959. He retired from the Air Force in 1968.

Jimmy Stewart was just one of many accomplished Hollywood actors who put their careers on hold to serve the nation.

And there would be many who would serve and, post-war, go on to become accomplished actors.

Charles Bronson

Bronson was known as an action movie star “tough guy” who had a brawny physique and a granite face. A number of the films he appeared in are classics, such as The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, and The Dirty Dozen.

Bronson enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1943. He was assigned to a Boeing B-29 Superfortress with the Guam based 61st Bombardment Squadron. At only 5 foot 8 inches tall, he was the perfect size for a nose gunner.

Bronson would fly 25 combat missions against the Japanese home islands. Each mission was extremely dangerous, facing both flak fire and the possibility of Japanese fighter attacks. On January 19, 1945, during the Battle of Luzon, Bronson was wounded in both arms.

For his bravery and service, he was awarded several decorations. These included the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and a Purple Heart.

Mel Brooks

Just the mention of his name draws a chuckle thinking about the work of this actor, comedian, and filmmaker, known for such movies as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and The Producers.

Upon graduating high school, Brooks immediately joined the army. Due to his exceptional scores on his military entrance examination, he was at once placed for specialized training at the Virginia Military Institute as a combat engineer.

Sent to the European Theatre, he first served as a forward artillery observer, then transferred to the 1104th Engineer Combat group where he was engaged at the Battle of the Bulge.

Brooks’ job found him always on the outer perimeter of the battle area, in constant danger clearing land mines so American forces could advance. On five separate occasions, Brooks’ unit had to serve as infantry and take part in the fighting.

Ever the comedian, Brooks once remarked, “War isn’t hell, war is loud. Much too noisy. All those shells and bombs going off all around you. Never mind death. A man could lose his hearing.”

But on a more serious note, asked by his son if during the war he thought about “what it would take to rebuild postwar Europe,” Brooks said, “You thought about how you were going to stay warm that night, how you were going to get from one hedgerow to another without some German sniper taking you out. You didn’t worry about tomorrow.”

Lee Marvin

Veteran actor Lee Marvin won an Academy Award for Best Actor with his portrayal of Kid Shelleen in the movie Cat Ballou. Known for his bass voice, he was truly one of Hollywood’s “tough guy” personas.

Marvin enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in August 1942. He served as a scout sniper in the Pacific Theatre, serving with the 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division. He took part in an incredible 21 Japanese island landings.

At the Battle of Saipan, while fighting on Mount Tapochau, Marvin was shot below the spine, which severed his sciatic nerve. He received an additional gunshot wound in the foot. These injuries resulted in a 13 month recovery period and rendered him unfit for further service and he was medically discharged.

Marvin was awarded a Purple Heart, and he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Jason Robards

The American actor was well known for his prolific roles on stage and screen. He is one of only 24 performers to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting. He received two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, and an Emmy Award.

After graduating from high school in 1940, Robards enlisted in the Navy. He served as a radioman 3rd class aboard the cruiser USS Northampton. The ship steamed into Pearl Harbor several days after the Japanese attack, and Robards viewed the destructive aftermath.

Robards participated in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands and numerous other operations against Japanese island strongholds.

On November 30, 1942, while engaged in the Battle of Tassafaronga, the Northampton was struck by two Japanese torpedoes, which tore a huge hole in her port side, ripping apart decks and bulkheads. The ship sunk, but Robards survived by treading water for hours until a U.S. destroyer rescued him.

He next served on the flagship USS Nashville, a cruiser. On December 13, 1944, while taking part in the invasion of Mindoro (Philippines), she was struck by two bombs, which set the midsection of the ship on fire. Nashville was also struck by the kamikaze plane, which hit one of the gun mounts. The ship endured 133 killed, and 190 wounded, but Robards survived.

The ship would eventually make its way back to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for repairs.

A truly unbelievable story of an American hero

You might remember character actor Charles Durning, who, over a 60-year career, appeared in over 200 movies, television shows and plays. Some of his notable movies included The Sting, O Brother Where Art Thou? and Tootsie.

Drafted at age 20 into the Army, Durning was in the first wave of troops to land on Omaha Beach on D-Day and became his unit’s lone survivor of a machine-gun ambush.

Surviving the initial assault, he was wounded just days later by a German mine, earning his first Purple Heart.

After recovering, Charles found himself fighting in Belgium when he was stabbed seven times in hand-to-hand combat with a German soldier, whom he bludgeoned to death with a rock.

Recovering from these wounds, Durning next found himself on the front line during the German offensive in the Ardennes Forest. During the Battle of the Bulge, he and the rest of his company were captured.

On December 17, 1944, Durning was amongst the 113 American POW’s who were herded into a field, then fired upon by machine guns wielded by the Waffen-SS. Durning was one of those to survive while 84 Americans were murdered.

The 29 Americans who survived did so by either playing dead or running into the woods. The majority were wounded. This war crime became known as the Malmedy Massacre.

This article just skims the surface

This short article is just to give you a brief view of how accomplished Hollywood actors, and those who, post-war, would go on to become accomplished actors, served their nation in World War II.

It is by no means an exhaustive list. Many others served honorably such as Clark Gable, Charlton Heston, Paul Newman, Kirk Douglas, Rock Hudson, Jackie Coogan, and Tony Curtis to name a few.

But the character of the people mentioned stands in stark contrast to the cultural moral bankruptcy presently seen emanating from the entertainment industry.

One era gave Americans genuine love of country and a selflessness to serve the greater good. The present era gives Americans nothing but empty moral platitudes.

Are you enjoying 24/7’s deep dives into recent and not-so-recent history? Would you like to see more stories like this one? If so, send a note to [email protected] and let our Editorial Team hear from you today!

Keep an eye on your inboxes every Thursday and Saturday for new editions of “Today in History” from the 24/7 team!