Before Bush was re-elected we heard a lot of anti-Bush drivel from several all knowing liberal Hollywood celebrities…but not now. They have crawled back under their luxurious rocks where they can console each other. There were a few notable exceptions but back in World War II it was a different story, several who later became top stars willingly went to war risking their lives to do their part. In contrast to the ideals, opinions and feelings of today’s &uot;Hollywonk,&uot; the real actors of yesteryear loved the United States.

They had both class and integrity. With the advent of World War II many of our actors went to fight rather than stand and rant against this country we all love. They gave up their wealth, position and fame to become service men and women, many as simple &uot;enlisted men.&uot;

This column lists but a few, but from this group of only 17 men came 70 medals in honor of their valor, spanning from Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, Distinguish Service Crosses, Purple Hearts and one Congressional Medal of Honor. So remember while the entertainers of today have been in all of the news media lately, it’s because newspapers, television and radio has been more than ready to put them and their anti-American, anti-Bush message before the public. Here is what actors were doing 60 years ago. Sadly, most of these brave gentlemen have since passed on.

Alec Guinness (Star Wars) operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day. James Doohan (&uot;Scotty&uot; on Star Trek) landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day. I didn’t know I was in such good company.

Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) really was an R. A. F. pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans. David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy.

James Stewart entered the Army Air Force as a private and worked his way to the rank of Colonel. During World War II, Stewart served as a bomber pilot, his service record crediting him with leading more than 20 missions over Germany, and taking part in hundreds of air strikes during his tour of duty. Stewart earned the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, France’s Croix de Guerre, and seven Battle Stars during World War II. In peacetime, Stewart continued to be an active member of the Air Force as a reservist, reaching the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in the late 1950s.

Clark Gable, already a star when war broke out, was beyond the draft age at the time of WW II, He enlisted as a private in the AAF. He attended the Officers’ Candidate School and graduated as a second lieutenant. He then attended aerial gunnery school and in Feb. 1943 he was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook where he flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s Capt. Gable returned to the U.S. in Oct. 1943 and was relieved from active duty as a major since he was over-age for combat.

Charlton Heston was an Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak. Earnest Borgnine was a U. S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945. Charles Durning was a United States Ranger at Normandy earning a Silver Star and awarded the Purple Heart. Charles Bronson was a tail gunner in the Army Air Corps, more specifically on B-29s in the 20th Air Force out of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan. George C. Scott was a decorated U. S. Marine. Eddie Albert (Green Acres TV) was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroic action as a U. S. Naval officer aiding Marines at the horrific battle on the island of Tarawa in the Pacific. Brian Keith served as a U.S. Marine rear gunner in several actions against the Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific. Lee Marvin was a U.S. Marine on Saipan during the Marianas campaign when he was wounded earning the Purple Heart.

Audie Murphy, little 5’5&uot; tall 110-pound guy from Texas who played cowboy parts? Most Decorated serviceman of WWII and earned: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Stars, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Star Medals, 2 Purple Hearts, U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, 2 Distinguished Unit Emblems, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars, one Bronze Arrowhead, French Fourragere, French Legion of Honor, French Croix de Guerre, Medal of Liberated France, Belgian Croix de Guerre, and he threw none of them away.

Compare the 17 to the hollywonks today who spew anti-American bilge as they bite the hand that feeds them? Can you imagine these stars of yesteryear saying they hate our flag, making anti-war speaches, marching in anti-American parades and saying they hate our president? Compare them with Streisands, Baldwin, Fonda, Dixie Chicks, Madonna, Sarandons, Goldberg, and especially Michael Moore, great Americans all.

Robert Pocklington lives in Suffolk and is a regular News-Herald columnist. He can be reached at robert.pocklington@suffolknewsherald.com.