From the Mind of Abouna

"JUST HITTING ANOTHER
BRICK WALL"

REAL HOLLYWOOD HEROS

As most of us are aware, today’s crop of actors and actresses seem to be lacking in any real talent, morals, common sense and any real patriotism, as compared to our actor heroes of yester-year.

Not only were they talented, but they also had class and integrity. They also had true patriotism. With the advent of World War II many of our actors went to fight rather then stand around and gripe about our country and the leaders. They gave up their wealth, position and fame to become service men & women, many as simple "enlisted men". Below, I have listed only a few of these brave individuals, who have earned over 70 medals in honor of their valor, running the gamut from Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, Distinguish Service Cross', Purple Hearts and one Medal of Honor. So every time you see the "Entertainers of today” all over the news media (it seems News Paper, Television and Radio has been more than ready to put them and their anti-American, anti-Bush message before the public) just remember what the entertainers of 1943 were doing, (60 years ago). Most of these brave men have since passed on.

Alec Guinness (Star Wars)

1914 - 2000 operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day. (He died of liver cancer)

James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) 1920 - July 20, 2005 fought with the Canadian Army and landed on Juno Beach. In 2004, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) 1919-1995 really was an R. A. F. pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans. He died from complications from heart valve replacement surgery.

David Niven 1910-1983 was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy. He died of Motor neuron disease.

James Stewart 1908-1997 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 7 Battle Stars during World War II. In peace time, 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. He died from a pulmonary embolism following respiratory problems at the age of 89.

Clark Gable ?-1960 (Mega-Movie Star when war broke out) Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the U.S. entered WW II, Clark Gable enlisted as a private in the AAF on Aug. 12, 1942 at Los Angeles. He attended the Officers' Candidate School at Miami Beach, Fla. and graduated as a second lieutenant on Oct. 28, 1942. He then attended aerial gunnery school and in Feb. 1943 he was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook where 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 on Jun. 12, 1944 at his own request, since he was over-age for combat. Gable died of a massive heart attack at the age of 59.

Charlton Heston 1923-present was an Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak.

Earnest Borgnine 1917 – 200? was a U. S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945.

Charles Durning 1923-present was a U. S. Army Ranger at Normandy earning a Silver Star and awarded the Purple Heart.

Charles Bronson 1921-2003 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. He died of pneumonia while suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

George C. Scott 1927-1999 was a decorated U. S. Marine. He died from a ruptured abdomen aortic aneurysm

Eddie Albert (Green Acres TV) 1906-2005 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 Nov. 1943. He died of pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease.

Brian Keith 1921-1997 served as a U.S. Marine rear gunner in several actions against the Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific. During the later part of his life he suffered from emphysema and lung cancer. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 75, just two months after his daughter had committed suicide.

Lee Marvin 1924-1987 was a U.S. Marine on Saipan during the Marianas campaign when he was wounded earning the Purple Heart. He died of a heart attack at the age of 63.

John Russell 1921-1991 he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942, where he received a battlefield commission and was wounded and highly decorated for valor at Guadalcanal.

Robert Ryan 1909-1973 was a U. S. Marine who served with the O. S. S. in Yugoslavia. He died of lung cancer at the age of 63

Tyrone Power 1914-1958 an established movie star when Pearl Harbor was bombed, joined the U.S. Marines, was a pilot flying supplies into, and wounded Marines out of, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He died of a heart attack at the age of 44.

Audie Murphy 1924-1971 little 5'5" tall 110 pound guy from Texas who played cowboy parts? Most Decorated serviceman of WWII and earned: The Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Star Medals, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Star Medals with "V", 2 Purple Hearts, U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Distinguished Unit Emblems, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France) World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar, French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre, French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier, French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Medal of Liberated France, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm. Died in a plane crash at the age of 46.

These were real men and real actors.

May God bless each of them and may their

Memories be eternal.