Gene Kelly
Funny man, actor, director, writer, let’s just say the whole package, Carl Reiner is best known for his show where he was the producer, writer, and actor of The Dick Van Dyke Show, which is only one of his many accomplishments. During the 1940’s the draft had all hands on deck and Reiner was drafted into the Army Air Force in 1943, where he unintendedly would climb to obtain corporal.
J.R.R. Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien was an English poet and writer, best known for his fantastical works, “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.” Tolkien is a war veteran and served with the British Expeditionary Force during World War I as Second Lieutenant in the 11th Battalion. He saw many bloody battles, including the Battle of Somme. Ultimately his poor health would end his war days. Tolkien was sent home after he contracted a chronic fever from lice that infested him.
Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson is a well-known movie star and musician. What is less known is that he has an impressive military career. Kristofferson identifies as a “military brat” since he traveled around a lot as a kid due to his dad’s military career. His father, Lars Kristofferson, was an Air Corps officer in the US Army. Kris got a degree from Pomona College and earned a scholarship to the prestigious Oxford University, but his parents pressured him into joining the army and marrying his high school sweetheart. He enlisted in 1960, becoming a helicopter pilot after completing Ranger School. He was offered a teaching position at West Point but turned it down so he could focus on his music. His family looked down on his decision to leave the Army and ultimately disowned him for it. Here is how he feels about our troops today: “I want you to know I’m an Army brat; I was a captain in the Army and my brother was a jet pilot in the Navy. So I support our troops; I identify with them. But I sure as hell don’t identify with the bastards who sent them over there.”
Kurt Vonnegut
The author of “Slaughterhouse Five”, an anti-war novel with elements of science fiction, served in the Army during World War II as an infantry battalion scout. Vonnegut was taken as a prisoner of war and survived the firebombing of Dresden, Germany by the Allied forces. His experiences as a POW were the inspiration for “Slaughterhouse Five” as well as other of his works.
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier was an English actor best known for stage and film. He won Academy Award, Golden Globe, Emmy, and BAFTA. When World War II started, Olivier wanted to join the Royal Air Force, but he was already obligated to other parties. Olivier served for two years as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm but was never called into battle.