Bill Shea's WWII Memorabilia Blog RSS

Compare them to the Hollywood simpletons of today **************************************************************************   Don Rickles US Navy. WWII aboard the motor torpedo boat USS Cyrene, as a Seaman First Class.   Harry Dean Stanton US Navy.  WWII Served aboard an LST in the Battle of Okinawa.   Soupy Sales US Navy.  Served on USS Randall in the South Pacific.   Lee Van Cleef US Navy.  WWII Served aboard a sub chaser then a mine sweeper.   Clifton James US Army WWII. South Pacific, was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.   Ted Knight US Army, Combat Engineers.  He was a member of...

HOLLYWOODS GREATEST Part 2 of 3Compare them to the Hollywood simpletons of today. The following is the continuing list of Hollywoods Greatest, who have made this amazing sacrifice.  See if you recognize any of these handsome greats. ************************************************  Neville Brand US Army, Europe.  WWII. Was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.  Tyrone Power US Marines.  WWII. Transport pilot in the Pacific Theater.  Charlton Heston US Army Air Corps.  WWII. Radio operator and aerial gunner on a B-25, Aleutians.   Danny Aiello US Army.  WWII. Lied about his age to enlist at 16.  Served three years.  James Arness US Army.  WWII. As part...

HOLLYWOODS GREATEST Compare them to the Hollywood simpletons of today. Would someone please remind me again how many of today’s Hollywood elite put their careers on hold to enlist in Iraq or Afghanistan?  The only one who even comes close was Pat Tillman, who turned down a contract offer of $3.6 million over three years from the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the US Army after September 11, 2001, and serve as a Ranger in Afghanistan, where he died in 2004.  But rather than being lauded for his choice and his decision to put his country before his career, he was mocked and derided by...

GREAT SCOTT! Well, the 2017 Show of Shows is “history” so to speak but it is one for the books and I can’t wait to tell you about it. Each year there are a few different factors which make this one different from a previous event. The 2017 SOS was no exception. Once again it took place in one very big hall at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, KY. When we walked in on Wednesday evening to set up I was amazed by the enormity of this massive hall. It looked weird to see 2,000 tables set up with...

Dozens of books have been written on this topic and many of these are great reference sources. My goal with this brief introduction is to impart at least one factoid regarding this prestigious, long living decoration that you didn't know before. It has always been awarded for bravery and over the 132 years of its official existence (1813-1945). The only known exception to that rule was the very first recipient who was Louise who was the wife of Friedrich Wilhelm III who instituted the award. In this case it was done after she passed away.  Over the years, the award was broadened and...