Jimmy Stewart...Who Knew?

[PegLeg45]

I always liked his movies.
A military friend sent this to me and I though it might be interesting to those others who like his work too.

An excerpt from Jimmy Stewart's bio on his museum web site:

...Stewart’s life off-screen was as interesting and demanding as his career in films. While he was building his reputation as an actor, the rest of the world was about to go to war. German occupation in numerous countries in the early part of 1940 led Congress on September 16, 1940 to pass the Selective Service Bill, “the draft”, this bill called for 900,000 men between the ages of 20 and 36 to be drafted each year. Stewart’s draft number was 310. When his number was called and he appeared at Draft Board No. 245 in West Los Angeles in February 1941, the 6’3” Stewart weighed only 138 pounds, 5 pounds under the acceptable weight level. He was turned down. Stewart wanted to fly and serve his country but by May of 1941 he would have been too old to get into flight school. He went home ate everything he could that was fattening and went back and enlisted in the Army Air Corps, he passed the physical with an ounce to spare. While others tried to avoid the draft, he actually wanted to serve in the military. Later he would actually campaign to see combat. Jimmy was already a licensed pilot. Interested in aviation as a child, he had taken his first flight while still in Indiana from one of the barnstorming pilots that used to travel the Midwest. As a successful actor in 1935 Jimmy was able to afford flying lessons. He received his pilot’s license in 1935 and bought his first airplane. In 1938 he gained his commercial pilot’s license. He often flew cross country to visit his parents in Pennsylvania, navigating by the railroad tracks. In the military, he was to make extensive use of his pilot’s training. In March 1941 at age 32, he reported for duty as Private James Stewart at Fort McArthur and was assigned to the Army Air Corps at Moffett Field. To comply with the regulations of the Air Corps proficiency board, Stewart required additional 100 flying hours and bought them at a nearby field, at this own expense. He then took and passed a very stiff proficiency board examination. In January 1942 Stewart was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He was then sent to Mather Field in California as a twin engine instructor this included both the B-17 and B-24. Much to his dismay, Stewart stayed stateside for almost two years, until commanding officers finally yielded to his request to be sent overseas. In November 1943, now a Captain and Operations Officer for the 703rd Squadron, 445th Bombardment Group of the Eight Air Force, he arrived in Tibenham, England. In March of 1944 he was transferred to the 453rd Bombardment Group at Old Buckenham. While stateside, Stewart flew B-17’s (The Flying Fortress). In England he flew B-24’s (The Liberator) and did so for the remaining years of the war. Stewart’s war record included 20 dangerous combat missions as command pilot, wing commander or squadron commander. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, The Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. At the end of the war he had risen to the rank of Colonel. After the war he remained with the US Air Force Reserves and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1959. His tuxedo and dress blues with all the correct medals are on display at The Jimmy Stewart Museum. He retired from the Air Force in 1968 (mandatory retirement age) and received the Distinguished Service Medal.


Read more at:  http://www.jimmy.org/biography

[alfsauve]

I knew, I knew!

I don't know if it's in the biography but I'll relate a story I heard him tell to Johnny Carson.

When he was in his late teens he had a job at a hardware store and lived in a boarding house.    His room was on the side of the house and he could see the edge of the front porch of the neighbor's house.   Every night for many weeks a cat would sit on the neighbor's porch and "meow" for hours at a time.   Eventually, Jim borrowed a take down .22 from the store and secreted it up to his room.   Very late at night when the cat was howling he was preparing to shoot it from his windows when suddenly the neighbor's lights came on.  The neighbor appeared on the porch in a bathrobe and stood next to the howling cat.  The neighbor seemed to be looking around for something while he he had a smoked.  (The cat continued to "meow").

Jim said he was petrified that the neighbor had seen him and that the police were coming to arrest him.  After a few minutes the neighbor put out his cigarette, reached into his bathrobe pocket, pulled out a pistol, shot the cat and went back into the house.

One very tense, but relieved James Stewart went back to bed.

[DesertMarine]

Awesome American.

[shooter32]

Awesome American.

+1

[blackwolfe]

I think I remember reading that Jimmy Stewart also flew in Viet Nam, however I don't think they were combat missions.
A true American and a true hero.

[Sponsor]

[PegLeg45]

I think I remember reading that Jimmy Stewart also flew in Viet Nam, however I don't think they were combat missions.
A true American and a true hero.

I don't know if he flew in a military capacity, but he visited the troops. He also lost a son (or step-son) in vietnam.
I also read that after he returned to making films after WWII, he refused to let the film companies use his military service to hype his movies. He wanted his movie career to thrive because he was a good actor, not because he was a decorated veteran.

[ratcatcher55]

I remember the Biography Channel program on Gen. Stewart that he had one mission in a B52 over North Vietnam as an observer.

He attended the retirement party for Gen. Spruance DE ANG, my old partner was in the unit in the 70's, and  was very gracious to everyone there.

A great American, a great gentleman.

[1776 Rebel]

The Hollywood of the 1930's and 1940's was quite different from today. The big movie stars and the b players all did their piece in WWII willingly and with enthusiasm.  Found the following website with a list of some of the stars who served this nation.

http://www.militarysalute.proboards45.com/index.cgi?board=stories&action=display&thread=48

Even a guy like Arthur Godfrey felt the need to serve his country. If my memory is correct, he at one time held the trans-continental speed record from LA to NY in a B58 Hustler bomber. He also flew a combat mission in Viet Nam "as an observer" like Lindbergh had done in WWII. Only "observing"....woops did I just hit that darn red button that said "bomb release"?

[someguy]

Simply awesome.  Thanks for posting.  (I'm a relative youngster...  I didn't know.)

[Hazcat]

That was back when the men (yes M'ette, women too) in hollywood were men and Americans first and actors second.  Today they are a VERY rare breed.