Help! I need help with freeper family...

I need to respond to an email I got lambasting the left wing Hollywood actors for utilizing their 1st ammendment right to free speech in opposition to the war pining away for the real hollywood hero's who actually served in the military. I was going to cite the illustrious military records of the right wing pundits whom we all know and love, but I need some help.

We all know of Rush Limbaugh's polynoidal cyst, *'s AWOL, and Cheney's "I had other priorities," but what about Hannity, O'Really, Savage, etc? I know they all weaseled out of their Military Service, but what were their excuses? Google search on "Hannity Military Service" brough back tons of hits, and I don't have a lot of time to sift through them. Can anyone help?

Well, first of all, post the e-mail. It could be another fake.

In celebration of the USA I just wish to share something that was sent to me and too good to keep in my computer files - - it makes you recall that there was a time when you had no Streisands, Baldwins, Fondas, Dixie Chicks, Madonna, Sarandons, Robbins.




On The Flip Side of Hollywood

In contrast to the ideals, opinions and feelings of today's "Hollywonk" the real actors of yester-year loved the United States. They had both class and integrity. With the advent of World War 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 & women, many as simple "enlisted men". This page lists but a few, but from this group of only 18 men came over 70 medals in honor of their valor, spanning from Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, Distinguish Service Cross', Purple Hearts and one Congressional Medal of Honor. So remember; while the "Entertainers of 2003" have been in all of the news media lately (for 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) I would like to remind the people of what the entertainers of 1943 were doing, (60 years ago). Most of these brave men have since passed on.

Hollywonk! Real Hollywood Heros

Alec Guinness (Star Wars) operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.

James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day.

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 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.

Clark Gable (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.

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 U. S. Army 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 Nov. 1943.

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.

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

Robert Ryan was a U. S. Marine who served with the O. S. S. in Yugoslavia.

Tyrone Power (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.

Audie Murphy, little 5'5" 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 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.






So how do you feel the real heroes of the silver screen acted when compared to the hollywonks today who spray out anti-American drivel as they bite the hand that feeds them? Can you imagine these stars of yester-year saying they hate our flag, making anti-war speeches, marching in anti-American parades and saying they hate our president? I thought not, neither did I!







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Who were most likely drafted, or else landed officerships becuase of family wealth.

Also wonder how many of the actors listed were drafted by the US military. Need to find that out. And also need to find out if, even though they served, how they felt abouut Korea, VietNam, and other wars?

And what's especially super annoying is that the asshole says, in effect, "Boy, those actors of 1943 sure knew how to serve our country." while utterly glossing over the fact that those men represent a very small percentage of hollywood actors, the vast majority of whom DID NOT serve in the military, but continued to make films.

What a stupid assinine email.

I'd also like to know how many of these great, 1943 actors (and others of the time who didn't serve), ended up being labeled anti-Americans in the witch-hunts of the 1950s?

is that in a time when almost every male was involved in the military (especially the brits) a slect group of celebrities also served.

I would do re: this--

Can you imagine these stars of yester-year saying they hate our flag, making anti-war speeches, marching in anti-American parades and saying they hate our president?

is dig up some anti-Clinton quotes from right wing "celebrities" and ask if it's okay to hate the president as long as he's a Democrat. I would also ask for specific quotes from celebrities saying that they hate the flag or America.

And what the hell is wrong with being anti-war? Are we supposed to be pro-war? That's ridiculous. Nobody should want war. It should be an absolute last resort.

oh that's right, he just played a hero in the movies, then forgot that it wasn't real..

besides, this email is loaded with strawmen. I know of none of the celebs mentioned who ever said they hate our flag, and an anti-war protest is NOT THE GODDAMN SAME as an anti-American protest

jeez these people are idiots!

You cannot compare what was happening during WW II with the situation in Iraq today. It's like apples and oranges. You had a madman attempting to take over all of Europe and exterminating millions of people simply because they were Jews or Polish or gay or gypsies. Whoever wrote that is pretty dumb and hardly worthy of a response. I would just tell them flat out that they are stupid and forget about it.

They're not elected officials and don't have any voters to answer to.

Why waste the time?

Fred Grundy, Sonny Bono, Jesse Ventura, Arnie and Ray-Gun to name a few.

He was a Navy SEAL that, from what I recall, did at least 2 full tours in Viet Nam.

My my. We certainly have strong opinions about who does and doesn't have
the right to free speech, don't we? That was certainly a long and
distinguished list of brave men who have served their countries well, and as
a fellow veteran, I am certainly thankful for their service in the
protection of our freedoms. However, based on your email, it seems that you
feel only those who have served our country should be entitled to their 1st
Amendment right to Freedom of Speech. So keeping that in mind, let's take a
look at some of the people who you think should keep their anti American
mouths shut:


George W. Bush
43rd President of the USA
Father got him a cushy slot flying planes for the Texas Air National Guard,
and then went AWOL for the last 18 months of service. Then Daddy got him
out of trouble and his record tidied up, so he wouldn't get a dishonorable
discharge.


Dick Cheney
Vice President of the USA
In his own words "had other priorities." As former CEO of Halliburton
Corporation (oil services company providing equipment to companies drilling
for oil), parent company of Kellogg Brown and Root (providing logistical
support for the US Armed Forces), help turn the "War on Terrorism" into a
cash cow for his former company by lying to the American people about Iraq's
role in 9/11.


Bill Bennett
Pundit, Prude, and Hypocrite
Skipped out on the Vietnam Conflict, but had plenty to say about sending our
boys to Iraq.


Sean Hannity
Talking head and Nuisance.
He didn't go anywhere near Iraq the first time, and wouldn't shut up about
invading the second time. "Anyone but me," eh, Sean?


Newt Gingrich
Former Speaker of the House
A virtuoso in the art of hypocrisy, the former Speaker of the House now
claims the Vietnam War was a splendid idea, but at the time he opposed going
himself. Newtie also speaks highly of morality, but as a serial adulterer he
doesn't want to get too close to it himself.


Rush Limbaugh
Pompous Pill Popping Windbag
Excused from the draft due to a polynodial cyst. Yes, that's right folks.
This boil on the butt of humanity got out of Vietnam because he had a boil
on his ass. Well, the up side is that when they send him to the big house
for abusing those pain killers, he can have it personally cared for by his
cell mate after lights out. Nothing like reliving the good ole' "Jeff
Christie" days, eh Rush?


Bill (O'Really)O'Rielly
Talk show host who's "looking out for you"
But that was the last thing he was doing during Vietnam. The only thing he
was looking out for was his own ass, and he was doing that in London...
Funny, isn't that what Clinton was doing?


Michael (can you spare a quarter, please) Savage
Didn't he get canned for saying all gays should contract AIDS and die? If
only he could have channeled all that animosity against Ho Chi Minh - we'd
be selling Big Macs in Vietnam today! Well, as a gay man who served his
country, all I have to say is "Where were you when your country called,
Mike?"


Now, I don't have a problem with these guys making use of their right
to free speech, and to make a few bucks on it. It's what I put my life on
the line to defend, and why I would do it again in a heartbeat. But freedom
of speech is not subjective, and even if you don't like what's being said,
the great thing about this country is that you have the right to say it.
Barbra Streisand, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon etc are all Americans and
entitled to the same rights as the blowhards listed above, and the only
thing anti American here is your attempt to censor opinions you don't agree
with. That is what the Nazi's and the Communists and traitors like Joe
McCarthy did. So go on. Celebrate the accomplishments of great figures
like those you listed in your email, but don't belittle what they fought for
by saying that people who engage the government in debate over whether to
put American lives in harm's way are "spewing Anti-American drivel."

If you enjoy a dose of the truth every now and then, pass it on.