Stars in the Corps: Movie Actors in the United States Marines

Best remembered for his Academy Award-winning portrayals of iconoclastic film characters, Marvin played the most important role of his life in World War II. One of many surprises in this book is a description of his heroism as a member of the 4th Marine Division during the invasion of Saipan. Another is the fact that Marvin chose to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with a simple marker identifying him only as a Marine, not a movie star. Sterling Hayden, a well-known movie star before World War II, changed his name upon commissioning to conceal his movie identity. An experienced seaman and parachutist and a graduate of a British commando training school, he joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and aided Marshal Tito's partisans in their guerrilla warfare against the Germans, winning a Silver Star for rescuing pilots behind enemy lines. Dale Dye, a twice-wounded Vietnam veteran and Bronze Star recipient, has appeared in numerous war movies and become a respected technical adviser to Steven Spielberg, whose blockbuster Saving Private Ryan showcased Dye's acting and advising abilities.

Dashing leading man Tyrone Power joined the enlisted ranks of the Corps and went on to receive his commission and aviator wings, logging hundreds of hours as a command transport pilot in Pacific combat zones. Harvey Keitel, whose long list of movie credits includes Taxi Driver and Pulp Fiction, joined the Marines at seventeen and served in Beirut, earning his high school equivalency diploma and developing a love of books in the Corps. Hugh O'Brian, known worldwide for his TV portrayal of Wyatt Earp and to movie buffs as John Wayne's close friend and last costar, became one of the Corps's youngest drill instructors. Rebel Steve McQueen learned to love the disciplined life of a Marine and developed skills that served him well in his civilian racing career.

Accompanied by some never-before-published photographs, many of these revealing profiles are based on recent interviews with the stars or their families and friends. Battle reports, unit diaries, and personnel records were consulted to authenticate the details of their military careers. Filled with little-known facts and fascinating tidbits of information, this book will delight and inform the staunchest Marine supporter and most avid movie fan.

That is not to say that it is not worth reading, however. It's a quick read, and the reader will recognize the cotton candy style of the motion picture press release. But the surprises will keep you going, as you discover that Ed McMahon was such a good pilot of the Vought Corsair (the airplane that Pappy Boyington flew) that he became an instructor in World War II. When he finally flew in combat, it was in unarmed Cessna 180s flying observation over Korea -- extremely hazardous duty. You will also find out how Lee Marvin "got his ass shot off" in the World War II invasion of Saipan -- literally.

One thing any reader will recognize is the almost universal feeling on the part of the subjects that the "Corps made a man out of me" and the emptiness most of them felt when no longer a part of Corps.

In short, it's worth the money just for fun, but history it ain't. It's a nice little book about a few good men.


Wonderful   August 31, 1999
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Thank you for making my father John R. Post so happy to have someone care about something that consumed a great deal of his young life. He was so thrilled to receive your book and share it with me and all his military friends. It was a time to be remembered - for the friendship - not the death. And he may be different but he remembers every name of every person he spent time with during WWII and the Korean Conflict. Thank you for acknowledging his memory and caring about his fellow man. Thank you.