I just wanted to say that altho it's a movie I'm sure just about
everyone is getting tired of by now lol, It's a Wonderful Life (and
several other movies)star a TRUE American Hero.

James Stewart

Wartime activity

The Stewart family had deep military roots: both grandfathers had fought
in the Civil War, and his father had served during both the
Spanish-American War and World War I. Jimmy considered his father to be
the biggest influence on his life, so it is not surprising that when
another war came, another Stewart would be in uniform. With his private
pilot's licence in hand and a smattering of flying time, it was also
inevitable that Jimmy Stewart would seek to become a military flyer.

Nearly a year before the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Stewart
attempted to join the United States Army Air Corps, though his
enlistment was initially denied due to a weight problem. Stewart came in
under the weight requirement and was consequently rejected for being
under-weight. The USAAF had strict height and weight requirements for
new recruits and Stewart was five pounds under the standard. To get up
to 148 pounds, he enlisted the help of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's muscle man,
Don Loomis, who was legendary for his ability to add or subtract pounds
in his studio gymnasium. Refusing to accept his rejection, he persuaded
the AAF enlistment officer to run new tests, this time skipping the
weigh-in, with the result that Stewart successfully enlisted in the Army
in March 1941. He became the first major movie star to wear a uniform.

Since the United States had yet to declare war on Germany and because of
the Army's unwillingness to put celebrities on the front, Stewart was
held back from combat duty, though he did earn a commission as a Second
Lieutenant and completed pilot training. He later became an instructor
pilot for the B-17 Flying Fortress stationed in Albuquerque, NM.

While petitioning his superiors for combat assignment, Stewart aligned
himself with the First Motion Picture Unit and starred and produced a
number of training and educational films. Between 1942 and the end of
the war, he appeared in nearly a dozen productions, some of which were
screened theatrically in civilian theaters.


He was finally assigned to the 445th Bombardment Group in Sioux City,
Iowa, first as Operations Officer of the 703rd Bombardment Squadron, and
then its commander. In December, the 445th Bombardment Group flew its
B-24 Liberator bombers to Tibenham, England, and immediately began
combat operations. While flying missions over Germany, Stewart was
promoted to Major. In March 1944, he was transferred as Group Operations
Officer to the 453rd Bombardment Group, a new B-24 outfit that had been
experiencing difficulties. In 1944, he twice received the Distinguished
Flying Cross for actions in combat and was awarded the Croix de Guerre
with palm. He also received the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters.
In July 1944, after flying 20 combat missions, Stewart was made Chief of
Staff of the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing of the Eighth Air Force. Before
the war ended he was promoted to Colonel, one of only a few Americans to
rise from private to colonel in four years.

Stewart continued to play an active role in the United States Air Force
Reserve after the war, achieving the rank of Brigadier General on July
23, 1959. [1] Stewart did not often talk of his wartime service, perhaps
due to his desire to be seen as a regular soldier doing his duty instead
of as a celebrity. He did appear on the TV series, The World At War to
discuss the October 14, 1943, bombing mission to Schweinfurt — the
mission known in USAF history as Black Thursday due to the incredibly
high casualties it sustained. Fittingly, he was identified only as
"James Stewart, Squadron Commander" in the documentary.

In 1966, Brigadier General James Stewart rode along as an observer on a
B-52 Stratofortress bombing run during the Vietnam War, though he did
not fly any duty missions during that conflict. Stewart finally retired
from the Air Force on May 31, 1968, after 27 years of service. At the
time of his B-52 mission, he refused the release of any publicity
regarding his participation as he did not want it treated as a stunt for
glory, but as his job as an officer in the Air Force Reserve.
(info from wikipedia)

Here was a man that could have easily taken a desk job during the war as
a result of his celebrity status. Instead, he not only actively partook
in combat, even as he progressed higher up in the ranks, he never picked
and chose his missions to do "milk runs". If HIS group was going, so was
he, and he was going to LEAD that group.
He even went to Shweinfurt. For those that don't know, it was a sad day
for the US 8th Air Force. They were severly mauled by the Luftwaffe on
that mission and suffered horrendously unsustainable losses.

I always liked Jimmy Stewart, but many years ago, when I read about his
actions during WW2, I gained a whole new respect and admiration for him.

He really is a True American Hero.

I still love that movie.

I like a lot of Jimi Stewrts movies. (Brigadier General James Maitland
"Jimmy" Stewart).

Many of his films are my favorite:

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Vertigo.

Operations Officer to the 453rd Bombardment Group, a new B-24 outfit
that had been experiencing difficulties. In 1944, he twice received the
Distinguished Flying Cross for actions in combat and was awarded the
Croix de Guerre. He also received the Air Medal with three oak leaf
clusters. In July 1944, after flying 20 combat missions, Stewart was
made Chief of Staff of the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing of the Eighth Air
Force.

Such a breath of old talent but good works for all time I think.