American Celebrities in the Armed Forces - 4 Quiz

Answer: Buddy Hackett

Buddy Hackett had suffered from Bell's Palsy when he was a child. This caused his face to become partially paralyzed, which in turn caused his characteristic lisp and movement of his lips. This didn't stop him from enlisting in the US Army when he finished high school, though.

At eighteen years of age beginning in 1942, he served in an anti-aircraft battery until the war was over, at which time he started his career as a stand-up comedian and movie actor. None of the other people in the options provided in this question served in the military.

Answer: US Coast Guard

Lloyd Bridges was the only member of the family who saw active duty during wartime. He had begun his acting career in the early 1940s when he left to become a full-time member of the Coast Guard. He remained a spokesperson for this branch of service, including during his time with "Sea Hunt", a television show in which he starred after the war.

His character played an auxiliary member of the Coast Guard. Lloyd's son Beau joined the Coast Guard Reserve in 1959, where he served for eight years. His other son, Jeff, joined the Coast Guard Reserve in 1967, where he served until 1975.

Answer: Robert E. Lee

Robert Duvall's military lineage runs deep. His father was in the US Navy and retired a Rear Admiral after a lifetime of service. His mother was a relative of General Robert E. Lee through the Lee family in Virginia. Duvall enlisted in the US Army for two years after the Korean War had ended. Like many others, he went on to study drama on the GI Bill, a government program that provided education funds to veterans when they left the military. Duvall's classmates included Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, and James Caan, all of whom went on to become famous actors.

Answer: 23

Mickey Rooney entered the US Army in June, 1944. He was born in September, 1920, so that means that he was twenty-three, just a few months shy of twenty-four years old when he joined the military. He served until just past the end of WWII, entertaining the troops in Europe and in the United States.

He earned a number of medals for his time in the service, including the Bronze Star Medal, which is one that is given for meritorious service in combat zones.

Answer: Roy Scheider

Roy Scheider joined the US Air Force in 1955 and served until 1958. During that time, he was an air traffic controller in Air Operations. He reached the rank of first lieutenant during his active service, but continued as a reservist where he became a captain.

He ended his role in the US Air Force in 1964. On a side note, the famous quote, "You're gonna need a bigger boat" in "Jaws" (1975) was actually ad libbed in the film, but has become a favourite quote from all movies in the 20th century.

Answer: China

Gene Hackman lied about his age to join the US Marines in 1947 when he was only sixteen years old. He was first stationed in China as a field radio operator. After the Chinese Communist Revolution, he was re-stationed to Hawaii and Japan. It has been reported that during his time in the US Marines, Hackman was punished with three different demotions for leaving his post without permission.

Despite that, he remained in the military until 1951.

Answer: World War II

In 1942, Marvin enlisted in the US Marines when he left high school early at the age of eighteen. His unit was deployed to the Pacific Theatre, where he saw regular active warfare. During the Battle of Saipan, he received injuries that would end his career in the military. One shot that he received severed his sciatic nerve, while another caused severe damage to his foot.

He was treated and sent for rehabilitation before receiving a medical discharge.

Answer: Johnny Carson

Johnny Carson joined the US Navy in 1943. He enrolled in the Navy's V-12 program which was a program designed to educate and train officers by sending them to specialized programs at existing colleges in the US. Carson received this training at Columbia University and Millsaps College.

When he was finally deployed to a ship, Carson was sent to the Pacific Theatre aboard the USS Pennsylvania. He must have been in great shape because when he was first deployed, he posted a 10-0 record in the amateur boxing matches in which he took part, mostly aboard ship.

He frequently mentioned his time in the US Navy on his program, "The Tonight Show", especially when interviewing other guests who had served in the Armed Forces.

Answer: Bob Barker

Bob Barker attended Drury College in Missouri in the early 1940s. He left his studies in 1943 to join the US Navy where he trained as a fighter pilot. He did not see action in the war because it ended before he was fully trained. When he left the Navy, he went back to school where he graduated with a degree in economics. Richard Dawson was a member of the British Merchant Navy. Pat Sajak was a member of the US Army as a disc jockey during the Vietnam War. Alex Trebek was born in Canada.

Although he didn't serve in the Canadian Armed Forces, he did attend a military college, but left when he discovered that he was required to cut his hair.

Answer: Sammy Davis, Jr.

When he was 18 years of age, Sammy Davis, Jr. joined the US Army. Due to racial discrimination, his nose was broken a number of times when he was abused by, and fought with white soldiers who served with him. At one point during his military career, Davis was sent to serve in a unit that was responsible for performing for their fellow troops. Peter Lawford was born in London, England.

Although he came from a military family, he had an accident in his early teens that caused severe nerve damage to one of his lower arms.

This prevented him from joining the British armed forces. Humphrey Bogart was a member of the US Navy during WWI. Frank Sinatra did not serve in the Armed Forces. He was designated as not fit to serve because he had a pierced eardrum.