While many Hollywood and sports stars served in World War II, the number who were specifically involved in D-Day and/or the Normandy Campaign is more focused. Here are a few notable individuals:
Hollywood Stars:
- David Niven: The Oscar-winning British actor served as a lieutenant colonel in the British Commandos. He was reportedly among the first officers to land in Normandy.
- Richard Todd: The Irish-born actor was part of the British airborne invasion on D-Day and was among the first to land, tasked with securing communication routes.
- Charles Durning: The American actor landed on Omaha Beach in one of the initial waves of the D-Day invasion and was one of the few survivors from his group. He was wounded multiple times during the European campaign.
- Alec Guinness: The acclaimed British actor, famous for “Star Wars” and “The Bridge on the River Kwai,” served in the Royal Navy and commanded a landing craft that brought British troops to the Normandy beaches on D-Day.
- Henry Fonda: The celebrated actor served as a quartermaster on the destroyer USS Satterlee, which provided support during the Normandy landings.
- J.D. Salinger: Before becoming famous for “The Catcher in the Rye,” the author was part of a unit that landed on Utah Beach on D-Day.
- John Ford: The renowned director of Westerns also went ashore with the D-Day invasion as a commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve, filming the landings.
- James Doohan: Best known as “Scotty” from Star Trek, Doohan served with the Royal Canadian Artillery and landed on Juno Beach on D-Day.
Sports Stars:
- Yogi Berra: The legendary baseball catcher served as a Gunner’s Mate in the U.S. Navy and was on a landing craft that supported the landings on Omaha Beach, manning a machine gun and rocket launcher.
- Bobby Jones: The golfing legend joined the U.S. Army Reserve and fought with and commanded troops at Utah Beach on D-Day. He reportedly never spoke of his experiences during the battle afterward.
This list is not exhaustive, but it highlights some of the well-known figures from Hollywood and sports who participated in the D-Day landings and/or the subsequent Normandy Campaign. Their service underscores the widespread involvement of individuals from all walks of life in the Second World War.
