Stars in khaki

the long version

"This book is filled with celebrity profiles of motion picture stars who served in the U.S. Army and air services from World War I through the Vietnam War. Many readers will discover for the first time details of the contributions made by Audie Murphy, Charlton Heston, Jimmy Stewart, and many others. Most remarkable is the large number of celebrities who chose to serve their country in a military capacity - especially during World War II - instead of continuing their lives of luxury in Hollywood.". "Readers can find out about Ronald Reagan producing training films for pilots as an officer in the Army Air Corps Reserve, Sgt. Elvis Presley's expertise in jeep maintenance, and how Clark Gable almost became a casualty while flying on a bombing mission over Germany. Rarely have the lives of movie stars been so honestly portrayed and with such interesting anecdotes and photographs of their military experiences. Encyclopedic in scope, these portraits draw on interviews with the stars and their families, and on official reports and documents to assure authenticity. Even the most avid movie buff will be surprised and delighted by the little-known facts presented here, and military buffs and historians will be impressed by the often difficult and sometimes dangerous work of these celebrities."--BOOK JACKET.