Paul Newman
Hoping to become a pilot, Paul Newman joined the U.S. Navy through Yale’s V-12 college training program. His hopes were crushed soon after when it was discovered that he was colorblind. Instead, he had to settle for basic training where he trained to be a rear-seat radioman and gunner for torpedo bombers. He was discharged in 1946 with military honors including the Good Conduct Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He then attended Kenyon College using the GI Bill and eventually started his acting career in Broadway productions, which ultimately led to his career in television and film.
Robert Duvall
A U.S. Navy brat, Robert Duvall is the son of a rear admiral and a descendant of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. He graduated college in 1953 and then decided to go the military route himself by enlisting in the U.S. Army. Even then, Duvall was interested in acting and performed in plays while serving. He returned to civilian life after two years of service, using the GI Bill to study acting at New York’s Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater.
Ted Williams
Ted Williams was a famous Boston Red Sox Player who would go to earn a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. But first, he was a patriot at heart who interrupted his baseball playing career to join the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II for three years. Surprisingly, he returned to military duty from 1952 to 1953 as a Marine combat aviator during the Korean War. Williams flew a total of 39 combat missions in the Korean War. He never lost his baseball ability, batting 342 with 38 home runs in 1946 after returning home.