I Served Too - P P P P

Jack Paar RETURN TO INDEX	Unknown	American radio and television comedian and talk show host, best known for his stint as host of The Tonight Show from 1957 to 1962. Drafted into the military during WW2 and assigned to the U.S.O. in the South Pacific to entertain the troops.
Jack Palance RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army Air Forces	American film and television actor. During half a century of film and television appearances he was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers. In 1957, Palance won an Emmy for best actor for his portrayal of Mountain McClintock in the Playhouse 90 production of Rod Serling's Requiem for a Heavyweight. In the 1960s he released an album of country-Western music for Warner Bros. Records. He hosted Ripley's Believe It or Not! (1982 to 1986) on the American ABC network. He made memorable appearances in Young Guns (1988), Tango & Cash (1989) and Tim Burton's Batman (1989). Served in WW2. His rugged face, which took many beatings in the boxing ring, was said to have become disfigured while bailing out of a burning B-24 Liberator bomber during a training flight over southern Arizona, where he was a student pilot. Wounded in combat, he received the purple heart, good conduct medal, and the WW2 Victory Medal.
Arnold Palmer RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Coast Guard	American golfer who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955. Enlisted in the Coast Guard, where he served for three years and had some time to continue to hone his golf skills.
Byron Palmer RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army Air Force	American stage and screen actor and singer. Got his start working on both NBC and CBS radio as an announcer and actor. After the war he performed on Broadway and earned the 1949 Theatre World Award for his efforts. On TV he hosted the program "Bride and Groom" (1951). Made his large screen debut in the musical bio Tonight We Sing (1953), followd by Man in the Attic (1953), Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki (1955), Glory (1956) and Emergency Hospital (1956). A one-time emcee for the "Miss Universe" and "Miss International Beauty" pageants, he also showed up as a guest in episodes of "Lawman" and "Perry Mason," among others, before he dropped off the radar in the mid-1960s. Served in WW2 II and operated a radio station on one of the islands in the Pacific. He also performed with the Music Mates singing quartet as its tenor.
Les Paul RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations. Although he was not the first to use the technique, his early experiments with overdubbing, also known as sound on sound, delay effects such as tape delay, phasing effects and multitrack recording were among the first to attract widespread attention. Served in WW2. Drafted shortly after the beginning of the war where he served in the Armed Forces Network, backing such artists as Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, and performing in his own right.
Pat Paulsen RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Marine Corps	American comedian and satirist notable for his roles on several of the Smothers Brothers TV shows, and for his campaigns for President of the United States in 1968, 1972, 1980, 1988, 1992, and 1996, which had primarily comedic rather than political objectives. After attending San Francisco City College, Paulsen joined an acting group called "The Ric-y-tic Players" and formed a comedy trio which included his brother Lorin. He went on to become a single act in various clubs on the west coast and in New York City. During one of his appearances in San Francisco, he met the Smothers Brothers. Early in 1970, Paulsen headlined his own series, Pat Paulsen's Half a Comedy Hour, which ran 13 weeks on ABC. During later years, Paulsen appeared in nightclubs, theaters, and conventions throughout the country. Served during WW2.
Leo Penn RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army Air Forces	American actor and director and father of musician Michael Penn and actors Sean Penn and the late Chris Penn. In 1954, Penn won the Theatre World Award for his performance in the play The Girl on the Via Flaminia. Later he would find work as a television director for shows such as Star Trek, I Spy, Starsky and Hutch,Custer, St. Elsewhere, Kojak, Cagney & Lacey, Columbo, Trapper John, M.D. and Father Murphy. Served in WW2 as a B-24 Liberator bombardier with the 755th Bomb Squadron, 458th Bomb Group, stationed in England as part of the Eighth Air Force.
Jack Pennick RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Marine Corps & U.S. Navy	American film actor. After working as a gold miner as a young man, he appeared in over 140 films between 1926 and 1962. Pennick was a leading member of the informal John Ford Stock Company, appearing in dozens of the director's films. Pennick also drilled the military extras in John Wayne's The Alamo (1960). Served in WW1 and WW2. Joined the USMC and served with the Peking Legation Guard in China in 1912. He was with the Marines in World War I and reenlisted in the USN in 1942, at the age of 46. He served as Chief Petty Officer under Commander John Ford in the Field Photographic Unit and, according to Ford, was decorated with the Silver Star medal for action in which he was wounded at Majaz al Bab, Tunisia.
George Peppard RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Marine Corps	American film and television actor. Secured a major role alongside Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). Played the title role in the early-1970s television series Banacek. Probably best known for his role as Col. John "Hannibal" Smith in the 1980s television show The A-Team. Enlisted at age 17 on July 8, 1946 and rose to rank of Corporal in the 10th Marines, leaving the Marines at the end of his enlistment in January 1948.
Regis Philbin RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Navy	American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows from the 1960s to the present. Philbin is often called (somewhat tongue-in-cheek and alternately attributed to James Brown) "the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera. With each TV appearance, he adds to his record for most hours logged (16,100, as certified by Guinness World Records in 2008). His trademarks include his excited manner, his New York Bronx accent, his wit, and irreverent ad-libs. He is most widely known for Live with Regis and Kelly, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Million Dollar Password , and for hosting the first season of America's Got Talent. Served as a Supply Officer in the 1950s.
Paul Picerni RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army Air Forces	American actor perhaps best known for his role as Lee Hobson, from 1960 to 1963 on TV's The Untouchables. As a young actor returning from the war, he appeared in military picturesTwelve O'Clock High (1949) and To Hell and Back. He appeared in the pilot episode for the 1957 to 1958 NBC detective series, Meet McGraw and in in two episodes, "Gun Hand" and "Badge to Kill" of the 1957 to 1959 syndicated western series 26 Men. In 1964, he portrayed Pierre Lafitte in, The Great Adventure. For some 30 years, Picerni was the half-time master of ceremonies for the Los Angeles Rams home games. Served in WW2 as a first lieutenant bombardier in the China-Burma-India Theater. He flew 25 combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was the bombardier on one of the planes which attacked and destroyed the real bridge made famous in the film The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). After the Japanese surrendered, Picerni became a Special Services officer in India.
Walter Pidgeon RETURN TO INDEX	Royal Canadian Field Artillery	Canadian actor who lived most of his adult life in the United States. He starred in many motion pictures, including Mrs. Miniver, The Bad and the Beautiful, Forbidden Planet, Advise and Consent and Funny Girl. Served in WW1 in the 65th Battery.
Donald Pleasence RETURN TO INDEX	Royal Air Force	English actor who gained more than 200 screen credits during a career which spanned over four decades. Often typecast as villainous and/or psychopathic characters, Pleasence is arguably best-known for his work in two of cinema's most successful franchises - James Bond and Halloween. The only actor to have appeared in both The Great Escape (1963) and its TV sequel, The Great Escape II: The Untold Story (1988) (TV). Was commissioned into the Royal Air Force, serving with 166 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command. His Avro Lancaster was shot down on 31 August 1944 during a raid on Agenville. He was taken prisoner and placed in a German prisoner-of-war camp, where he produced and acted in plays. He would later play Flight Lt. Colin Blythe in The Great Escape where much of the story takes place inside a German POW camp.
Sidney Poitier RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	Bahamian American actor, film director, author, and diplomat. In 1963, Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Poitier among the Greatest Male Stars of All Time, ranking 22nd on the list of 25. Served in the late 1940s as a worker at a veteran's hospital.
Spot Poles RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American outfielder in baseball's Negro Leagues. He was generally recognized as one of the fastest players of his day. He was a left-handed batter with a noted eye, who hit for exceptionally high batting averages. He started playing organized Negro ball for the Harrisburg Colored Giants in 1906 and first became a professional for the Philadelphia Giants in 1909. Poles then moved to the New York Lincoln Giants in 1911, where he blossomed into a star; in his first four seasons with the Lincoln Giants, 1911 to 1914, Poles attained batting averages of .440, .398, .414, and .487 against all levels of competition. He then spent the next few seasons jumping among the New York Lincoln Stars, Brooklyn Royal Giants, and the Hilldale Daisies. After the war he continued a successful baseball career, playing for the Lincoln Giants from 1919 to 1923. He is credited with a lifetime batting average of over .400 against all competition, and hit .319 in four winters in Cuba. Served in WW1. Joined the 369th Infantry Regiment (Harlem Hellfighters) to serve, earning a Purple Heart and the WW1 Victory Medal as a sergeant in France.
Tom Poston RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army Air Forces	American television and film actor. He appeared as a comic actor, game show panelist, comedy/variety show host, film actor, television actor, and Broadway performer. In the 1950s, Poston gained recognition as a comedic "Man in the Street" on the Steve Allen Show. For these performances, Poston won the 1959 Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series. Poston was a recurring guest star on The Bob Newhart Show in the 1970s and played George Utley, bumbling country handyman of the Stratford Inn, on Newhart. Served as a pilot in the European Theater in WW2; his aircraft dropped paratroopers for the Normandy invasion. He served in North Africa, Italy, France, and England.
Lee Powell RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Marine Corps	Making his first appearance uncredited in Under Two Flags (1936), Powell gained fame for playing the suspect who turned out to be The Lone Ranger and one of The Fighting Devil Dogs in 1938 serials. He also appeared in Universal Pictures Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe serial. Enlisted on 17 August 1942 serving in the 2nd Pioneer Battalion, 18th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division. Sergeant Powell fought in the Battle of Tarawa and Battle of Saipan. Although widely reported to have been killed in action against the enemy, he died of alcohol poisoning on Tinian as the result of a concoction that also temporarily blinded another Marine.
Tyrone Power RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Marine Corps	American film and stage actor who appeared in dozens of films from the 1930s to the 1950s, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads such as in The Mark of Zorro, Blood and Sand, The Black Swan, Prince of Foxes, The Black Rose, and Captain from Castile. Enlisted in August 1942 and attended boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and then attended Officer's Candidate School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on June 2, 1943. Assigned to VMR-352 as an R5C transport copilot. The squadron moved to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in California in October 1944. He was reassigned to VMR-353 and joined them on Kwajalein in February 1945. He flew cargo in to and wounded Marines out during the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa.
Elvis Presley RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	One of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King". He did much to establish early rock and roll music, bringing black blues singing into the white, teenage mainstream. Teenage girls became hysterical over his blatantly sexual gyrations, particularly the one that got him nicknamed "Elvis the Pelvis". At the time of his death, he had sold more than 600-million singles and albums. Elvis made a comeback in the 1970s with live concert appearances starting in early 1970 in Las Vegas with over 57 sold-out shows. Elvis toured throughout the USA appearing on-stage in over 500 live appearances, many of them sold out shows. Sadly, his marriage ended in divorce, and the stress of constantly traveling as well as his increasing weight gain and dependence upon stimulants and depressants took their toll. Elvis Presley died on Tuesday, August 16, 1977 at his mansion in Graceland, near Memphis at age 42. Since his death, his Memphis home Graceland has become a shrine for millions of followers worldwide. Elvis impersonators and purported sightings have become stock subjects for humorists. Served with the 3rd Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany from 1958 to 1960.
Robert Preston RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army Air Forces	American stage and film actor. Preston appeared in many Hollywood films, predominantly Westerns, but is probably best remembered for his portrayal of "Professor" Harold Hill in Meredith Willson's musical The Music Man (1962). Served as an intelligence officer with the U.S. 9th Air Force during WW2 in the European Theater.
Charley Pride RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American country music singer. His smooth baritone voice was featured on thirty-nine number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His greatest success came in the early- to mid-1970s, when he became the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis Presley. In 1967, he became the first black performer to appear at the Grand Ole Opry since DeFord Bailey. Between 1969 and 1971 Pride had eight single records that simultaneously reached number one on the U.S. Country Hit Parade and also charted on the Billboard Hot 100: All I Have to Offer You (Is Me), (I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again, I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me, I'd Rather Love You, Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone, Wonder Could I Live There Anymore?, I'm Just Me, and his his biggest hit Kiss an Angel Good Mornin', a million-selling crossover single that helped Pride land the Country Music Association's prestigious Entertainer of the Year award, as well as Top Male Vocalist. The pop success of these songs reflected the country/pop crossover sound that was reaching Country music in the 1960s and early 1970s, known as Countrypolitan. Served two years in the mid-1950s.
Tito Puente RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Navy	American Latin Jazz and Salsa music musician. The son of native Puerto Ricans Ernest and Ercilia Puente, of Spanish Harlem in New York City, Puente is often credited as "El Rey de los Timbales" (The King of the timbales) and "The King of Latin Music". He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz compositions that helped keep his career going for 50 years. He and his music appear in many films such as The Mambo Kings and Fernando Trueba's Calle 54. He guest starred on several television shows including Sesame Street, The Cosby Show and The Simpsons. Served in WW2. Joined in 1942 and was assigned to the escort carrier USS Santee (CVE 29). He remained with Santee for the entire war and fought in nine battles including, Operation Torch (the British-American invasion of French North Africa), The Palau, Yap, Ulithi, Woleai raids in March and April 1944, Western New Guinea Operations April to September 1944, the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, Okinawa Gunto Operation in March to June 1945, and Third Fleet operations against Japan in July 1945. Santee was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. He played the saxophone and drums with the ship’s band. After the war he used the GI Bill to attend the Julliard School of Music where he studied Musical Theory, Orchestration and Conducting.

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