PVLD Adult Services Blog

While Jimmy Stewart was building his reputation as an actor, the world was preparing for war.  On September 16, 1940 Congress passed the Selective Service Act calling for 900,000 men between the ages of 20 and 36 to be drafted each year.  When Stewart’s draft number (310) was called in February 1941, he appeared at Draft Board No. 245 in West Los Angeles.  At 6’3” and weighing only 138 pounds, he was 5 pounds under the acceptable weight and was turned down for service.  Stewart wanted to fly and serve his country but by May of 1941 he would have been too old to get into flight school.  So, he went home, “bulked up,” and went back to pass the Army Air Corps physical with an ounce to spare.

Stewart, already a licensed pilot, wanted to see combat.  He remained stateside for almost two years, until commanding officers yielded to his request to be sent overseas.  In England he flew B-24s and did so for the remaining years of the war.  Stewart’s war record included 20 dangerous combat missions as command pilot, wing commander, or squadron commander.  He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm.  At the end of the war he had risen to the rank of Colonel.  After the war he remained with the US Air Force Reserves and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1959.  He retired from the Air Force in 1968 and received the Distinguished Service Medal.

Please join us on April 13, 2010 at 12:00 pm at the Annex for a presentation of Harvey, starring American war hero Jimmy Stewart.

Click here to watch a trailer for Harvey.