Hollywood Went to War

Twenty ninth in our series Hollywood Went to War, was feeling lucky...Clint Eastwood. While his story is not a war story per se, he suffered a close call in his service to our country that is noteworthy.

In 1951, Eastwood...was then drafted into the United States Army and assigned to Fort Ord in California, where he was appointed as a lifeguard and swimming instructor. While returning from a weekend visit to his parents in Seattle, Washington, he was a passenger on a Douglas AD bomber that ran out of fuel and crashed into the ocean near Point Reyes. Escaping from the sinking aircraft, he and the pilot swam 3 miles to safety.

Mr. Eastwood, we thank you for your service to our country.