Hollywood Went to War

Fifty-eighth* in our series Hollywood Went to War, are a couple of gentlemen who are Hollywood adjacent, the primary creators of the Marvel Universe: Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. Stan did appear in quite a few cameos throughout the history of Marvel related films.

(Jack) Kirby was drafted into the U.S. Army on June 7, 1943. After basic training at Camp Stewart, near Savannah, Georgia, he was assigned to Company F of the 11th Infantry Regiment. He landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy on August 23, 1944, two-and-a-half months after D-Day, although Kirby's reminiscences would place his arrival just 10 days after. Kirby recalled that a lieutenant, learning that comics artist Kirby was in his command, made him a scout who would advance into towns and draw reconnaissance maps and pictures, an extremely dangerous duty.

Stanley Martin Lieber (Lee) entered the United States Army in early 1942 and served within the US as a member of the Signal Corps, repairing telegraph poles and other communications equipment. He was later transferred to the Training Film Division, where he worked writing manuals, training films, slogans, and occasionally cartooning. His military classification, he says, was "playwright"; he adds that only nine men in the U.S. Army were given that title. Vincent Fago, editor of Timely's "animation comics" section, which put out humor and funny animal comics, filled in until Lee returned from his World War II military service in 1945.

Gentlemen, we thank you for your service to our country. Rest in peace.



*Fifty eight posts, seventy seven individuals.