The things you learn . . .

May 7, 1932 - Ray turned the machine for me this a.m.  Ola was here for dinner.  Cleaned up the house.  Went to Norfolk with Arnold this evening.  Saw Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in "It's Tough to Be Famous."  Bridge north of Norfolk not fixed as yet.
May 8, 1932 - Ray came in this a.m. and took me out to Annie's.  She gave me some instructions about the picnic.  Took a picture of the kids.  Was getting ready to have Ray take me to Walker's this p.m., but Arnold and Lydia came.  Was at their place for supper.  Went to the pageant "Life Immortal" at the church this evening.
May 9, 1932 - Nice day today.  Finished giving examinations today.  Minnie asked me to come over to their place tomorrow nite.  Mr. and Mrs. Walker, Mote and I went down to Ed Scheurich's tonite.  The baby surely is sweet.  Stopped at Lou Scheurich's and got some fish.  They caught them last nite and had them in the tank.

I didn't find a movie poster for "It's Tough to Be Famous" but I did find this summary:

"When his submarine, S89, is sunk by an excursion boat, Scotty is the last one left aboard after helping the crew to be rescued. However, Navy divers are able to save Scotty and his heroics make him a hero. Retiring from the Navy as a Commander, he finds that, as a hero, he is in great demand. There are parades. speeches, endorsements, banquets and autographs galore. Even his marriage to his sweetheart Janet is headline news. Everyone wants a piece of Scotty. The only thing that Scotty does not have is his freedom and a life of his own."

This is rather reminiscent of the much more recent movie, "Flags of Our Fathers" detailing what happened in the lives of the Iwo Jima flag-raisers after the famous photo.

I had previously heard, of course, of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. but did not know of his WWII service.  I found this on wikipedia -- interesting stuff.


In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him special envoy to South America.

Although celebrated as an actor, Fairbanks was commissioned a reserve officer in the United States Navy at the onset of World War II and assigned to Lord Louis Mountbatten's Commando staff in the United Kingdom.

Having witnessed (and participated in) British training and cross-channel harassment operations emphasizing the military art of deception, Fairbanks attained a depth of understanding and appreciation of military deception then unheard of in the United States Navy. Lieutenant Fairbanks was subsequently transferred to Virginia Beach where he came under the command of Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, who was preparing U.S. Naval forces for the invasion of North Africa.

Fairbanks convinced Hewitt of the advantages of such a unit [clarification needed], then repeated the proposal at Hewitt's behest to Admiral Ernest King, Chief of Naval Operations. King thereupon issued a secret letter on March 5, 1943 charging the Vice Chief of Naval Operations with the recruitment of 180 officers and 300 enlisted men for the Beach Jumper program.

The Beach Jumpers' mission would simulate amphibious landings with a very limited force. Operating dozens of kilometers from the actual landing beaches and utilizing their deception equipment, the Beach Jumpers would lure the enemy into believing that theirs was the principal landing.

United States Navy Beach Jumpers saw their initial action in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. Throughout the remainder of the war, the Beach Jumpers conducted their hazardous, shallow-water operations throughout the Mediterranean.

For his planning the diversion-deception operations and his part in the amphibious assault on Southern France, Lieutenant Commander Fairbanks was awarded the United States Navy's Legion of Merit with bronze V (for valor), the Italian War Cross for Military Valor, the French Légion d'honneur and the Croix de guerre with Palm, and the British Distinguished Service Cross. Fairbanks was also awarded the Silver Star for valor displayed while serving on PT boats and the National Order of the Southern Cross, conferred by the Brazilian government. Among his other exploits was the sinking of the light cruiser Capriole while in command of a mixed division of American PT Boats and British Motor Gun Boats.

He was made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1949. Fairbanks stayed in the Naval Reserve after the war and ultimately retired as captain in 1954.

Sounds like the stuff of movies.

I am giving the Winside history book the day off.