1. James Stewart
James “Jimmy” Stewart was a household name by the start of WWII, after he had already performed in now-classics like “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and “The Philadelphia Story.” But the Academy Award winner was also one of the few Hollywood stars to enter the Armed Air Forces in 1941.
Forced to gain weight to meet the Army’s minimum weight requirement, Stewart overcame the obstacles to entering the military and became a squadron commander in the English 445th Bombardment Group. Demonstrating his abilities by serving in 20 combat missions as a B-24 pilot, Stewart was granted the Distinguished Flying Cross and various other medals for successfully leading the way in bombing raids over Germany and France.
Stewart returned to his life as an actor after the war, but he ended his service in WWII as a Colonel, while also staying in the Air Force Reserve.