A survey of well-known people, who, during their country's time of need served unselfishly in the military reveals two interesting findings:

1. Submarines in the Second World War and Cold War spawned only two veterans who later gained fame in their chosen field.
2. The conditions of the Second World War gave rise to a level of national patriotism that has yet to be duplicated.

Submarine Research Center enlists your help in identifying individuals who are well known to the public and who served in submarines. If you know of such people please contact us and let us know who these people are. We'll make sure they are recognized for their service in subsequent bulletins.

Jimmy Carter is the first exception to our finding, having gone to Submarine School in New London in the early fifties and becoming qualified in nuclear submarines as an officer during the Cold War. He later went on to become president of the United States and it is hard to imagine a status level that can match this achievement.

The other exception is Captain Edward L. Beach, who wrote a best selling novel about submarines, "Run Silent, Run Deep." This fine book and its author is the one shining example of what a submariner can do in the field of artistic endeavor.

Having noted these two accomplishments, SRC looked for any other prominent person who served in submarines. It failed to identify any other person. Since submarines demand an intellect and drive far above the norm it is remarkable that our investigation produced no further results. We believe that such persons do in fact exist, but have yet to be discovered. Let us know if you are aware of such individuals.

The Second World War produced heroes who were either well known when they entered the service or became celebrities later on. The following are some examples:

The Army

Audy Murphy was the most decorated American soldier of the Second World War. His chest had so many ribbons they couldn't all be fitted at one time on his five feet, five inch frame. They included the Medal Of Honor, The Silver Star and several Bronze Stars.

David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate (the West Point of England) and was a lieutenant colonel in the British commandos.

The Army Air Corps/Air Force

Charlton Heston was an Army Air Corps sergeant and served on Kodiak Island in the cold north Pacific.

Charles Bronson joined the Army Air Corps and became a tail gunner in a B-29. He made raids on Japan from Tinian and Saipan.

Clark Gable enlisted as a private in the Army Air Corps in spite of being a movie star. He went to OCS, became an officer and was a gunner in a B-17. He made several missions over Europe.

Donald Pleasance who had a starring role in the movie, "The Great Escape" was an RAF pilot who was shot down. He really was a German POW and did in fact escape from a POW camp.

James Stewart joined the Army Air Corps as a private. During the Second World War he was a B-17 pilot making over 20 missions over Europe. He made colonel before retiring.

The Marines

Tyrone Power flew C-47s in and out of Iwo Jima and Okinawa during the worst part of the Pacific War.

George C. Scott was a marine fighting in the Pacific as an infantryman.

Brian Keith was a rear gunner in bombers that struck Lae, Rabaul and other island strongholds.

Lee Marvin is buried in Arlington National Cemetery after having served in the Marines on Saipan and being wounded on that island.

John Russel fought on Guadalcanal as a Marine, receiving numerous citations for bravery.

Robert Ryan was a spy for the OSS in Yugoslavia.

The Navy

Alec Guinness served in the Royal Navy and operated a landing craft during the Normandy landings.

Eddie Albert has the Bronze Star for his bravery in evacuating wounded Marines on Tarawa. He was a young naval officer and served the entire duration of the war.

Earnest Borgnine was a gunners mate in the Navy from 1936 to 1945.

Many of America's post war celebrities served in all four branches of the service during the Second World War, but those who served in submarines apparently went on to civilian careers that were not distinguished enough for the veteran submariner to be recognized as a celebrity. Could it be that the men of the silent service carried their resolve of silence to the extremity of their lives?

And what about the celebrities of the current decade? Not much patriotism is to be found in most of our young movie stars. But surely, within the ranks of contemporary artists, authors, politicians and scientists there must be those who found their talents while serving in the military and perhaps, even in submarines. We'd like to know who they are.