Warbird Information Exchange

This beautiful and haunting hymn was featured in "We Were Soldiers" and was played as President Reagan's casket was borne from National Cathedral

Reagan At War

Soon after he married Jane Wyman in 1942, reservist Reagan received the expected call of duty.

Contrary to the myth of the Hollywood personality who merely donned a uniform, Reagan wanted to go overseas. But in an induction physical, doctors told the future president his eyesight was not good enough for him to remain in the service as an officer. Reagan steadfastly insisted on remaining in uniform. In the face of his quiet persistence, the medics relented but limited 2nd Lt. Reagan to duty in the "zone of the interior" - the U.S. For a time he served at Fort Mason, Calif., as liaison officer for the Port and Transportation Office. It was a typical admin job for a junior officer, in no way related to his background in Hollywood.

But the nation needed Reagan's peacetime skills to help with the war effort. He shifted from the cavalry to the Army Air Forces after being requested to return to tinsel town and make a government film, Air Force, about fliers and their role in the war. Today, it is unclear why Reagan never appeared in a film with that title. Instead, he narrated training films for bomber pilots for the AAF Motion Picture Unit, and appeared in patriotic films for the military including Desperate Journey (1942), Japanese Zero (1943), and For God and Country (1943), as well as Irving Berlin's musical, This Is the Army (1943).

Reagan was not the only actor to serve in the AAF. James Stewart was a B-24 Liberator pilot, squadron commander, and group operations officer. Clark Gable was a combat Gunner and Filmmaker. Most in the acting business stayed closer to home, however.

The AAF film unit was known in military slang as "Fort Roach" because it took over the Hal Roach Studios in Culver City, Calif. Producer Jack Warner, who soon wore silver oak leaves as a lieutenant colonel, became commander of the unit. The famous stunt pilot Paul Mantz, who became a major, commanded flight operations. The film unit also was responsible for officer commissions for Alan Ladd, George Montgomery, Van Heflin, Arthur Kennedy, and other Hollywood luminaries.

Reagan was promoted to first lieutenant January 14, 1943, and to captain on July 22 of the year. In addition to filmmaking while in uniform, he served in New York City in early 1944 to participate in a war bond drive, but he returned to Culver City. His film unit eventually helped to make 300 training and propaganda films and was responsible for 3 million feet of combat footage. Reagan called the fim office "an important contribution to the war effort."

Shortly after war's end, Reagan separated from active duty on December 9, 1945. According to records unearthed by the White House years later, Reagan remained on inactive reserve status until 1951.

The Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, has an overcoat, lapel insignia, shoulder patch, and identity card used by Reagan when he served in the Army Air Forces during World War II.

His official White House bio describes Reagan's post-war years: "As president of the Screen Actor's Guild, Reagan became embroiled in disputes over the issue of Communism in the film industry; his political views shifted from liberal to conservative. He toured the country as a television host, becoming a spokesman for conservatism. In 1966 he was elected Governor of California by a margin of a million votes; he was re-elected in 1970."

Reagan divorced, married actress Nancy Davis, and served two terms as governor of California. He was elected the nation's 40th president and took office on January 20, 1981, assuming a new military role - as commander in chief of the armed forces.

Reagan was not the only actor to serve in the AAF. James Stewart was a B-24 Liberator pilot, squadron commander, and group operations officer. Clark Gable was a combat Gunner and Filmmaker. Most in the acting business stayed closer to home, however.