Ward During the War

[MichaelMartinD]

Watch this movie from 4:00 to 5:48 to see what Ward did during WWII. Apparently he took an office job in Tokyo in addition to his work with the Seabees. And got to meet Humphrey Bogart in the process!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noNeTU6qiLY

[CosmicCharlie]

Thx

That was COOL Stuff

[Sgt. Saunders]

On LITB, Ward was a US Navy veteran, who served as a Seabee during World War II. Actor Hugh Beaumont actually served as a medic in the US Army during that war.

I wonder why LITB’s creators and producers decided to present Ward as a Seabee rather than as a medic on the show?

Both Hugh Beaumont and fellow actor Lew Ayres, who starred in several of the Dr. Kildare films, were conscientious objectors, who served honorably as US Army medics during the war and were decorated for their military service.

I wonder if Jerry Mathers ever commented on the decision of the show’s producers to make Ward a Seabee rather than a medic on LITB?

[MichaelMartinD]

I didn't know that about Hugh being a conscientious objector. I guess the writers don't necessarily base their scripts on reality, although in this case making Ward a medic would have been a nice touch.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Sgt. Saunders

I wonder why LITB’s creators and producers decided to present Ward as a Seabee rather than as a medic on the show

Maybe they define the character before they hire the actor. Only a guess.

[CosmicCharlie]

Originally Posted by stevea

Maybe they define the character before they hire the actor. Only a guess.

I would guess that decision is solely basis on viewer mass appeal

[CosmicCharlie]

May we never forget those that gave the ultimate sacrifice so we came be free !

THANK YOU

[Sgt. Saunders]

Originally Posted by CosmicCharlie

May we never forget those that gave the ultimate sacrifice so we came be free !

THANK YOU

I echo you in that thought.

During WW II, US Army medics and US Navy corpsmen were considered to be non-combatants, who did not carry weapons.

Although, my late father, who served as an infantryman in North Africa and Europe during WW II, once told me that he saw some outraged US Army medics actually pick-up the rifles and Thompson Machine Guns of the wounded soldiers they were treating and return fire at the German soldiers, who were shooting at them, and which was not supposed to happen to those medics as non-combatants.

Today, I believe that medics and corpsmen do carry weapons.

[Coffeecup]

I alway twinge a bit when I hear of objectors. My fathers youngest brother went into the service and died in plane explosion. He served his country while others didn't want to. Also the Vietnam draft dodgers who went to Canada and then President Carter pardoned them all. Canadians got a nice residence with no worries.