Famous Veterans Celebrating Birthdays Today (May 16th):

Famous Veterans Born May 16, 1921:

Harry Carey, Jr. – Actor: The Whales of August – (Navy WWII) – Died: December 27, 2012

During World War II, Carey Jr. served in the United States Navy as a Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class (Medical Corpsman) in the Pacific War. However, he was transferred back to the United States (against his wishes) to serve with his father’s good friend the director John Ford in a Naval photographic unit attached to the Office of Strategic Services. He then helped to make training films for the Navy and the OSS.

Born May 16, 1905:

Henry Fonda – Actor – (Navy WWII) – Died: August 12, 1982

Fonda enlisted in the United States Navy to fight in World War II, saying, “I don’t want to be in a fake war in a studio.” Previously, Stewart and he had helped raise funds for the defense of Britain. Fonda served for three years, initially as a Quartermaster 3rd Class on the destroyer USS Satterlee. He was later commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in Air Combat Intelligence in the Central Pacific and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Navy Presidential Unit Citation.