Opening the Vault: Hollywood Military Veterans

Opening the Vault: Hollywood Military Veterans

In honor of Veterans Day, the National Archives Museum is highlighting two Hollywood actors who served in the U.S. military: Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable.
The National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, stores and services our nation’s military personnel records. Official Military Personnel Files can contain a vast amount of historical information of value to historians, biographers, and genealogists. Within these records are Persons of Exceptional Prominence (PEP) files. PEPs include notable military heroes, political leaders, cultural figures, celebrities, and entertainers.
In honor of Veterans Day, the National Archives is highlighting two Hollywood actors who served in the U.S. military: Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable.

Left: A young Humphrey Bogart in his Navy uniform. Records of the Office of War Information
Right: Clark Gable with aviator...Read more

Left: A young Humphrey Bogart in his Navy uniform. Records of the Office of War Information
Right: Clark Gable with aviator goggles on head. Records of United States Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations

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Humphrey Bogart
Before becoming a leading man in films such as Casablanca and African Queen, an 18-year-old Humphrey Bogart joined the U.S. Navy during World War I.

Humphrey Bogart’s Application for Enrollment in the United States Navy Reserve Force, May 28, 1918. Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel...Read more

Humphrey Bogart’s Application for Enrollment in the United States Navy Reserve Force, May 28, 1918. Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel
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View in the National Archives Catalog
Bogart enlisted in the spring of 1918 and trained on the USS Granite State, docked in New York City, and then at Naval Training Camp in Pelham Bay Park, New York City.
In November 1918, Bogart was transferred to the transport ship USS Leviathan, which carried troops home from Europe after the war ended.

Fingerprints of Humphrey deForest Bogart, part of his Official Military Personnel File. Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel...Read more

Fingerprints of Humphrey deForest Bogart, part of his Official Military Personnel File. Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel
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View in the National Archives Catalog
In February 1919, he was moved from the Leviathan to another transport ship, the USS Santa Olivia. Inexplicably, he missed his ship when it sailed from Hoboken, New Jersey, for Europe in April. Bogart promptly surrendered to the Navy Port Authority and was ordered to New York to report to the receiving ship. He was originally listed as a deserter, but eventually his offense was recorded as absent without leave (AWOL), for which he was awarded three days of solitary confinement on bread and water.
On June 18, 1919, Bogart separated from the Navy, having attained the rank of petty officer second class.

A young Humphrey Bogart in his Navy uniform. Records of the Office of War Information
Clark Gable
At the age of 41, Hollywood leading man Clark Gable enlisted as a private in the Army Air Forces on August 12, 1942. Earlier in the year, he had lost his wife, Carole Lombard, in a plane crash while she was on a war bond tour. In response to her death, he decided he wanted to do something to honor her memory and support the country.

Clark Gable with the Delta Rebel No. 2, a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Gable flew on Delta Rebel No. 2 for a combat mission while filming the documentary Combat ...Read more

Clark Gable with the Delta Rebel No. 2, a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Gable flew on Delta Rebel No. 2 for a combat mission while filming the documentary Combat America. Records of United States Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations
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View in the National Archives Catalog
Clark Gable attended the Officers' Candidate School in Miami Beach, Florida, and graduated as a second lieutenant on October 28, 1942. He then attended the Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School and, in February 1943, went to England to make a motion picture of aerial gunners in action for recruitment purposes, later called Combat America. He flew several combat missions over Europe.

Movie poster for Combat America. Records of the Office of Government Reports

View in the National Archives Catalog
For his service, Clark Gable was awarded the American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Air Medal, and the Distinguished Flying Cross, our nation’s highest award for extraordinary aerial achievement.

Clark Gable in flight suit with another aviator. Records of United States Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations...Read more

Clark Gable in flight suit with another aviator. Records of United States Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations
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View in the National Archives Catalog
Clark Gable returned to the United States in October 1943 and was relieved from active duty as a major on June 12, 1944. His discharge papers are signed by Captain Ronald Reagan.

Clark Gable's Report of Separation, signed by Captain Ronald Reagan, June 12, 1944. Records of the Army Staff

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Portraits of Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable in military uniforms

Fingerprints of Humphrey deForest Bogart, part of his Official Military Personnel File.

A young Humphrey Bogart in his Navy uniform.

Clark Gable with the Delta Rebel No. 2, a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber. Gable flew on Delta Rebel No. 2 for a combat mission while filming the documentary Combat America.

Clark Gable in flight suit with another aviator.

Clark Gable's Report of Separation, signed by Captain Ronald Reagan, June 12, 1944.

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