Western RoundUp: Final Resting Places, Western Stars in The Military

Western RoundUp: Final Resting Places, Western Stars in The Military

Memorial Day Cemetary Path

With Memorial Day being celebrated this month and thoughts turning to those who have served our nation in the armed forces, I’d like to pay tribute to several Western stars and directors who were veterans. In doing so, I’ll share photos of their final resting places, which I’ve taken at several Southern California cemeteries over the past few years.


John Russell Headstone
John Russell (1921 – 1991)

We start with a visit to the beautiful Los Angeles National Cemetery, where actor John Russell was laid to rest after his passing in 1991. During World War II Russell served in the Marines on Guadalcanal. Russell’s acting career included numerous Westerns, including favorites such as Yellow Sky (1948) and The Gal Who Took the West (1949), and he’s best known for playing Marshal Dan Troop in TV’s Lawman from 1958 to 1962.


Richard Carlson Headstone
Richard Carlson (1918 – 1990)

Actor/director Richard Carlson is also buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery. Carlson spent four years as a Navy pilot during WWII. Carlson appeared in Westerns such as Seminole (1953) and The Last Command (1955), while his TV work included starring in the series Mackenzie’s Raiders (1958-1959). As a director, Carlson made one of my favorite Rory Calhoun Westerns, Four Guns to the Border (1954).


Charles Holt Headstone
Jack Holt (1888 – 1951)

Over his long career, Jack Holt starred in many Westerns, including Trail of Robin Hood (1950) which I wrote about last Christmas. Holt was also the father of Western stars Tim and Jennifer Holt. During WWII Jack Holt joined the army at the age of 54, serving as a horse buyer for the United States Cavalry, and he is also buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery.


James Stewart Headstone
James Stewart (1908 – 1997)

James Stewart had a distinguished military career which began as a pilot during WWII. In the ensuing years, he rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve, finally retiring in 1968. Stewart appeared in many Westerns; those he made with director Anthony Mann are considered some of the finest of his career. Last month I wrote about their first Western together, Winchester ’73 (1950). Stewart is buried at Forest Lawn Glendale.


Lee Van Cleef Headstone
Lee Van Cleef (1925 – 1989)

Lee Van Cleef achieved fame as a villain in countless Westerns, including Ride Lonesome (1957) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962); indeed, his gravestone at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills says “Best of the Bad.” During WWII Van Cleef spent four years serving in the U.S. Navy, achieving the rank Sonarman First Class.


Glen Ford Headstone
Glenn Ford (1916 – 2006)

Glenn Ford was a Marine Corps sergeant from 1942 to 1944; he then served in the Naval Reserves through the Vietnam War, ultimately retiring as Captain. Ford appeared in Westerns from the earliest days of his career, in films such as Texas (1941) and The Desperadoes (1943), with many more well-known Westerns to his credit including 3:10 to Yuma (1957) and Cowboy (1958). He’s interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica.


George Montgomery Headstone
George Montgomery (1916 – 2000)

Actor/artist George Montgomery served in the Army Air Force from 1943 to 1946. Montgomery, who was raised on a ranch, began his film career as a rider and stuntman in several Westerns, then played leads in pre-war films such as Riders of the Purple Sage (1941) and starred in numerous additional Westerns after his military service. He also starred in the Western TV series Cimarron City (1958-1959). Montgomery’s ashes are divided between Forest Lawn Cathedral City (seen here), near his longtime home in the Palm Springs area, and a family plot in Montana.


Jeff Chandler Headstone
Jeff Chandler (1918 – 1961)

Jeff Chandler spent four years in service during WWII, including in the Aleutian Defense Command, rising to the rank of Captain. Early in his film career he was nominated for the Oscar as Best Supporting Actor playing Cochise in Broken Arrow (1950), going on to star in many additional Westerns. After his passing in 1961, he was interred at Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California.


Robert Taylor Headstone
Robert Taylor (1911 – 1969)

Robert Taylor served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945, where he was a flight instructor and made numerous training films. Some of Taylor’s finest films were Westerns, including Devil’s Doorway (1950), Westward the Woman (1951), and The Last Hunt (1956). His final resting place is at Forest Lawn Glendale.


John Ford Headstone
John Ford (1895 – 1973)

Oscar-winning director John Ford was in the U.S. Navy Reserve and filmed memorable documentaries; he was wounded while photographing the Battle of Midway as it unfolded. He later retired as an admiral, which is noted on his gravestone at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City. Many of Ford’s greatest Westerns followed his service in WWII, including She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), The Searchers (1956), and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962).


Memorial Day Cemetary Flag

The above are just a handful of Western stars and directors who served our country, and I’m sure readers join me in feeling a deep appreciation for their service to our nation.

– Laura Grieve for Classic Movie Hub

Laura can be found at her blog, Laura’s Miscellaneous Musings, where she’s been writing about movies since 2005, and on Twitter at @LaurasMiscMovie. A lifelong film fan, Laura loves the classics including Disney, Film Noir, Musicals, and Westerns.  She regularly covers Southern California classic film festivals.  Laura will scribe on all things western at the ‘Western RoundUp’ for CMH.

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15 Responses to Western RoundUp: Final Resting Places, Western Stars in The Military

  1. Jerry Entract says:

    A very nice, and appropriate, tribute to these stars and directors of westerns, Laura.

    I should like to add Lee Marvin, who served in WW2 in the U.S. Marine Corps and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
    Gene Autry who enlisted at the outbreak of WW2 and served as a flight officer for Air Transport Command for the duration. Remember he abandoned his starring career at its absolute peak to do his duty.
    Can we forget Audie Murphy, the most decorated U.S. soldier of WW2?

  2. Laura says:

    Thank you, Jerry!

    Those are wonderful additions to the list. There are so many Western filmmakers who served our country with honor, perhaps I will do a “Volume 2” next year! Another who comes to mind is flying ace Wayne Morris who made some very good “B” Westerns in the ’50s.

    Visiting Audie Murphy’s gravesite at Arlington in 2003 was a very moving experience. I can’t remember if we found Lee Marvin’s gravesite there, need to consult my (pre-digital) albums.

    Thank you!!

    Best wishes,
    Laura

  3. Hamlette says:

    Very nice! I didn’t realize that some of these actors had served, so I was really interested to learn more about their military career. Thanks for sharing!

  4. walter says:

    Laura, I think this is a really good and timely tribute to the actors and director who served their country in the armed forces. There are so many others. Writer/Director Burt Kennedy, who is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, served as a 1Lt. in the Army. Kennedy received the Bronze, Silver, and Purple Heart. 2Lt. Dale Robertson 322nd Combat Engineers, received the Bronze and Silver Medals, but no Purple Heart. Robertson was wounded, but he dressed his own wounds and got on with the mission. He never reported to a military medical unit. With no official record, you get no official recognition.

    There are many others. Thank you for serving.

  5. Laura Grieve says:

    Hamlette, I’m so glad you found it interesting and informative. Thank you for letting me know!

    Walter, thank you as well! Very glad you mentioned Kennedy and Robertson.

    I just learned from a friend at a publisher’s convention that Naval Institute Press will be releasing the book FROM SCREEN TO BATTLEFIELD in Fall 2020. This may be the same book with a similar title which Amazon currently lists for this fall: https://www.amazon.com/Battlefield-Big-Screen-Melody-Foreman/dp/152673771X

    Whenever it comes out, it should be very interesting.

    Best wishes,
    Laura

  6. Destiny L Drake says:

    It is very good and nice to know that these actors who fought for good in the western movies, Also fought for the good of this country during the second world war.

  7. Laura Grieve says:

    I agree! Thanks for taking the time to read this tribute and for your comment. 🙂

    Best wishes,
    Laura

  8. Sara Stewart says:

    I had no idea Jimmy Stewart and Joh Ford had risen so high in rank, This is a fascinating article and does a great service to these fine patriots.

  9. Laura Grieve says:

    I’m glad to know you enjoyed it, Sara. I’m very glad to have had the opportunity to share information on the wartime service of so many great Western stars.

    Best wishes,
    Laura

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