Val Kilmer's personal opinion on Vietnam Vets

[Marcus]

In the old Gilligan's Island, didn't Ginger always say how she knew how to do something because she had played such a part in a movie? That show was a comedy and everyone knew what she said was a joke. Val is a joke too, he just doesn't realize it. Tauris Excretum Ad Infinitum

-SGT Marcus

[The antihero]

Val Kilmer lives in his own little fantasy world.

[greenberetTFS]

I don't get it.... Who gives a s*#t about what VK thinks about our Vietnam Vets. We know what our boys went through over there and that "draft dodger" isn't worth replying to..........

GB TFS

[olhamada]

Originally Posted by greenberetTFS

I don't get it.... Who gives a s*#t about what VK thinks about our Vietnam Vets. We know what our boys went through over there and that "draft dogger" isn't worth replying to..........

GB TFS

AMEN!

[HMass18Z]

What an ass !! but then again, aren't all the lefty libs in Hollywood

[Longstreet]

I got this email from my mom about old Hollywood actors and the roles they played in past wars. I checked most of them out using Wikipedia and was surprised to see that the contributions stated were true - not that I don't trust email. They definately are/were a different cut than Val. You just don't see this anymore.

Alec Guinness
Operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.

James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek)
Landed in Normandy with the U. S.. Army on D-Day.

Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape)
Really was an R... A. F. pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.

David Niven
Was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy

James Stewart
Entered the Army Air Force as a private and worked his way to the rank of Colonel. During World War II, Stewart served as a bomber pilot, his service record crediting him with leading more than 20 missions over Germany , and taking part in hundreds of air strikes during his tour of duty. Stewart earned the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, France 'S Croix de Guerre, and 7 Battle Stars during World War II. In peace time, Stewart continued to be an active member of the Air Force as a reservist, reaching the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in the late 1950s

Clark Gable (Mega-Movie Star when war broke out)
Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the U.S. entered WW II, Clark Gable enlisted as a private in the AAF on Aug. 12, 1942 at Los Angeles. He attended the Officers' Candidate School at Miami Beach , Fla. and graduated as a second lieutenant on Oct. 28, 1942. He then attended aerial gunnery school and in Feb. 1943 he was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook where flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s. Capt. Gable returned to the U..S. in Oct. 1943 and was relieved from active duty as a major
on Jun. 12, 1944 at his own request, since he was over-age for combat.

Charlton Heston
Was an Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak.

Ernest Borgnine
Was a U. S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945

Charles Bronson
Was a tail gunner in the Army Air Corps, more specifically on B-29's in the 20th Air Force out of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan

Tyrone Power (an established movie star)
When Pearl Harbor was bombed) joined the U.S. Marines, was a pilot flying supplies into, and wounded Marines out of, Iwo Jima and Okinawa

Audie Murphy
little 5'5" tall 110 pound guy from Texas who played cowboy parts: Most Decorated serviceman of WWII and earned: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Star Medals, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Star Medals with "V", 2 Purple Hearts, U..S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Distinguished Unit Emblems, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France) World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar, French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre, French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier, French Croix de Guerre W ith Silver Star, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Medal of Liberated France, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm

I guess that just because one plays a character does not always mean one has character. Well not these days anyway . . .

[mojaveman]

I am a fan of Val Kilmer but was dissapointed by the remarks that he made during the interview with Esquire. While America's ordinary sons were fighting and dying to check communist expansion in Southeast Asia he was enjoying a comfortable upbringing in an upper middle class family. I think that Val needs to go to Washington, D.C. and on a quiet Sunday afternoon take a slow stroll along the Wall. The experience would move him. After that he could apologize to the Vietnam Veterans of America for taking an ignorance pill on the morning that he gave that interview.

[Sigaba]

Source is here.

Val Kilmer apologizes to New Mexico neighbors

Val Kilmer dispute: Val Kilmer says he hopes apologies will act as a 'stepping stone' toward working together

By Susan Montoya Bryan, AP
posted June 24, 2010 at 4:29 pm EDT
Las Vegas, N.M. —

Val Kilmer took the unusual step Wednesday of going before a county commission in rural New Mexico to make amends with some of his neighbors who are angry over disparaging comments attributed to the actor over the years.

San Miguel County commissioners invited Kilmer to explain magazine interviews in which he said he lives in the "homicide capital of the Southwest" and proclaimed that 80 percent "of the people in my county are drunk." He also made insensitive comments about war veterans.

Hard feelings about Kilmer's words resurfaced with a plan for his Pecos River Ranch to open three guest houses to paying customers. After Wednesday's meeting and Kilmer's apology, commissioners gave Kilmerthe go-ahead.

Dressed in a black blazer, blue button-up shirt and a bolo tie, the star of movies including "Tombstone," ''Top Gun" and "The Doors" had his hair tied back as he stood before commissioners and more than four dozen people at the county courthouse. With a prepared statement folded in his hands, he explained that his words were taken out of context and misunderstood.

"I can only ask that you view my apology as a stepping stone toward repairing this misunderstanding between us so that we can go forward, working together toward a common interest in promoting and protecting our beloved New Mexico," Kilmer said.

He said he has lived in the area for more than two decades and loves it. His grandfather is buried here, his father lived here, and his children were born here and have grown up here, Kilmer said.

But he understood why some residents are upset.

"I have the same concerns as anyone else when you hear negative things about a place you love," he told The Associated Press before the meeting. "That's the good part of this story. Really, they care about where they live, and I do too. I share their concerns."

Kilmer said he feels guilty "that I haven't done enough work to make sure people know this isn't me. I'm on the other side of the fight."

There was increased security, with six officers from state police, the sheriff's office and Las Vegas police inside the commission chambers. Some people were not allowed into the crowded room.

Commission chairman David Salazar said Kilmer wasn't forced to appear Wednesday but was simply offered an opportunity to speak.

"It took a lot, I think, for him to come down here and face everybody," Salazar said. "It takes a lot to apologize, and a lot of people wouldn't have done it, but he chose to come down here and do what he did, and I think he was sincere."

The commission ultimately decided to approve a permit for Kilmer's guest houses. The county's zoning and planning commission approved the proposal 3-2 in March, but Rowe resident Abran Tapia appealed.

Tapia has accused Kilmer of being a bad neighbor and a racist. He claims the actor is trying to create "a segregated facility" by charging people to stay at the guest houses. He reasons that local Hispanics would be excluded because they couldn't afford a stay at the private ranch.

As in his previous pleadings with the commission, Tapia pointed Wednesday to comments Kilmer made in the magazine articles. Tapia didn't accept Kilmer's apology.

"We're trying to make the world better too, but we won't do it if we allow people like him to instigate," Tapia said.

In October 2003, Rolling Stone published an article that quoted Kilmer as saying he lived in the "homicide capital of the Southwest," and 80 percent "of the people in my county are drunk."

Rolling Stone stood by the article, but Kilmer denied the statements and said he had bragged about New Mexico during the interview. Days later, he took out an ad in the Santa Fe New Mexican, saying he loved New Mexico and Pecos.

Two years later, Kilmer explained for an Esquire writer the emotional toll acting takes on an artist by talking about soldiers who fought in Vietnam and how they couldn't have mentally prepared for the horror of war. He was quoted as saying most were sent to the war because they were "borderline criminal or poor."

Commissioners asked Kilmer about the articles.

"No one in this room, in this county, in the state, in the country, in the world, can make one statement and say that I've ever said one disparaging thing against anyone that has defended our nation, because it's not true,"Kilmer said.

He said his words were twisted and he hopes residents of San Miguel County and New Mexico recognize he regrets the impact the comments had. He also discussed his efforts to help schools, improve wildlife habitat and encourage filmmakers to come to New Mexico.

County Attorney Jesus Lopez said the matter has been trying for him and the commissioners. Lopez said they have received hate mail, phone calls and e-mails from supporters of Tapia as well as from people who stand behind Kilmer.

"I hope we can put this to bed today and all live as neighbors," Lopez said.

[mojaveman]

Looks like his neighbors made him eat a slice of humble pie.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

Source is here.

He should get an Oscar nomination for that performance, if they got it on film.

What a tool.

TR

[akv]

At the end of the day for better or worse men who have been tested know who and what they are. Those of you who answered the nation's call in Vietnam and subsequent service, know you are brave men who did your duty, I cannot think of a higher compliment. There was a time when being an actor was not automatically a shallow futile quest for publicity, those days have passed.

Val Kilmer is a shallow publicity junkie, like most actors he will say or do anything to attract publicity and attention, since he has nothing real to offer the world or himself. Such a compulsive coward dies a thousand deaths, he believes in nothing, he stands for nothing, and honor to him is a word in a book, I would not wish such a vile lonely existence on anyone.

[Richard]

I got this email from my mom about old Hollywood actors and the roles they played in past wars. I checked most of them out using Wikipedia and was surprised to see that the contributions stated were true - not that I don't trust email. They definately are/were a different cut than Val. You just don't see this anymore.

Alec Guinness - Operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.

Actually...Guinness served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in World War II, serving first as a seaman in 1941 and being commissioned the following year. He commanded a landing craft taking part in the invasion of Sicily and Elba and later ferried supplies to the Yugoslav partisans.

James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) - Landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day.

Actually...Doohan joined the Royal Canadian Artillery. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the 13th Field Artillery Regiment of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Doohan went to the United Kingdom in 1940 for training. His first combat was the invasion of Normandy at Juno Beach on D-Day. Shooting two snipers, Doohan led his men to higher ground through a field of anti-tank mines, where they took defensive positions for the night. Crossing between command posts at 11:30 that night, Doohan was hit by six rounds fired from a Bren gun by a nervous Canadian sentry.

Doohan trained as a pilot (graduating from Air Observation Pilot Course 40 with 11 other Canadian artillery officers), and flew Taylorcraft Auster Mark V aircraft for 666 (AOP) Squadron, RCAF, as a Royal Canadian Artillery officer in support of #1 Canadian AGRA (Army Groups Royal Artillery).

Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) - Really was an R.A. F. pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.

Actually...he was at first a conscientious objector, but later changed his stance and was commissioned into the Royal Air Force, serving with 166 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command. His Avro Lancaster was shot down on 31 August 1944 during a raid on Agenville. He was taken prisoner and placed in a German prisoner-of-war camp, where he produced and acted in plays.

David Niven - Was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy.

Actually...Niven was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade and was assigned to a motor training battalion. Niven later interviewed for a position with the British Commandos, and was assigned to a training
area near Lochailort Castle in the Western Highlands of Scotland.

Promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel by General Frederick E. Morgan and assigned as a liaison officer between the British Second Army and the First United States Army, Niven took part in the Normandy landings, arriving several days after D-Day.

James Stewart - Entered the Army Air Force as a private and worked his way to the rank of Colonel. During World War II, Stewart served as a bomber pilot...in peace time, Stewart continued to be an active member of the Air Force as a reservist, reaching the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in the late 1950s.

Actually...an early interest in flying led Stewart to gain his Private Pilot certificate in 1935 and Commercial Pilot certificate in 1938.

In 1940, Stewart was drafted into the United States Army but was rejected for failing to meet height and weight requirements for new recruits—but successfully enlisted in the Army in March 1941.

Stewart enlisted as a private and began pilot training in the USAAC, earned a commission as a second lieutenant in January 1942. He was posted to Moffett Field and then Mather Field as an instructor pilot in single- and twin-engine aircraft.

Stewart was stationed for six months at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico to train bombardiers. He was transferred to Hobbs AAF to become an instructor pilot for the four-engined B-17 Flying Fortress. He trained B-17 pilots for nine months at Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho.

In August 1943 he was assigned to the 445th Bombardment Group at Sioux City AAB, Iowa, first as Operations Officer of the 703rd Bombardment Squadron and then as its commander, at the rank of Captain. In December, the 445th Bombardment Group flew its B-24 Liberator bombers to RAF Tibenham, Norfolk, England and immediately began combat operations. While flying missions over Germany, Stewart was promoted to Major. In March 1944, he was transferred as group operations officer to the 453rd Bombardment Group. In July 1944, after flying 20 combat missions, Stewart was made Chief of Staff of the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing of the Eighth Air Force. Before the war ended, he was promoted to colonel.

Stewart continued to play an active role in the United States Air Force Reserve after the war, achieving the rank of Brigadier General on July 23, 1959, retireing from the Air Force on May 31, 1968.

Clark Gable (Mega-Movie Star when war broke out) - Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the U.S. entered WW II, Clark Gable enlisted as a private in the AAF on Aug. 12, 1942 at Los Angeles. He attended the Officers' Candidate School at Miami Beach , Fla. and graduated as a second lieutenant on Oct. 28, 1942. He then attended aerial gunnery school and in Feb. 1943 he was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook where flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s. Capt. Gable returned to the U.S. in Oct. 1943 and was relieved from active duty as a major on Jun. 12, 1944 at his own request, since he was over-age for combat.

Actually...in 1942, following Lombard's death, Gable joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. Before her death, Lombard had suggested that Gable enlist as part of the war effort, but until her death he resisted the suggestion. He enlisted on August 12, 1942, with the intention of becoming an enlisted gunner on an air crew. MGM arranged for his studio friend, cinematographer Andrew McIntyre, to enlist with and accompany him through training.

Shortly after his enlistment, he and McIntyre were sent to Miami Beach, Florida, where they entered USAAF OCS Class 42-E on August 17, 1942. Both completed training on October 28, 1942, commissioned as second lieutenants. Gable's assignment was to make a recruiting film in combat with the Eighth Air Force to recruit gunners. Gable and McIntyre were sent to Flexible Gunnery School at Tyndall Field, Florida, followed by a photography course at Fort George Wright, Washington, and promoted to first lieutenants upon completion.

Gable reported to Biggs Army Air Base on January 27, 1943, to train with and accompany the 351st Bomb Group to England as head of a six-man motion picture unit. In addition to McIntyre, he recruited screenwriter John Lee Mahin; camera operators Sgts. Mario Toti and Robert Boles; and sound man Lt.Howard Voss to complete his crew. Gable was promoted to captain while with the 351st at Pueblo AAB, Colorado.

Gable spent most of the war in the United Kingdom at RAF Polebrook with the 351st. Gable flew five combat missions, including one to Germany, as an observer-gunner in B-17 Flying Fortresses between May 4 and September 23, 1943.

When word of this reached MGM, studio executives began to badger the U.S. Army Air Corps to reassign their valuable screen property to non-combat duty. In November 1943, he returned to the United States to edit the film, only to find that the personnel shortage of aerial gunners had already been rectified. He was allowed to complete the film anyway, joining the 1st Motion Picture Unit in Hollywood.

In May 1944, Gable was promoted to major and, when D-Day came and passed in June without further orders, he requested and was granted a discharge.

Charlton Heston - Was an Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak.

Actually...in 1944, Heston enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces. He served for two years as a radio operator and aerial gunner aboard a B-25 Mitchell stationed in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands with the Eleventh Air Force. He reached the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Ernest Borgnine - Was a U. S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945.

Actually...Borgnine joined the United States Navy in 1935. He was discharged in 1941, but re-enlisted when the United States entered World War II and served until 1945 (a total of ten years), reaching the rank of Gunner's Mate 1st Class. He served aboard the destroyer USS Lamberton (DD-119).

Charles Bronson - Was a tail gunner in the Army Air Corps, more specifically on B-29's in the 20th Air Force out of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan.

Actually...In 1943, Bronson enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces and served as an aerial gunner in the 760th Flexible Gunnery Training Squadron, and in 1945 as a B-29 Superfortress crewman with the 39th Bombardment Group based on Guam.

Tyrone Power (an established movie star) - When Pearl Harbor was bombed, joined the U.S. Marines, was a pilot flying supplies into, and wounded Marines out of, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Actually...in August 1942, he enlisted in the Marine Corps.

Audie Murphy - No remarks necessary.

I guess that just because one plays a character does not always mean one has character. Well not these days anyway . . .

FWIW - I was curious about this e-mail as I had read about some of the actor's experiences before and the narratives did not seem quite correct...so I used wikipedia just to see what it had to say. Surprisingly...I found the gist of the information as stated had been 'slightly slanted' for the expressed purposes of the original e-mail creator and - although the actors mentioned all served honorably - did not quite present the 'whole truth' of it all.

And so it goes...

Richard's $.02

[18DWife]

He has the brain of a piss ant ..hate to insult the poor piss ant but well

I think its funny/confusing how Hollywood bitches actually think their twisted opinions matter ...as if anyone really cares

[Dozer523]

Down in the remarks comments of the original article is this cite: http://www.military.com/forums/0,15240,84591,00.html
Interesting

[fng13]

I would love to see my Vietnam Vet Uncle beat the sh*t out of him.

Just saying.