10/20/2022
🇺🇲 WWII uncovered: WWII Trivia: The Penguin and The Joker
Burgess Meredith was 32 years old when he filled out his draft card. Less than a year later on February 27, 1942, the Cleveland Ohio native, put his acting career on hold and joined the Army Air Forces, First Air Force, where he eventually reached the rank of Captain.
Eventually Burgess transferred to the Office of War Information where he made training films for the US military. He was discharged in 1945 to work on the movie "The Story of G.I. Joe," in which he starred - portraying War Correspondent Ernie Pyle.
Cesar Julio Romero, Jr., was contracted with Twentieth Century-Fox in 1937 and starred in nearly 50 films before World War II; however, after the US entered the war, Romero preferred to serve his country. On October 22, 1942, he enlisted in the US Coast Guard as an Apprentice Seaman. His enlistment made national headlines.
According to the US Coast Guard Official website: "In October, 1942, Romero voluntarily enlisted in the US Coast Guard and saw service in the Pacific Theatre. After 10 weeks at the Coast Guard’s West Coast boot camp, in Alameda, California, Caesar reported aboard the Coast Guard-manned assault transport U.S.S. Cavalier (APA-37) in November, 1943 and saw action at Tinian and Saipan.
"Romero preferred to be one of the crew and asked for no special privileges, which he did not receive. His shipmates admired him for this and for his exceptionally hard work. Romero was considered to be one of the best winch operators, swinging 18,000 lb. barges from their deck cradles over the side of the transport during invasions or while loading cargo. Among other duties he was first powderman on the forward five-inch gun. When an occasion permitted recreation, Romero helped put on a variety show for the crew. Later in the war he assisted in Bond rallies." - US Coast Guard press release
Cesar Romero was honorably discharged from the US Coast Guard with the rank of Chief Boatswain's Mate at the end of the war.
World War II veterans Burgess Meredith and Cesar Romero would go on to star in the 1960s television series "Batman" as The Penguin and The Joker. Both actors would go on to have impressive careers in Hollywood.
WWII uncovered ©️ original description and photos sourced by the US Coast Guard official website, IMDb Database (Fair Use Photos) US Army, New York Daily News and Ancestry Database.
