Did You Know That This Hollywood Star Was A WWII Hero

Many people know Brian Keith as the TV judge from “Hardcastle and McCormick,” the uncle in “Family Affair,” the rugged Teddy Roosevelt in “The Wind and the Lion,” or the caring father in “The Parent Trap.” He also appeared in many films like “Death Before Dishonor,” “Young Guns,” and “Sharky’s Machine.” But less known is his service in the Marine Corps during World War II, where he saw significant action in the South Pacific.

Brian Keith: A Pre-Pearl Harbor Marine Recruit

Brian Keith was an ideal recruit. He enlisted in the Marines without needing any persuasion. Unique among many World War II Marines, he joined before Pearl Harbor was attacked. Influenced by the stories he read as a child about the Marines’ exotic adventures in places like Belleau Wood and China, Brian dreamed of participating in such heroic endeavors.

In the summer of 1941, Keith enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve. He worked at the Grumman Aircraft factory near his home in East Rockaway, Long Island, New York. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the course of his life dramatically changed. Within a month, he was on a train to Parris Island in South Carolina for boot camp. Keith fondly remembered his three drill instructors, even though one was not very friendly.

Marksmanship Instructor and War-time Gunner

Brian excelled in marksmanship, firing expertly on rifle and pistol ranges. He became a marksmanship instructor at Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia. One of his memorable colleagues was an old gunnery sergeant with a wooden hand who had lost it in combat in Nicaragua but impressively continued to shoot both rifles and pistols.

As the summer of 1942 came, American forces were on the offensive and landed on Guadalcanal. Keith was ordered to San Diego during that time. From there, he traveled by ship to Hawaii, then to Midway, then back to Hawaii, and finally to Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. Keith became a gunner on the SBD Douglas Dauntless dive bomber in Marine Scout Bombing Squadron VMSB-244. His role was to fire twin .30-caliber guns at enemy planes while flying daring bombing runs.

Keith’s Harrowing Dive Bombing Missions and Aerial Dogfights

Keith described the intense experience of dive bombing, where the plane would dive steeply before leveling out near the ground to release bombs on the target. He recalled one mission where their plane took heavy fire, resulting in a substantial hole in the wing, and another instance where his earphones were shot off. Many of his friends were not as fortunate, and the dangers were ever-present.

On one occasion, with his gun overheated and enemy planes still pursuing them, Keith fired double red flares in desperation. Luckily, help arrived just in time when a Navy pilot shot down one of the enemy planes. Keith’s pilot team, protected by various airborne allies such as Army Air Corps P38 Lightnings and Marine F4U Corsairs, managed to complete their missions. The New Zealanders flying P40 Kittyhawks also provided cover.

Keith encountered many dangers, not just in the air but also on the ground. Japanese guerrillas frequently attacked from jungle hideouts, using mortars and machine guns. He shared a story about a young mechanic who, enraged by a mortar destroying a plane he had repaired, went off into the jungle and took revenge on the attackers.

There were terrifying moments, like when Japanese soldiers approached his tent, resulting in a tense exchange of gunfire. Keith described seeing fanatical charges by Japanese soldiers, often under-equipped and determined, making his time in the Solomon Islands perilous.

Keith’s Valor in Bougainville, Recognition, and Post-War Life

Throughout his service, Keith operated out of Bougainville and joined missions against the stronghold of Rabaul. He described the collaborative effort to neutralize this significant enemy position, despite its never being fully captured, as crucial to prevent Japanese counter-attacks.

Keith’s contributions did not go unrecognized. He received the Air Medal from the Navy for his valorous actions. His medal was signed by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal and Vice Adm. William “Bull” Halsey.

After two years and many dangerous missions, Keith took a long-overdue leave in December 1944 to spend Christmas with his family in New York. Following his leave, he was assigned to train new pilots as a gunner in North Carolina. He expressed more fear for the novice pilots’ capabilities than he had faced in combat.

His military career came to an abrupt end after an altercation at a Miami club post-V-J Day, resulting in a reduction in rank. Despite this, Keith had no regrets about joining the Corps and remained proud of his service. He later achieved legendary status in Hollywood, but for those who knew him, his heroics during World War II remained equally significant.

In September 1992, while working on the “Major Dad” TV show, actor Gerald McRaney praised Keith for his real-life heroism. Keith passed away on June 24, 1997, in Malibu, California, at the age of 75.