Served with the Navy in the South Pacific toward the end of World War II Then quietly and without publicity or fanfare compiled one of the most distinguished peacetime military careers of anyone in his profession In 1961 as his weekly TV series Hennesey 1959 was enhancing naval recruiting efforts accepted a commission as a line officer in the Naval Reserve with duties in recruitment training films and public relations Holder of a multiengine pilot license he later copiloted jet planes for the Navy which made him an Honorary Aviator authorized to wear wings of goldat the time only the third so honored in naval aviation history By 1976 he had attained the rank of captain and was in uniform aboard the carrier USS Constellation for the Bicentennial celebration on July 4 In 1980 the Navy proposed a period of active duty at the Pentagon that would have resulted in a promotion to rear admiral bringing him even with Air Force Reserve Brigadier General James Stewart Fresh on the heels of a second directing Emmy he felt his absence would impact achieving a longheld goal of directing motion pictures and reluctantly declined The opportunity in films never materialized Holds Letters of Commendation from six secretaries of the Navy Was honorary chairman of the US Navy Memorial Foundation and a charter member of VIVA the effort to return POWMIAs from Vietnam Upon retirement in 1982 he was decorated with the Legion of Merit by Navy Secretary John F Lehman Jr Other than Stewart no performer in his industry has achieved a higher uniformed rank in the US military Glenn Ford was also a Naval Reserve captain and director and Captain John Ford was awarded honorary flag rank upon his 1951 retirement from the Naval Reserve
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