Was Gene Autry a war Hero?

Answer 1

Autry became a US Army Air Force C-47 pilot. This was the military version of the Douglas DC-3. He flew as part of the airlift of supplies over "the hump" - the Himalayas - from Burma to China. This was dangerous duty over wild, uncharted territory and the world's tallest mountains. Many pilots who went down on this route are still missing.

Answer 2

Depends what you mean by "hero."

Autrey volunteered for military service, actively sought a combat assignment, and flew several flights over the Himalayas in a supply effort that resulted in many deaths to the pilots.

However, millions of others did the exact same thing; and, for a lot of them, their attitude remains, "The only real heroes are the ones that didn't return home."

For someone who was already a significant recording and movie star, this was a rare achievement -- most such stars were either 4-F, sought (and got) a deferment, or chose a non-combat assignment.

Answer 3

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