On September 28, 1943, several notable personalities showed up in Pensacola for the sole purpose of selling "war bonds." A war bond by definition is "debt sold by the government to fund military operations." Wars are not free, and someone has to pay for them. In America alone, over 85 million Americans bought them during the war. Some bonds, called "Series E," were sold at 75% of face value with a 2.9% interest rate. But now that the mechanism of paying for the war was created, the next question was how to get American's to buy them! Here, is where Hollywood patriotism rose to the surface. Actors traveled all over the country hosting rallies to raise money for the "men and women" over there! At least one gave their life for the cause. Carol Lombard, actress and wife of the world-famous Clark Gable, was returning from just such an event when her plane crashed in 1942, killing all aboard.
In 1943, Pensacola held an event and invited the legendary Tyrone Power, to speak to the audience, urging them to buy, buy, buy! Many reading this probably have no idea who he is, but for those baby boomers he was a household word that caused many a lady to swoon! Infected by the patriotic fever after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps as a private. After boot camp, he entered OCS in Quantico and was commissioned a lieutenant in 1943. He then reported Corpus Christi flight training and it was during this period of his military career that they called upon him to contribute to the war bond drives.
He was flown to Pensacola from Corpus Christi by LT(jg) Roy Tabeling and admitted to the press that he was nervous to speak to such a large group "in the flesh." He inferred that filming for movies was much different that addressing a large group on stage. Before arriving at the Saenger Theater, he appeared at at the NAS athletic field for a show with the other cast members. The previous Saturday, he was with several other "heart throbs" in Dallas, TX. Bob Sterling, Jack Holt, William Holden, and Robert Taylor all joined him to raise $2,000,000 in just one radio show. Also, Tyrone's wife, Annabelle (also an actress) had just concluded a twelve-week war bond tour in New York herself. But while in Pensacola, he chose not to dine with the city's dignitaries but to sup with his pilot and his 85-year old widowed aunt, Mrs. Sarah Sally Levy Harvey (1863-1956), at her home at 811 North 8th Avenue. Her husband, Samuel Singley Harvey passed away in 1914 and had been a carriage maker and fruit dealer prior to his death.
Aunt Sarah, as well as all of Pensacola, was so impressed with this likable yet unassuming Hollywood idol that was temporally in their midst. Even his comrades from boot camp and flight school all said he was a "genuine" Marine and not one of the powder puffs that were out looking for post war publicity. In fact, one stated "any old Marine will tell you that there are Marines that are actually Marines, while some of them will stay a "boot" all their lives!" Lt. Power apparently was the latter!
He received his wings as a multi-engine transport pilot in April 1944. He was stationed in NC with the VMR-352 squadron until his transfer to the Pacific with VMR-353. Based out of Kwajalein and Saipan he flew supply and evacuation missions to include transporting wounded Marines from Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He continued to fly combat mission with his squadron Japan surrendered in September 1945. After the war, he returned to Hollywood and the USMC Reserves while making 22 more films before his death in 1958 (completed 26 before enlisting).
After the war, his friend Roy Harrison Tabeling Jr. (USN 1942-1961 Commander) would set a world record in 1946 with a non-stop, non- refueling, flight from Australia to Ohio. Born in 1920, he would pass away in Merritt Island, Florida in 1994.
Tyrone Edmund Power III (1914-1958)
Pensacola News Journal 9-28-1943
US Marine Corps enlistment of Boot Tyrone Power, 1942 San Diego. He was shown no special treatment because of his "star status" yet he asked for none!
Lt. Tyrone Power, USMC aviator, WWII, and his wife Annabelle
Lt. Power beside his aircraft, WWII
Retired Commander US Navy Pilot (1920-1994). He flew Lt. Tyrone Power from Corpus Christi, TX to Pensacola, Florida in September 1943. He would set a world record in 1946 with a non-stop, non- refueling, flight from Australia to Ohio.
Former Heavy Weight Boxing Champion of the World Jack Dempsey (1895-1983) from 1919 to 1926. Known as "Kid Blackie", and "The Manassa Mauler", he is now US Coast Guard Lt. Commander Dempsey, WWII. In September 1943, he appeared on stage with Hollywood actor USMC Lt. Tyrone Power
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