A True American Hero

Stewart came from a military family.  His father served in the Spanish-American War and World War I and both his grandfathers fought in the Civil War.  Stewart was one of the few Americans to rise during World War II from Private to full Colonel.  He flew twenty bombing missions, ending up as deputy commander of the 2nd Bombardment Wing.  Stewart stayed in the Air Force Reserve after the War, participated in a few B52 bombing missions during the Vietnam War and retired from the service in 1968.  Although he said that in many ways he was happiest during his military service, he adamantly refused to talk about his combat service.   I think it is significant how few war pictures he appeared in after returning home. His wife and daughter reported that he occasionally had nightmares about the hellish combat he had been involved in.  Stewart was a great actor, but he was a greater man.