-and it wasn’t even to enemy action.
After Lt Doohan and his division made it to the beach, made it past the anti-tank bombs, made it through the snipers, and the Lt. took out two of those snipers himself– he got shot that evening by a twitchy guard. If he hadn’t just put a metal cigarette case in his pocket, the shot to the heart would’ve killed him.
And he still said his proudest memory was the time he got a letter from a suicidal fan, and informed her that he expected to see her at the next convention.
That he became an actor because he was so outraged about a radio drama being poorly done that he went down to the radio station and recorded one himself– and the guy at the radio station suggested a specific school of drama– is just perfectly in keeping.
Gee, so smoking can SAVE your life?
I met Doohan at a conference I attended with my sister years ago. Very modest fellow, very matter-of-fact about his wartime experience. He raised a laugh when asked how he would have written the scripts on Star Trek:
Sulu would never be issued ammunition
Chekov would never be allowed to scream
McCoy could say “He’s dead, Jim” only once a show
Kirk would get the girl only twice in a season
Mr. Spock would stay the hell out of my engine room.
He made the same joke. 😀
I just realized, he’s got the most quoted Star Trek line in our house.
“Hello, computer!”
(Because it makes people laugh when the computer is not doing what you wish it would do.)
I always thought he had the most realistic officer command presence on the show which only made sense. Without being a bully his attitude seemed to say that he was not a man to be trifled with and his orders were to be obeyed.
I still laugh in the tribble episode that he can tolerate insults to his captain, but not his ship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rsZfcz3h1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP4bNGwANlw
https://youtu.be/hShY6xZWVGE
command presence.. yes, he was a man who could give an order, and take an order.
Scotty inspired me:
to be both an engineer, and have a love for Laphroaig (without excess):
“A good engineer is always a wee bit conservative, at least on paper.”
“Oh, laddie. You’ve got a lot to learn if you want people to think of you as a miracle worker.”
“you/I can’t change the Laws of Physics…”
“Are ya daft lad.”
“Never get drunk unless you’re willing to pay for it – the next day.”