Pass in Review - Military School Celebrities (Volume Two): Pass in Review - Military School Celebrities: One Hundred Years (1890s - 1990s), #2

Preface

Military schools in the United States were established out of necessity due to the difficulties faced by the American colonists fighting for their independence. During the Revolutionary War, British forces were commanded by officers educated at the Royal Military Academies at Sandhurst and Woolwich. Our French allies had officers educated at various military schools including reportedly the world’s first military school (Ecole Royale Militaire of Soreze). It wasn’t until 1802 that the United States established its first military school: the United States Military Academy at West Point. Under the outstanding leadership of Brevet Brigadier General Sylvanus Thayer, West Point became the model for American military schools.

Preceding the Civil War: Military schools in the United States increased to 171 institutions before the Civil War. By the onset of the ‘War between the States’, seventy-five percent of military schools in the nation focused on secondary education. Four collegiate military schools of the South (Virginia Military Institute, The Citadel, Georgia Military Academy, University of Alabama Corps of Cadets) participated as units in combat, while many other schools (including secondary schools) on both the Union and Confederate sides provided drill instructions that were vital to the initial training of their respective armies.

Following the Civil War: Military schools sharply declined after the Civil War due to the devastation of the south and its occupation by Federal forces. However, it didn’t take very long before the number of military schools began making a comeback -- reaching their peak just prior to the Great Depression of 1929. This rise in the popularity of military schools can be attributed to four factors: (1) the realization of the positive impact of military school education on young men; (2) the efforts of returning Civil War veterans; (3) the glorification of the cultural phenomena known as the ‘Lost Cause’; and (4) the swell of patriotism known as the ‘Spirit of 1898’ surrounding the Spanish American War. As a result of these four factors, the number of military schools in the United States rose to a high of 280 institutions in 1926.

During the Vietnam-era: Military schools once again lost their popularity. Progressive views dominated the field of education, as schools adopted changes such as open classrooms, student-designed curricula, and so forth. Many military schools did not survive this era. They either closed or became traditional boarding or day schools. The few surviving military schools were forced to adopt progressive ideas such as co-ed classes and more liberal arts studies.

Current situation: Of the approximately 844 military schools that have operated in the United States from 1802 until 2017, there are only 96 military schools (5 federal service academies; 12 military colleges and universities; 5 military junior colleges; 38 private secondary or primary schools; 36 public and charter secondary schools) currently in operation.

During my sixteen years of recruiting students for three reputable military schools (West Point, Florida Air Academy, Oak Ridge Military Academy), I began assembling a list of celebrities who had attended such institutions. My initial intention was to provide the names of well-known celebrities to parents so they would feel good about their decision to send their sons or daughters off to military school. Over time, my interest in this subject grew as my list of famous celebrities who have attended military schools got longer.

In Volume Two, you will find the names of military school celebrities who began their careers in the entertainment industry during the 1940s through the 1950s. Subsequent volumes will contain more names of well-known celebrities who have attended military schools.

Raymond C. Wilson (author)

Robert Altman

Actor/Director/Producer/Writer

Robert Altman was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on 20 February 1925 to Bernard C. Altman and Helen Mathews. He attended Wentworth Military Academy for junior college. At age 18 in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He quickly became a pilot and flew B-24’s with the 307th Bomb Group. He flew 46 bomb runs over the Dutch East Indies and Borneo. While training in California, he got an eyeful of the bright lights illuminating Hollywood in the 1940’s.

Altman in Air Corps (www.erenow.net)

When Altman separated from the Army Air Corps in 1946, he decided to stay in Los Angeles and become an actor. He appeared in Danny Kaye’s comedy hit The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947). He soon turned to writing. Working with screenwriter George W. George, Altman co-wrote a story which was sold to RKO Pictures for a movie called Bodyguard (1948).

To get experience as a filmmaker, Altman joined the Calvin Company, the world's largest industrial film production company in Kansas City. Altman started as a film writer and within a few months began to direct films. This led to work as a film director for almost six years. From 1949 to 1955, Altman directed 60 to 65 industrial short films, earning $250 a week while simultaneously getting the necessary training and experience that he would need for a successful career in filmmaking.

In 1955, Altman directed his first feature film, The Delinquents. Although this film was not that successful, it did catch the eye of Alfred Hitchcock, who was so impressed that he asked Altman to direct a few episodes of his Alfred Hitchcock Presents television series. From 1955 to 1964, Altman worked as a television director. He directed Sugarfoot, Bronco, Peter Gunn, U.S. Marshal, Hawaiian Eye, The Gale Storm Show, Desilu Playhouse, Route 66, Maverick, Lawman, Surfside 6, Bonanza, The Roaring 20’s, Bus Stop, Combat, The Gallant Men, and The Kraft Suspense Theatre.

Ring Lardner Jr., wrote the script for something he called M*A*S*H. (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital). This project was presented to Robert Altman only after fourteen other directors had turned it down. M*A*S*H. (1970) won the New York Film Critics Best Picture Award, and was nominated for Oscars for Best Picture, director, adapted screenplay and Sally Kellerman