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Oct 16, 2016 · Eddie Albert Heimberger was famous for his acting skills but few know of his heroism in WW2. Eddie in the battle of Tarawa disobeyed his orders to collect reusable supplies from the initial landing and instead rescued over 40 marines who were trapped offshore under heavy machine gun fire.
Nov 19, 2013 · Unlike many famous veterans, Albert joined the military after he had found success as an actor. His abilities coincided fortuitously with the needs of the military.
Albert's son spoke of his parents' blacklisting in an interview published in December 1972, crediting Albert's military service during World War II with ultimately saving his career: My mom was blacklisted for appearing at an anti- Franco rally; she was branded a Communist, was spat upon in the streets, and had to have a bodyguard.
Tarawa was one of the many bloody island battles of World War II and in the history of the U.S. Marine Corp. Albert was credited with rescuing up to 70 wounded Marines while under enemy fire. He accomplished this while he was skippering a relatively large landing craft.
The actor, who worked constantly throughout the entertainment industry and was twice nominated for the Academy Award as a supporting actor, died of pneumonia on 27 May 2005. What not quite so many may remember is his service during World War II. He didn't have to go, but he did. Eddie Albert was 37 when he was commissioned.
On 21 November 1943, at Betio Island in the Tarawa Atoll, Lieutenant (junior grade) Edward Albert Heimberger took command of several LCVPs (landing craft, vehicle and personnel) and sped to the rescue of 13 wounded Marines who were trapped on an exposed reef offshore under enemy fire, the tide coming in.
The American actor Eddie Albert, full name Edward Albert Heimberger, enlisted in the U.S. Navy on September 9th, 1942 and transferred to the U.S. Navy Reserves in 1943. Enlisting in the United States Coast Guard during World War II, he was an active participant in the Battle of Tarawa in November, 1943, one of most savage battles in the Pacific ...
