Jackie Cooper - U.S. Navy

Jackie Cooper, Commander USNR,  died on May 3, 2011.  Jackie was the youngest child actor to be nominated for an Oscar – a record he held for 50 years. A popular actor who was one of Our Gang, and the kid star of “The Champ” where he famously cried after being told that his director was going to shoot his dog.  He worked extensively until his career began to stagnate, right before World War II.   Jackie went into the Navy in the V-12 program, (as did  Jack Lemmon, they both played Ensign Pulver in Mr. Roberts productions!) He was a Navy Reserve Captain, and became one of the first Honorary Navy Aviators for his service to the Navy.

As an online biography states he

....quietly and without publicity or fanfare, compiled one of the most distinguished peacetime military careers of anyone in his profession. In 1961, as his weekly TV series "Hennesey" (1959) was enhancing naval recruiting efforts, accepted a commission as a line officer in the Naval Reserve with duties in recruitment, training films and public relations. Holder of a multi-engine pilot license, he later co-piloted jet planes for the Navy, which made him an Honorary Aviator authorized to wear wings of gold--at the time only the third so honored in naval aviation history. By 1976, he had attained the rank of Captain, and was in uniform aboard the carrier USS Constellation for the Bicentennial celebration on July 4. In 1980, the Navy proposed a period of active duty at the Pentagon which would have resulted in a promotion to Rear Admiral, bringing him even with Air Force Reserve Brigadier General James Stewart. Fresh on the heels of a second directing Emmy, he felt his absence would impact achieving a long-held goal of directing motion pictures, and reluctantly declined. (The opportunity in films never materialized.) Holds Letters of Commendation from six Secretaries of the Navy. Was honorary chairman of the US Navy Memorial Foundation and a charter member of VIVA, the effort to return POW-MIAs from Vietnam. Upon retirement in 1982, he was decorated with the Legion of Merit by Navy Secretary John F. Lehman Jr.. Other than Stewart, no performer in his industry has achieved a higher uniformed rank in the US military.

After he came back from WW2, Jackie Cooper became a sitcom actor, director  (including being a longtime director for M*A*S*H*)  and for our younger readers, Perry White in the Superman movies.