Lieutenant Russell Johnson - From The Philippine Islands To Gilligan's Island

[@War_And_Truth]

Shout out to Steve, one of my wonderful subscribers for suggesting this video.

[@BruceWatson-e1d]

Dawn Wells said that Russell never talked about the war. I believe she said that she didn't even know he had been in the Service let alone received medals. Good to know that the rescue crew all received medals especially the DSC for the pilot. Well deserved. Incredible story. Thanks for all your videos. Your accurate research is appreciated.

[@davidelder756]

Yet another nearly forgotten WW II hero. I should say HEROES, to include the crew of the Catalina, and all the men they rescued that day.

[@davidthomas4489]

The "Professor" was valuable everywhere! Thank you for your service, and thank you for solving the many fictitious problems on Gilligan's Island RIP

[@War_And_Truth]

Thanks mate. I have not ever served but my dedication is to those who have.

[@tooManywaystoFall]

it's 7 02 am here at my home, i'm watching Gilligan's Island while learning about Lieutenant Russell Johnson... rip professor.

[@War_And_Truth]

Nice.

[@barrygrant2907]

The PBY was an unsung hero with many heroic stories to its tale.

[@War_And_Truth]

Wonderful aircraft. They also saved a lot of pilots during the Battle of Midway.

[@Hobbitma]

Another great story and video. Thank you!

[@War_And_Truth]

Thank you.

[@dougbrowne9890]

The Greatest Generation. How great America was. Great video.

[@War_And_Truth]

Cheers

[@jillchandler8532]

Most all of Hollywood in those days participated in WWII in one way or another. So interesting!

[@tombecht926]

John wayne made movies

[@samiam619]

@@tombecht926Wayne was a proud member of the Commandos! The Culver City Commandos that is… another one of his Brothers In Arms was Ronnie Reagan…

[@KOHTAOMURDERSDEATHISLAND]

👍👍 That was an incredible rescue 🛟 story! One normally thinks of direct combat activities when thinking of military bravery bravery but it’s obvious that operations executed by rescuers and medics can be every bit as perilous. I never knew about The Professor’s wartime service. Many people from that generation have extraordinary stories that the members of younger generations don’t always hear about.

[@War_And_Truth]

Very true my friend.

[@muffs55mercury61]

Amazing that many future actors were World War II heroes. And many were so young, born 1924, 1925 and even 1926. Nearly all of them enlisted, some before they turned 18. Heroes in my book. And don't forget the women such as Bea Arthur, Betty White and others that contributed.

[@War_And_Truth]

Yes I read about Betty White the other day but her story has also been so well covered already.

[@PaxAlotin]

*A bit of trivia ---- Re Gilligan's Island* 'Three different real-life separate islands were used in the opening credits of the series.The First season black-and-white version was Sandy Cay, a 3-acre island near the Bahamas in the Caribbean. It is now one of the many destinations featured on Disney Cruise Lines, most likely being Castaway Cay, but it is unknown which of the islands were filmed. The island seen from a distance during the Second and Third Season color episodes was Mokuoloe ("Coconut Island") near Oahu which covers 28-acres in size. The pilot, however, was filmed at Moloa'a beach on the north of Kaua'i in Hawaii, and the Second and Third episode opening credits scenes that show the wreck of the SS Minnow on the lagoon, an obvious continuity error, was the flooded parking lot at the studio in Los Angeles.' ------------------------------------------------- ( *Credit to Giligan's Island Wiki* )

[@War_And_Truth]

Thanks for the history.

[@dwightrider5713]

I really appreciate your outstanding videos. The hard work and attention to detail is amazing. It is much appreciated.

[@War_And_Truth]

Thank you very much!

[@csbenzo]

Russell Johnson wrote a very entertaining book called Here On Gilligan’s Isle. It was quite a good read. Had a few good laughs too. There was a magnificent cartoon in it, where the professor is relaxing and thinking something like this: “Those simpletons actually think I cannot repair a boat. Here I am with two very good looking young ladies, why would I escape?” In his book Russell Johnson points out that Dawn Wells (Mary Ann) got more fan mail than anyone else, not bad for someone who didn’t even make the opening credits. Hats off to Gilligan (Bob Denver) who threatened to quite if the professor (Russell Johnson) and Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) were not included in the opening credits after season one.

[@sailordude2094]

I don't know how the military didn't give Russel more medals for valor. IMO, he earned a Bronze Star at least. Thanks for remembering his legacy.

[@War_And_Truth]

So many of these guys were overlooked when it came to medals. I suppose there were so many feats of bravery by this time of the war that you had to do something pretty special.

[@DoubleMrE]

“The Professor” was my favorite character in Gilligan’s Island. His seldom used name was Roy Hinkley, PhD. 😉👍

[@charlestuozzolo7283]

Another fantastic and informative video. I always learn from them. Great job. I wonder if Johnson ever thought of being in a life raft when making Gilligan's Island. He truly knew what it was to be lost and survive at sea.

[@War_And_Truth]

Thank you and yes it must have brought back bitter sweet memories for sure.

[@balancedactguy]

RIP🙏 Lt Johnson!!

[@War_And_Truth]

Here here

[@jimb.942]

I saw him on the car deck of the Seattle/Bainbridge island ferry in his older years. This is when he moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington. He used to be a local radio personality.

[@luv2sail66]

Thanks for yet another interesting and informative presentation. I wasn’t aware of his war service, so it was interesting to me to hear about it.

[@War_And_Truth]

You're welcome.

[@diver11b1p2]

Great story - thanks for sharing so it is not lost to time...

[@War_And_Truth]

Thank you.

[@Malibu1515]

Russel Johnson's co-star and good friend, Dawn Wells, only learned about his service at his funeral. God bless that Catalina crew.

[@War_And_Truth]

Thanks for that information. He was quite a guy.

[@PopLeCorque]

Love your videos and I enjoyed this story. You did make an error with the photo of the bomber you showed at the :56 mark. The pictured plane was a B-24. My dad flew in one. Thanks for what you do. Cheers! Pop

[@War_And_Truth]

I usually make one mistake per video so thanks for pointing that one out.

[@MrDakotakid]

You have the right pic. That is a b-25. A B-24 is a 4 engine bomber.

[@War_And_Truth]

@@MrDakotakid I appreciate you clearing that up. I am no expert on US bombers and rely on the source material.

[@PopLeCorque]

@@War_And_Truth Apologies. The B-24 was a 4 engine plane. I had forgotten that the B-25 was a twin tail plane and that threw me. Keep up the good work

[@catdude5567]

Trivia fact, Russell had a cameo on the Newhart show, as a lodge guest, who joined the group in watching Gilligan's Island, on TV.

[@catdude5567]

The episode is "Much to do without muffin." It's on YT if you want to see Russell.

[@War_And_Truth]

Thanks for the heads up.

[@michaelward9880]

I always thought the Professor was a pretty cool guy.

[@indygeo4267]

November 10th was my grandpa's birthday, only he was born in 1921.

[@rongendron8705]

I'm 78 & my uncle (who was also my "Godfather") Pvt. Kenneth Cooke, was also born in Nov. 1921 (21st) & was a Pearl Harbor Survivor! He just turned 20, when the attack happened! He lived until age 79!

[@indygeo4267]

@@rongendron8705 Neat! My grandpa and your uncle/godfather would have both recently turned 20 when the attack on Pear Harbor occurred. My grandpa served in the Navy, but I think he joined after the Pearl Harbor attack. He was an officer and part of the "Navy Dental Corps" if I'm not mistaken. During his time in the service, he was mostly stationed state-side. Although he was stationed in Cuba at one point. He also passed away at the age of 79.

[@americanpatriot2422]

Outstanding video and presentation

[@War_And_Truth]

I really appreciate that.

[@Jaeger_Bishop]

A school for boys without fathers, sounds like something that could help a lot of young men these days.

[@War_And_Truth]

I agree. So many kids have no positive influence in their lives now days.

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

I grew up watching Gilligan's Island, and didn't know that!

[@War_And_Truth]

I didn't either.

[@rickderwitsch]

Terrific vidio. Thanks.

[@War_And_Truth]

You are welcome!

[@IncogNito-gg6uh]

I’d love to see you do an episode on actor Wayne Morris.

[@BeachsideHank]

Another hero who went to war and came back to find he had no career in the acting business and had to start over.

[@War_And_Truth]

I had to look him up. He has quite a record.

[@richardmardis2492]

He was very handsome- I could see him “hooking up” with both Ginger and Mary Ann🤣🫡

[@MyBlueZed]

Thanks for the story. A knot is a nautical mile per hour so it isn’t “knots per hour”.

[@War_And_Truth]

Cheers, I'm pretty sure we say knots in Australia.

[@MyBlueZed]

@@War_And_Truth Yes we do but at 1:45 you get the units a bit mixed up. A ‘knot’ is a unit of speed so the Catalina either only makes 90 knots or can only fly 90 nautical miles in an hour. 😊

[@War_And_Truth]

@@MyBlueZed Ok got it thanks. Units of speed is definitely not my strong point lol

[@workingguy-OU812]

What many of us - all of us, really - took for granted with many movie and television personalities (NOT you, John Wayne) was that we were watching WWII heroes entertain us. These were the real men and women (not sure which you were, John Wayne) of their time.

[@War_And_Truth]

Yes combat veterans are a different breed to the rest of us.

[@1boortzfan]

Russell was also in a movie with Audie Murphy.

[@War_And_Truth]

I read that they were good friends

[@skipsmoyer4574]

A new account for me, awesome

[@War_And_Truth]

Cheers

[@whiteonggoy7009]

Hero

[@HootOwl513]

My Boot Camp nickname was ''The Professor''. PLT 2117, CO G., 2ND BN, RTR, MCRD S.D. CA.

[@aussiviking604]

Dude.

[@War_And_Truth]

What is it?

[@donaldkroth2579]

Gene Roddenberry was in the United States Air Force in World War 2. We need recognition of his service too.

[@DBAllen]

Pretty amazing, especially since there was no United States Air Force in WW2 it was the Army Air Corps back then.

[@War_And_Truth]

Why cant you just say -"yes but just remember that it was the army airforce in WW2" ?

[@DBAllen]

@@War_And_Truth No it was the Army Air Corps.

[@neilmanhard1341]

THUMBS DOWN. At 1:46, "only made around 90 knots an hour". Everyone who uses the word "knots" will see the stupidity.

[@War_And_Truth]

Well if that is all you got out of the video I guess it is worth a thumbs down. I hope you never make a mistake in your life.

[@airstation2030]

That others may live..... "Dumbo" the call, sign you hope never to use…

[@jonathanwetherell3609]

A knot is a nautical mile per hour, about 1.1 statute miles per hour. Saying "knots per hour" is meaningless.

[@War_And_Truth]

I'm Australian, we say knots.

[@jonathanwetherell3609]

@@War_And_Truth As would any sailor or airman.

[@vger9084]

The monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga.

[@ericsissenwein3601]

They were Expendable: J.W.

[@jamesmooney8933]

Are those monkeys the 1st part of the missing link between monkeys and humans in evolution?

[@user-mc4sq3fk5d]

About a week of videos without Band of Brothers. Congratulations 🎉🎊. This week is far better content.

[@War_And_Truth]

Every video from December 22nd to early January will be Band of Brothers and Bastogne.

[@user-mc4sq3fk5d]

Way to grow the channel 👏