Reagan Paid His Dues in World War II

R.A. Lee (Letters, May 4), “Reagan’s Dues Were Paid During World War II,” should be doing PR work at the White House. What a snow job. That letter might play very well in Peoria, but there are too many ex-GIs around Southern California who know the true story.

In the spring of ’42 a bunch of draft-age guys working in the movie industry were offered a deal. They could enlist in the Army, they would sleep at home, eat all meals at home except lunch, which would be at Brittingham’s Commissary. They would form the First Motion Picture Unit, Army Air Corps. They would be stationed on Washington Boulevard at the Hal Roach Studios.

Most of them never took basic training or ever slept a night in a barracks. Field rations, foxholes and enemy fire were total unknowns to these “Culver City Commandos.”

Later on as the unit grew there were some clerks, cooks and MPs garrisoned at “Fort Hal Roach,” but most of the personnel worked 8 to 5 weekdays, driving home Friday afternoon and off until 8 a.m. Monday.

Ronald Reagan was one of those heroes of Washington Boulevard. A far cry from Clark Gable who did 25 missions as a gunner in the 8th Air Force. Gable really paid his dues.

MERWIN KOEPPEL

Rancho Palos Verdes