Description
Book SynopsisJames Arness was born May 26, 1923, in Minneapolis. He entered college just as World War II began and dreamed of being a naval aviator. It seemed as if every night his fraternity was having a party to send off a brother to the service. Young Arness got his interview with a naval flight programme officer, but his hopes vanished as he was informed that his six foot seven inch height disqualified him automatically. He wrote his draft board asking that they call him up as soon as possible and so he ended up as a private in the famed Third Infantry Division where he earned a Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Because of his stature, he was chosen to be first off the landing craft (to test the depth of the water) when his division landed at Anzio, Italy. He was subsequently wounded by enemy machine gun fire and spent eighteen months recovering in overseas and stateside hospitals. Later his height would help him strike a commanding figure in the role of U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon of Dodge City.
Trade Reviewone of the better autobiographies out there...a must read - Classic Images
""an account that's clean, free of malice and which tells the story completely…a lot of detail"" - Big Reel
""a magnum opus"" - SPERDVAC Radiogram
Table of ContentsTable of Contents
Foreword by Burt Reynolds ix
Introduction by James E. Wise, Jr. 1
Prologue 3
1. The Early Years 5
2. Anzio 1944 27
3. Drifting into Show Business 57
4. John Wayne 87
5. Gunsmoke 99
6. And Beyond 151
Appendix A: Others Remember 165
Appendix B: Comments by Guest Stars 201
Appendix C: Fan Letters 205
Appendix D: Films 223
Appendix E: Television 225
Appendix F: Honors and Awards 227
Index 229
