MovieChat Forums > The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) Discussion > Sam, Medal of Honor winner

Sam, Medal of Honor winner

posted 16 years ago by mousalope
6 replies | jump to latest

Never caught this before but watching tonight it hit me. Unstated but subtly conveyed.

In the scene where the detectives roust Sam in his hotel bed, one officer inspects Sam's wallet and notes "North Africa, Anzio, Normandy", and asks why he doesn't wear "it". "The same reason you don't wear your badge, I like to be incognito". So soon after the war, lesser awards wouldn't be so rare or remarkable as to warrant such comments. In the scene's context what else could this refer but the Medal of Honor lapel pin that accompanies the award.

[–] Florestan51 12 years ago

Interesting comment and observation. In one movie after another that is set within a few years of the end of the war it breaks my heart to see many a returned soldier who risked his life for his country, now treated with no special respect and often even with contempt, with no allowance for his heroism and gallantry. OK, they're only movies and the guy is now subject to the same laws as everyone else, but it still breaks my heart, and I have to believe that Hollywood didn't conjure up such shoddy treatment of ex-servicemen from nowhere.

[–] Alanlinel 11 years ago

Nope, just a veteran's lapel pin that tons of them wore right after the war.

[–] Noir-It-All 9 years ago

North Africa, Anzio, Normandy were tough battles. I wonder whether 1 soldier could have fought in all three?

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] OIF-Retread 8 years ago

not impossible, but units in the Italian campaign would have still been in Italy during the Normandy invasion. an exception would have been the Rangers, but i'm not sure off-hand which battalions were where. (but he could have transferred within the Rangers and hit all three.)

"I'll do the masterminding around here." -Sgt. Stryker, "Sands of Iwo Jima"

[–] Winfield_Browne 8 years ago

3rd Ranger Battalion

509th Parachute Infantry Battalion

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.
be kind, rewind...

[–] Winfield_Browne 8 years ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/509th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)#World_War_II

The 2-509th PIR carried out the first American combat jump during the invasion of North Africa.

Corporal Paul B. Huff, a member of the 509th, was the first American paratrooper awarded the Medal of Honor on 29 February 1944 for action at Anzio, Italy.

During the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944, the 509th fought in Belgium to blunt the German attack.

When I was in Vicenza, the 509th were also there and they had Pathfinders. Some of whom very well could have gone into Normandy between June, 1944 and August 1944. The speculation by the OP could be spot on.

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.
be kind, rewind...