Bea Arthur: Photo Proves She Was a Trucker in The Marines! « Showbiz Spy

Bea Arthur: Photo Proves She Was a Trucker in The Marines!

Posted by Adam

Friday December 10, 2010

BEA Arthur used to be in the Marines!

According to The Smoking Gun website, Arthur was then known by her given name Bernice Frankel and spent thirty months in the Marines.

The actress has denied any enlistment time, but TSG has uncovered her military records from the time she enlisted in the Women’s Reserve back in 1943. She was a truck driver and a typist in the armed forces.

“In a February 1943 letter included in her Marine personnel file, Arthur gave military officials a brief account of her prior employment as a food analyst at a Maryland packing plant, a hospital lab technician, and an office worker at a New York loan company,” The Smoking Gun reports.

A source added, “She was slated to start a new job, but heard last week that enlistments for women in the Marines were open, so decided the only thing to do was join.”

According to Arthur’s personnel file, she was “willing to get in now and do whatever is desired of me until such time as ground schools are organized.” She added, “As far as hobbies are concerned, I’ve dabbled in music and dramatics.”

Bea died last year at the age of 86.

Bea Arthur and Angela Lansbury

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ed wood
Bea Arthur enlisted under her birth name of Ben Weinstein and held commodations for swearing, arm wrestling, and beer guzzling.
After losing a spitting match with another marine, she changed her gender, feeling that her particular masculine skills would achieve greater notoriety within the female ranks.

Old Soldier
So tell me Ed?? Were you EVER in the US Armed Forces? I seriously DOUBT it, unless there was a unit that specialized in being a bunch of DIP STICKS!!
BC
Hey Ed, While your comment may be amusing to you and your School yard pals or your boyfriend, the public forum isn’t the place. And, perhaps a post of your rendition of Brokeback Mountain’s love scene might garner more attention. By the way, Why are we digging up Bea anyway?
http://bla.com bla
Way to prove you’re an unfunny homophobe…

http://facebook john j. rodz
ED WOOD …….GO F@CK YOURSELF………..SEMPER FI…….UUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Floridian Flo
How dare you talk about Bea that way. That’s mean:(
hahaha
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. i cannot believe nobody has heard this story of her… i mean him.
TheresaL
jealous much there Ed? She was more of a man than you’ll ever be! Bea Arthur was GREAT!! A great lady, nd being in the Marines just proves it. Right on Maude!

Barbie
Why do you feel like you needed to dig up that info and try to tarnish her memory??????????????????????? YOU ARE A MAJOR SLIMBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://facebook john j. rodz
DON”T ASK AND WE WON”T TELL……F@CKWAD!!!!!!!!

Barbie
THIS STORY MADE ME SO MAD AND I CAN’T SEE STRAIGHT. I MEANT SLIMEBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://facebook john j. rodz
I THINK YOU HAD IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, YOU UNEDUCATED SLIMBALL……GO BACK UNDER THE ROCK YOU CAME FROM. YOU SHOULD MOVE TO IRAQ THEY LOVE F@CKWADS LIKE YOU OVER THERE

Jan Hunsinger
Good for her….what is wrong with being in the Marines? Ed, I agree. You are a slimEball!

http://facebook john j. rodz
NOT A SLIMEBALL A F@CKWAD……SHE WASN”T BORN SHE WAS HATCHED FROM UNDER A ROCK…..GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM…I BET YOUR ASS LOOKS LIKE 5 PACKS OF CHEWED BUBBLE GUM……..SH@TBAG!!!!!!!!!!

Chris
I think it’s cool.. She’s been a comic legend…why not chalk soldier up on that list too? She seemed to be a pretty cool lady. I loved Maude.

http://facebook john j. rodz
NO DOUBT ED WOOD WAS DISCHARGED UNDESIRERABLY FOR WEARING PANTIES AND A BRA UNDER HIS FATIGUES………SICKO

Mary
The answer to that Barbie is yes! And so is Ed Wood! Who cares if she was in the marines? I may be against war but I am not going to knock the men and women in our armed forces. I will knock the government for putting us in a war. Bea Arthur was a beautiful lady. May she rest in peace.

http://facebook john j. rodz
AS YOU PROBABLY REALIZED THESE PEOPLE WITH THE NEGITIVE COMMENTS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE UPSET ABOUT THE DON”T ASK DON”T TELL RULING…….SO SO SAD FOR THEM!!!!!

Carol
@Barbie… why do you consider this tarnishing her memory? There is nothing in this article stating anything negative about her or her time in the military.
I’m just shocked that she denied being in the corps. Seems strange to me.

zak
I believe that’s an Emmy Award on her head.

http://outfromthemist marie cohoon
That’s not Bea Arthur’s head with the black figure behind …it’s Angela Lansbury’s!
OMGosh…Bea was great in every part she ever played! She was always a woman to be reckoned with. Maybe that’s why some “men” have to make rude remarks.

Pat
OMG, I laughed so hard when you said u think its an emmy award on her head that was to much, I had to stare at it for awhile too before I figured it out…so funny!!!

Gary
What is Angela Lansbury wearing on her head?

bill
it is a picture/logo on the wall behind her.

CJ
How does this information tarnish her image???? If anything, it shows she was a person who was willing to work for the good of her country, but did not want to flaunt that for adulation. Since when is being in the Marines dishonorable?

Floridian Flo
AMEN!!!!!!!!!

CJ
Gary, I had the same thought. I kept staring at it until I realized it was part of the screen behind her.

Gary
At least it matches her outfit.

harold_p
Anyone who has completed Marine Corps recruit training (boot camp) and gone on to serve honorably, should be proud of that service.
I wonder why she denied it? I wonder how accurate that that assertion is?
Perhaps she was modest, or self-deprecating? I’d like to thank all Marine Corps truck-driving typists [serving in WWII or whenever] for their service…
Keven
I love Bea. Who gives a rats azz that she was in the army. I’m sure she covered it up because it might tarnish her reputation somehow–I mean it was in the 40′s for pete’s sake, there may have been some sort of gender discrimination she might have been worried about. I don’t think this story should have been reported. It is simply dumb. Let it be. Let her rest in peace.

http://facebook john j. rodz
NOT ARMY………..MARINES…….BIG BIG DIFFERENCE

Gary
Harold, All marines are faggots, but brave faggots

http://facebook john j. rodz
THE ONLY FAGGOTS HERE ARE ONE THAT MAKE COMMENTS LIKE YOURS…………GET IT…..MR. 3 DOLLAR BILL!!!!!!!

Annabella
Seriously, you act like this is a bad thing like she was a child molester or something. It is very cool! Get a life ahole!
Mandy
Bea Arthur only became more awesome because of this news.
http://comcast.net Paul
I say “Good for you Maude!”
FRANK
Bea Auther and every other veteran from the revolutionary war to the present deserves nothing but respect, especially from those that choose not to serve.
http://yahoo.com Mark
A remarkable woman who was clearly a pioneer not only on the small screen but also in the 40′s . I say anyone who puts this out to tarnish her should be ashamed . A woman who very often was over looked . A woman who serverd her counrty in a time when women were to be barefoot and pregnant . Her willingness to boldly address the issues of the 1970′s are what has moved the thought process of the American people to a level of no tolorance in 2010 . Where everyone no matter your background color sexual identity or who you love has something to contribute . Personally I think their should be a shrine to her and her frank ness . As for this artical it only gives me more respect for a woman who’s life was one of great accomplishment . Accomplishmenst that were very often not greatly recognized . Anyone trying to deface Bea Auther should hang their head in Shame .
Bozo
Bea Arthur was a mouthy liar whose claims of blacklisting and her interest in liberal causes served one purpose…an attempt to gain the street cred.
“Bea Auther and every other veteran from the revolutionary war to the present deserves nothing but respect, especially from those that choose not to serve”
I am guessing this came after 9 martinis.
bike buoy
Hey BOZO! Joe McCarthy’s hay day was in the fifties. You missed it by fifty some funkin years HOOOO RAAAAWWWWW!
bike buoy
The only reason the senate voted NOT to repeal DADT is that there would be no one left to take a big dump on! Unless you count lil people who I am told are NOT allowed in the armed services. THink of it: you can’t dump on black people women or Jews but if you eliminate homosexuals,OH FOR CHRIST’S SAKE THERE IS NO ONE LEFT! OH WAIT THE IMMIGRANTS OOOOHHHH YEAH!!!!
jgibb
This golden girl will kick your butt, I love Bea, I loved her on all the Roasts, R.I.P. True American.
jimijamfan
Right on Maude!
Kay
God Bless, her! There is nothing more honorable than serving your country. FOr whatever reason she didn’t mention it, it doesn’t matter. She could have bragged about it, but she seemed to be a private person.
And for the record, I am a female veteran.
Also, for everyone making comments about her sexuality, she was married and had a couple of kids. Even if she was gay, who cares?!!
As soon as I read this, I had a flashback to the episode of the Golden Girls, where they inadvertently wind up in prison (they were mistaken for hookers!), and some tough broad tries to pick a fight with Blanche. Dorothy says, “Have you ever heard of Attica? I was there 6 months before they found out!:(that she wasn’t a man).
SamC
She is a Hero from the “Greatest Generation” and it is not that far out of line for her to not want to admit it….many from their generation did what they had to do and didn’t feel the need to ‘brag’ about it….she is/was a true classy Lady and a Hero in my eyes.
Gina
WOW! Bea Arthur was in the military…how so unhollywood.
I say kudos to Ms. Arthur for serving her country!
Finally, she was probably silent about her record because she didnt want to be black balled by hollywood anti-war liberals
cris
Why would anyone think badly of this? She served her country in a time of war. I’m proud of her.
Penny
During WWII, people were patriotic and everyone did their part, from women like Ms. Arthur, who were proud to join the service, and to men who were willing to serve even though they had medical problems. Bravo to Bea Arthur, a strong woman with a good heart to want to keep America safe from Germany and Japan, who at that time were overrunning nearby countries and had their sites set on us.
Ron P
I’m a bit confused. Ed Wood said that Bea Arthurs birth name was Ben Weinstein and that she changed her name and joined the female ranks. Is Ed saying that she was born a male? And her birth name was not Bernice Frankel? Is that what this character is trying to say?

http://facebook john j. rodz
ED WOOD IS NOTHING MORE THAN A FEMALE TRAPPED IN A MANS BODY……HE SHOULD GO SNIFF HIS GRANDMAS PANTIES, THE PETER PUFFER……

Ross Ewage
so who did more for their Country, Bea Arthur or ‘Hanoi Jane’? I only wish this was discovered before Bea passed away so someone could thank her. Everyone should be proud that she helped the war effort in addition to being a comic legend for 40 years and giving America many great laughs and superb entertainment.
stephen
I found this clip of Miss Arthur’s final interview with Bea discussing her career and life in her own words. I think it’s for a show called, “Lunching with a Legend.”
I’d hate for a full interview with Bea or the other legendary ladies in the clip to go unseen. I’d like to see if she final discusses her service in her final interview.
http://lunchingwithalegend.com/
Cheers,
c
Bea was just awesome!!! Way to go… thumbs up for her!!! SemperFi
Floridian Flo
She was still wonderful and beautiful. True golden girl!!!!!! RIP
Anne
Most of the time I am sorry that I have read the comments after a story. With a few refreshing exceptions, there is so much hate. One jerk-off who is TRYING and SUCCEEDING to start a ruckus starts it, then the next twenty or so comments are people, safe behind their computers, becoming so hateful and angry because of some dickwad’s stupid comment.
Then bring out the all-caps, the !!!!!!, the name-calling, usually a faggot or dyke reference comes up, back and forth, and it is hard to read.
Of course not everyone is going to agree, but why does it always have to come down to the lowest common denominator?
It seems no one is allowed to have an opinion (not counting the dickwad who wants to make everyone angry)
without being called stupid or much, much worse.
I know the Season doesn’t mean much anymore besides trampling over someone to save $20.00 to most. It is just especially sad to me to witness people with go much hate carrying on this way around Christmas.
I am 79 years old, so you all are going to say I am a clueless old lady who doesn’t know what is going on, and that is fine, and to be expected.
But if you look at the big picture, and think about how these nasty remarks do nothing but spread loathing and hate, maybe you won’t let someone who is obviously trying to get attention by saying extremely rude things get you so angry. Feel sorry for them because if they have to do things like that to get attention, their life must really suck.
Merry Christmas

rr
Thank you Anne.
Merry Christmas to you and I think that we should all be proud of Bea Arthur both for being in the Marines and for her contribution to what TV used to be, before it became full of ‘reality tv’
I suspect that Bea denied being in the Marines because she knew that what she did isn’t what ‘being in the Marines’ usually means. What she did was necessary and helpful but she didn’t see action, nothing wrong with that at all but she probably didn’t want too much to be made of it. The Marines sacrifice so much for our country she probably felt her role was too small to be proud of.
She should have been proud of her work though and we should all be proud of her and others like her. It took a whole country to win that war, and everyone had to play their role.
I should also say that I’m very much against war but not the people who serve their country. It’s the governments that make wars… good people have to fight them and they should be honored, not the presidents or leaders that do it for the glory or to avoid problems in their home country that they can’t fix ….
http://msn Connie Scheible
Way to go Anne. I’ve often wondered why so much vitrius shows up in this type of forum. If someone wants to vent their anger, find someone wo actually cares aout you and then show them some respect, too.

Roy Dogsi
“By the way, Why are we digging up Bea anyway?”
Choice of words my friend… lol
mike
……and the point of this ridiculous story is………? I guess some creeps cant stand to let someone rest in peace. So she lied about being in the Marines, who gives a $hit?
Samantha
Ok… enough with the transgender and homeosexual jokes y’all. Seriously… change your diapers and crawl back under your rocks, because your behavior is both juvenile and offensive, you worms. Now then, I would imagine the reason she denied it has something to do with the way females returning from the war were treated. My mom interviewed a WASP, and was told about not only the rough treatment while they were serving, but how they were treated as exiles upon their return, not even being granted “veteran” status.
http://yahoo.com jnaz
This just makes me like her even more!! What a cool lady!
RIP Bea.
http://yahoo Christa
It’s sad that people have to bash others that don’t fit the “normal” boring profile! She probably chose not to share her previous military status because of the stigma associated with that disclosure. I’m sure lot’s of her advisors advised against it. There had to be a fear of the backlash……all the nasty comments by some serve as proof. The women was tall..so what..she was a Marine..so what ..Oh BTW so am I ( tall ) so was I ( a Marine).Get over it! May she RIP!!
J Ro
Having served in the USMC myself, I have more respect for her. “Gee, how terrible that a woman would serve her country in WWII, which is more than I can say for some of you, especially the naysayers.” Show some respect for the people who helped maintain your freedom, instead of being the brainfuçk waste of life leech that you are.
stopthehate
It’s her generation that made America what it is today, especially for women.
If you all haters could only walk a mile in their shoes.
Back then when our country or other countries the citizens would role up these sleeves and do what they can. Well our country is in trouble now all I can hear is whine whine…..
justplainrandy
Bea was a comic, and the jokes about her would have been appreciated by her. Whatever the reason she did not choose to publicize her service, the thing that matters is that she served.
Way too many people, especially on TV, talk about their honor or patriotism, about how much they love their country – way too few actualy serve their country. I guess it is a lot easier to talk about patriotism than to actualy be a patriot. I don’t require my patriots to bleed, to die or to give their service in time of war. But I do require people who talk about their patriotism or love of country to have actualy served their country. That’s why I spit on TV’s that show FOX News – way too many cowards wrapping themselves in my nations flag.
I honor her service. And as a former bubble-headed squid, I’m willing to forgive her for being a jar-head.
Ooo-Rah!