A Sailor's Story: Captain Douglas Fairbanks Jr.



Captain Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was impressively active throughout his life.

He began his acting career at 14 and ultimately participated in about 100 productions.

At the start of World War II,  he joined the US Naval Reserves and served actively until May of 1946, retiring from the reserves in 1954.

Captain Fairbanks developed the tactic behind the Beach Jumper program, a military deception unit.

In addition to earning several medals during World War II, including a Silver Star and a Legion of Merit, Captain Fairbanks also has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He wrote an autobiography, "Salad Days," in 1988 and related his WWII experiences in the book "A Hell of a War," published in 1993.

Captain Douglas Fairbanks died on May 7, 2000, and rests in Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California.

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to the travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

Her online photography gallery can be found at shop.takethebackroads.com

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