Bea Arthur: Comedienne, actress, and Marine.

[AFK]

Yep.  The Golden Girl once was a Marine:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40631076/ns/today-entertainment/

Bea Arthur served up the jokes, making America laugh for decades on TV – but, as it turns out, the late actress also served her country in the Marine Corps during her youth.

According to TheSmokingGun.com, the "Maude" and "The Golden Girls" star served for 30 months starting in 1943. She reportedly was a member of the Women's Reserve and worked as a truck driver and typist.

According to one document obtained by the website, she was stationed at Marine headquarters in Washington, D.C., as a typist and also worked at Marine Corps and Navy air stations in Virginia and North Carolina.

She reportedly advanced through the ranks to the title of staff sergeant, before an honorable discharge in September 1945, according to the site.

Bea's Marine qualification card credits the actress with the skills of "piano & organ 13 years" and "contralto-orchestra." It also lists her hobbies as hunting with a .22 caliber rifle and "bow and arrow."

In 2001, Bea was asked about the Marine rumor in an interview with Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and she denied ever serving. Check out a clip of the interview, here.

[Jenne]

Huh.  Why deny it?

[hooplala]

Huh.  Why deny it?

Maybe because people already many enough cracks about her being manly?

[Jenne]

Huh.  Why deny it?

Maybe because people already many enough cracks about her being manly?

She was a TYPIST...   Talk about your quintessential girly-job from that era...

[hooplala]

Huh.  Why deny it?

Maybe because people already many enough cracks about her being manly?

She was a TYPIST...   Talk about your quintessential girly-job from that era...

A typist in the MARINES.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Why is it that every topic of conversation Mr. Language and I discussed Friday night is a thread on the board today? 

[Jenne]

Why is it that every topic of conversation Mr. Language and I discussed Friday night is a thread on the board today? 

THAT is odd, I agree.  I just found this while rooting at the bottom of the Apple Talk page...

[Jenne]

Huh.  Why deny it?

Maybe because people already many enough cracks about her being manly?

She was a TYPIST...   Talk about your quintessential girly-job from that era...

A typist in the MARINES.

Huh.  So...Typer Fidelis?

...I got nothin'...

[hooplala]

 

[Dysnomia]

Why is it that every topic of conversation Mr. Language and I discussed Friday night is a thread on the board today? 

Because (aside from my boy), he's the best boyfriend ever?

[AFK]

Huh.  Why deny it?

Maybe because people already many enough cracks about her being manly?

She was a TYPIST...   Talk about your quintessential girly-job from that era...

Yeah but she wouldn't think twice about popping a CAPS in your ass.

See, it would look just like this ------->  aSs

[The Good Reverend Roger]

There's no reason to deny it, unless it isn't true.

This sounds like the Mr Rogers/Captain Kangaroo Saipan story.

Has anyone hit Snopes on this?

[hooplala]

Haven't looked at Snopes yet, but I think the Smoking Gun is usually pretty reliable, isn't it?

Here is the article, which also includes footage from a 2001 interview where she denies it:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/bea-arthur-was-truck-driving-marine

[Suu]

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Why is it that every topic of conversation Mr. Language and I discussed Friday night is a thread on the board today? 

Because (aside from my boy), he's the best boyfriend ever?

This is true.