I don’t think that the whole USMC made 21 amphibious assaults in WWII. Unless you count moving island to island within any given atoll in the Pacific. (example: Midway island atoll is composed of Sand and Eastern islands) Not to mention that of the two Marine Divisions involved at Saipan, each was making their respective third (2nd Marine Division) and second (4th Marine Division) amphibious assaults at Saipan.
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That big number should have given me pause for thought, I must have misquoted a misprint, on further checking that should be “2”…
Marvin was involved in the landings on Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, on 1 February 1944 (his Bn. was in the initial assault) and Saipan on the 15 June 1944, his Regt. was initially in reserve but went into action on the afternoon of the first day, with Marvin receiving his wounds on the 18th.
Regards,
M
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I looked up Marvin’s Wiki page and saw the 21 number quoted there. Trust but verify 
On the other hand, he saw enough combat in those two ops to shame most folks today, let alone his Hollywood cohorts, aside from a few souls.
Sam Fuller made three amphibious assaults, all depicted in the movie: North Africa, Sicily, and Normandy. I think that the two understood each other while making the film. Yeah, it’s comparatively low budget, and lacks fancy “accurate” hardware that would come along in later films… but I always felt the movie tells what it’s like to be in a rifle squad. At least to this former rifleman.
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Probably more than a few back then… As Richard Todd observed (I think about filming The Dambusters) in those days many of his fellow actors had served in some capacity and “knew how to give orders, and more importantly, take them”. In the movie The Longest Day Todd portrayed Major John Howard who led the Glider Assault on the Caen canal and Orne river bridges, Todd himself having been one of the members of the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion which dropped in to reinforce the glider force a little later. He was not exceptional in this, for example of the main cast of the Post-War radio programme The Goon Show comprised Harry Secombe (despite being myopic he bluffed his way into the Territorials before hostilities, becoming a Lance Bombardier in No.132 Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery serving in the North African Campaign, Sicily, and Italy), Spike Milligan (a Gunner in D Battery (later 19 Battery), 56th Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery, and wounded at Monte Cassino), Michael Bentine (RAF; although he passed flying training his eyesight was ruined in an inoculation accident which left him in a coma for six weeks and as he was no longer physically qualified for flying, he was transferred to RAF Intelligence and seconded to MI9), and Peter Sellars (RAF, 1943-46, medically restricted to ground staff). Of Marvin’s Hollywood contemporaries, off the top of my head I can recall these as having seen action: Audie Murphy (obviously!) James Stewart (USAAF, USAF), Clark Gable (USAAF) Charlton Heston (USAAF), Rod Steiger (USN), Kirk Douglas (USN), Tony Curtis (USN), Henry Fonda (USN) and Mel Brooks (US Army). From those currently active I can only think of Dale Dye (a character based on him was played by another actor in Full Metal Jacket) and Adam Driver.
Regards,
M
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Rob Riggle And Drew Carey both Marines.
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Eddie Albert (Green Acres guy to us old farts) WWII USN landing craft driver (sorry don’t know Navy term) Tarawa, Bronze Star “V” device.
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Interesting how there are almost no younger actors/ celebrities in the service in the last several years. Adam Driver being the exception.
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The industry has felt a certain about the country or at least as reported such. That bleeds over to service of the country and how they feel about making that choice. If I was a former service member trying to make it was an actor early in my career I probably wouldn’t mention it till I had established myself and even than the speed at which you can be cancelled I might not ever.
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I think the word you’re looking for is “Coxswain”.
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Remember “Shaggy”? The rapper, not the cartoon kid from Scooby-Doo. He was an 0811 (Field Artillery Crewman) in the Marines and served during Desert Storm.
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“Coxswain”…Thank you, you learn something new every day. 
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A bit of looking around threw up the following:
Tyrone Power - already an excellent pilot, he joined the USMC and although deemed to old to fly in combat he became a transport pilot, flying from Kwajalein Atoll into Iwo Jima and Okinawa during the battles there.
Charles Bronson - B-29 gunner with the 61st Bombardment Squadron Flying out of Guam against the Japanese Home Islands. Completed 25 missions and awarded a Purple Heart.
Charles Durning - The face will be familiar if not the name. Served in Europe from Normandy to VE day, in combat except for about six months recovering from wounds. Discharged as a private first class with a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts.
Sabu Dastagir - USAAF, air gunner with the 370th Bombardment Squadron flying in B-24 Liberators.
Regards,
M
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Adam Driver USMC infantry Star wars actor
Michael Conner Humphreys Us Army Infantry Iraq Young Forrest Gump Actor
Ernest Borgnine Gunners mate USN ww2 10 plus years service Actor
Charlton Heston US Army Air Corps ww2 Alaska and Aleutian campaign Actor
Michael Caine British Army Royal Fusilier’s regiment Germany and Korea
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Donald Pleasance, wireless operator RAF, shot down August '44 and spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft 1… used that life experience in his role in The Great Escape
James Garner, combat infantryman in Korea
Aldo Ray, UDT in late WWII
Steve Kanaly (who you might ask? Cast Jerome USMC in The Wind and the Lion), RTO with 1st Air Cav in Vietnam
Dennis Franz, (NYPD Blue Det. Sypowicz), served in the 101st & 82nd in Vietnam
Wes Studi, 9th ID in Vietnam
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Kris Kristopherson (Convoy, Payback) - US Army, Ranger, Helicopter pilot, served in the 8th Infantry Division. Taught ENglish Literature at USMA West Point.
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He was also a singer and part of Highwayman.
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I think he was mostly known as both a country singer (as a Highwayman, alongside Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash), and as an actor and less known for his military service. But he was a badass in my humble opinion.
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Dunno if he was mentioned above but Johnny Cash copied dits (Morse code) for the USAF starting in 1950. I did the same job for the US Army a few decades later.
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