Editing Lew Ayres (section)

===World War II conscientious objector and medic===
In March 1942, Ayres was identified as a 4E [[conscientious objector]] and sent to a CO camp. As expected, the announcement that a [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] actor objected to the war was a major source of public outcry and debate.<ref name=Altars>{{cite news| last=Broeske| first=Pat H.| date=April 6, 1991| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-06-ca-1733-story.html| title=Ayres Backs His Project Religiously: Film: Actor best known for 'Dr. Kildare' says his documentary, 'Altars of the World,' represents the bigger part of his life today.| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| access-date=October 18, 2020}}</ref>

Within a month it was determined that he had initially requested to be A-O-1, so that he could serve as a non-combat [[Combat medic|medic]]. However, the military's policy that servicemen cannot request, or be guaranteed, where they will serve, forced him to request a 4E status. The U.S. military confirmed that they would place him as a medic and in April 1942, his status was changed. He enlisted in the [[United States Army]] on May 18, 1942.<ref>U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938–1946.</ref>

He served as a [[first aid]] instructor in the United States Army before requesting a drop in rank in order to serve as a medic and chaplain's assistant in the Pacific. He was one of 16 medics who arrived under fire during the [[invasion of Leyte]] to set up evacuation hospitals, and there he provided care to soldiers and civilians in the [[Philippines]] and [[New Guinea]]. He donated all the money he had earned as a serviceman to the [[American Red Cross]].<ref name="Conscientious Objector">{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vce1qSA6O60C&pg=PA118| title=Lew Ayres: Hollywood's Conscientious Objector| publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]]| last=Coffin| first=Lesley L.| year=2012| page=121| isbn=978-1617036378}}</ref>

Serving for three and a half years in the [[Medical Corps]], he was awarded three [[battle star]]s. After the war, he resumed his career and made scores of movies, but never reached the peak of his early Hollywood stardom.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/01/arts/lew-ayres-actor-dies-at-88-conscience-bound-his-career.html| title=Lew Ayres, Actor, Dies at 88; Conscience Bound His Career| newspaper=The New York Times| date=January 1, 1997| page=47| access-date=October 18, 2020}}</ref>