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Lewis Ayres the leading man in ALLS QUIET IN THE

World War II controversy[edit] In March 1942, Ayres was identified as a 4E conscientious objector and sent to a CO camp. As expected, the announcement that a Hollywood actor objected to the war was a major source of public outcry and debate.[5] 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 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 served as a First Aid instructor in the military 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 during the invasion of Leyte to set up evacuation hospitals under fire, 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.[6] Serving for three and a half years in the Medical Corps, he won three battle stars. After the war, he resumed his career and made scores of movies, but never reached the peak of his early Hollywood stardom.[7]