 Personnel assigned to the FMPU included some of the most well known film professionals of the day , as well as filmmakers who would have great success after the war . Actors such as Clark Gable , William Holden and Alan Ladd , and directors including Richard Bare and John Sturges served with the unit . Future president Ronald Reagan , who transferred from the cavalry reserve , was a captain in the unit . He was the personnel officer and was responsible for maintaining personnel files and orienting new recruits to the operational aspects of Fort Roach . Later he was appointed adjutant . Like the other notable actors Reagan appeared in the films produced by the unit , but to avoid distracting the audience they were eventually relegated to narrating the films . 
