▁one ▁of ▁rare ▁courage ▁and ▁dedic ation ▁when ▁at ▁the ▁height ▁of ▁her ▁success ▁she ▁gave ▁up ▁her ▁acting ▁career ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁to ▁work ▁in ▁the ▁line ▁of ▁fire ▁on ▁tro op ▁trains ▁for ▁the ▁Red ▁Cross ▁in ▁Italy ▁after ▁her ▁sister ▁was ▁killed ▁by ▁a ▁German ▁air ▁ra id ▁– ▁for ▁which ▁she ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁American ▁Medal ▁of ▁Fre edom . ▁She ▁was ▁also ▁awarded ▁the ▁Leg ion ▁of ▁Hon our ▁by ▁France ▁for ▁her ▁t ire less ▁work ▁in ▁fost ering ▁relations ▁post war ▁am ity ▁between ▁France ▁and ▁the ▁United ▁States . ▁ ▁Personal ▁life ▁ ▁She ▁divor ced ▁her ▁first ▁husband ▁Colonel ▁Philip ▁Regin ald ▁Ast ley ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 9 . ▁He ▁was ▁an ▁estate ▁agent , ▁big - game ▁h unter ▁and ▁soldier . ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁she ▁star red ▁opposite ▁Ster ling ▁Hay den ▁in ▁Virginia . ▁They ▁married ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁and ▁divor ced ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 6 . ▁ ▁After ▁her ▁only ▁sister ▁Mar guer ite ▁was ▁killed ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II ' s ▁London ▁Bl itz , ▁Car roll ▁made ▁a ▁radical ▁shift ▁from ▁acting ▁to ▁working ▁in ▁field ▁hosp it als ▁as ▁a ▁Red ▁Cross ▁nur se . ▁Having ▁become ▁a ▁natural ised ▁US ▁citiz en ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁she ▁served ▁at ▁the ▁American ▁Army ▁Air ▁Force ' s ▁ 6 1 st ▁Station ▁Hospital ▁in ▁F og gia , ▁Italy ▁in