Children of literary icons and Hollywood stars who spent time in Vietnam

Many children of famous writers, actors, and celebrities have led interesting lives while others have lived a quiet life outside of the media.

These sons of successful American icons such as John Steinbeck, Gregory Peck, and Errol Flynn chose to go into the heart of danger with the Vietnam War. Some served in the military while another was a photo journalist. Nonetheless, they led impactful lives outside of the norm for people who knew the comforts of stardom, wealth, and success.

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Here is a list of children literary icons and Hollywood stars who spent time in Vietnam.

1. John Steinbeck IV

John Steinbeck IV was the second child of Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck. Steinbeck IV was drafted into the United States Army in 1965 and served in Vietnam. His service included working as a journalist for Armed Forces Radio and TV and as a war correspondent for the Defense Department. Steinbeck IV returned to Vietnam after his service with Steve Flynn, Errol Flynn’s son, as a photojournalist.

During this period, Steinbeck and Flynn learned more about the in-depth story of the My Lai Massacre and the Con Son Island prison “tiger cages.” He later wrote about his experiences in Vietnam in his memoir, “In Touch,” which further goes into his experiences with the Vietnamese and GIs during the war.

2. Steve Peck

Gregory Peck's son — Before serving as CEO of U.S. VETS (left), Steve Peck deployed during the Vietnam War. (Photos courtesy of Steve Peck)

Steve Peck is the former CEO of U.S. VETS—a nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless veterans through services and housing. His father, Gregory Peck, starred in such films as “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Roman Holiday,” “The Omen,” and “Cape Fear.” Steve Peck attended Northwestern University in the 1960s and joined the U.S. Marine Corps as an officer after graduating. He was designated an artillery officer. Peck was a forward observer with India Company, 3/7 and completed one tour in Vietnam.

Peck returned home stateside and became a documentary filmmaker. He filmed one of his documentaries, “Heart of a Warrior” in 1989, in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Vietnam, and the United States. It even featured Mujahideen from Afghanistan.

In 1993, he joined the Department of Veterans Affairs as an outreach worker to help homeless veterans. From there, he joined U.S. VETS in 1996 and led the 500-employee organization until the end of 2024.

3. Thomas Steinbeck

Thomas Steinbeck is the other son of the great John Steinbeck; he served in the Vietnam War and was a writer. His service was with the U.S. Army, first as a helicopter door gunner and then later with the Armed Forces Radio and Television branch in Vietnam. He was a combat photographer and then completed his tour as a television production specialist.

Post-service, and like his brother John Steinbeck IV, he returned to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia as a journalist and photographer. Upon returning home, he published numerous works of fiction such as short stories and novels. He also wrote screenplays for a few of his father’s books.

4. Sean Flynn

Sean Flynn was the only son of famous actor Errol Flynn. He worked as an actor from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s until he became a freelance photojournalist for Time magazine. Although not a service member, he worked specifically with U.S. Army Special Forces during the Vietnam War as a photojournalist. Flynn also worked with Nung mercenaries and was attacked by the Viet Cong while on a patrol with the Green Berets.

He was handed an M-16 and helped the group fight their way out of the situation. Flynn also made a parachute jump with the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division in December 1966 in Vietnam. He covered the Arab-Israeli war of 1967.

Flynn even inspired Dennis Hopper’s film portrayal of a photojournalist character in “Apocalypse Now.” Flynn disappeared while on assignment with fellow journalist Dana Stone in Cambodia on April 6, 1970.