Charles Durning

[rrobertscv]

 

http://en.wikipedia....Charles_Durning

[Bluehawk]

Remarkable service and career.

[Sabrejet]

R.I.P Soldier!

[LtRGFRANK]

One of my favorite actors, RIP

[ww1collector]

Heroes among us. RIP

[jgawne]

Guv'ner Pappy O'Daniel... loved that guy. However what's sad is his public record (at least) of service is really confusing. I wish someone would track it all down... and realize that you don;t have to have been on Omaha Beach to have done your duty.

 

from his Hollywood walk of fame write up:

 

"During the war, Durning was seriously wounded as a member of the first wave of soldiers to land on Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. He was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge and was one of a few survivors of the attack on American POWs at Malmedy, Belgium. Durning was honored with three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star."

 

 

 

from wikkipedia:

 

" Durning served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Drafted at age 21, he was first assigned as a rifleman with the 398th Infantry Regiment, and later served overseas with the 3rd Army Support troops and the 386th Anti-aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion. For his valor and the wounds he received during the war, Durning was awarded the Silver Star and three Purple Heart medals.^[6]

 

Durning participated in the Normandy Invasion of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and was among the first troops to land at Omaha Beach. In Episode S03E09 of the program Dinner for Five, which also included Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise and Charles Nelson Reilly), Reynolds spoke about Durning's service career for him, as Durning did not like to talk about it much. Reynolds revealed that Durning was in a group of gliders who overshot their landing zone and that he had to fight alone all the way back to the beach. Reynolds also stated that his own father was there fighting about 15 yards away and that Durning was probably the most decorated veteran (then) still alive from World War II.^[7] Some sources state that he was with the 1st Infantry Division at the time, but it is unclear if he served as a rifleman or as a member of one of the division's artillery battalions.^{[citation needed]}

 

Durning was wounded by a German “S” Mine on June 15, 1944 at Les Mare des Mares, France. He was transported to the 24th Evacuation Hospital. By June 17 he was back in England at the 217th General Hospital. Although severely wounded by shrapnel in the left and right thighs, the right hand, the frontal region of the head, and the anterior left chest wall, Durning recovered quickly and was determined to be fit for duty on December 6, 1944. He arrived back at the front in time to take part in the Battle of the Bulge, the German counter-offensive through the Ardennes Forest of Belgium and Luxembourg in December 1944.^[8][9]

 

After being wounded again, this time in the chest, Durning was returned to the United States. He remained in Army hospitals to receive treatment for wounds until being discharged with the rank of Private First Class on January 30, 1946.

[bobgee]

What a guy! R.I.P. Hero! Bobgee

[hawkdriver]

Here is the Yahoo versions of his history, but no matter which you accept, he deserves respect. Sorry to loose a good man, but it's time for him to rest.

 

 

Yahoo News:

The younger Durning himself would barely survive World War II.

He was among the first wave of U.S. soldiers to land at Normandy during the D-Day invasion and the only member of his Army unit to survive. He killed several Germans and was wounded in the leg. Later he was bayoneted by a young German soldier whom he killed with a rock. He was captured in the Battle of the Bulge and survived a massacre of prisoners.

In later years, he refused to discuss the military service for which he was awarded the Silver Star and three Purple Hearts.

"Too many bad memories," he told an interviewer in 1997. "I don't want you to see me crying."

Tragedy also stalked other members of his family. Durning was 12 when his father died, and five of his sisters lost their lives to smallpox and scarlet fever.

A high school counselor told him he had no talent for art, languages or math and should learn office skills. But after seeing "King Kong" and some of James Cagney's films, Durning knew what he wanted to do.

Leaving home at 16, he worked in a munitions factory, on a slag heap and in a barbed-wire factory.

[Bluehawk]

I believe this might be he in uniform, but cannot determine the photo source right now:

[hawkdriver]

They just showed this same picture of him on the evening news. The news confirmed the bayonet incident.

[aerialbridge]

RIP to Mr. Durning who passed away on Christmas Eve 2012 at 89. In his many roles, he played Santa Claus in a movie 16 years ago. The historical record of whether he was one of the survivors of the Malmedy massacre appears inconclusive at best. But there's no doubt the man fought from D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge and shed blood for freedom. Forever on patrol. At ease, PFC Durning.

 

http://forums.thecmp...?t=61182&page=2

[vostoktrading]

I read in one of the obits that his dad was a vet from WW1, lost a leg and was gassed.

Rest in Peace.

[m1ashooter]

I loved him when he played our govenor in the Best Little Whore House In Texas.

[history-buff1944]

He was a great Actor. I met him at the World Premier of: The Final Countdown--which was held in Kingsville, Texas and was held BEFORE the premier in New York. Also present were: Kirk DOuglas, James Farentino and Soon Tek Oh (the Japanese Fighter Pilot they captured) I was standing near the entrance where they walked through and Kirk Douglas was only about 3 feet from where I stood.

 

Rest in Peace Charles and glad you survived the Malmedy Massacre as well as the landings at Normandy.