fstop61 Posted February 13, 2016 #1 Posted February 13, 2016 First of all, I realize the Charles Durning has been dead for over 3-years and bringing this up is intended as a topic of healthy discussion and not to demean a man who served his country at a time of war. Most of us have read or even commented on the service of the man whom we thought landed with the first wave on D-Day, survived hand-to-hand combat with a German soldier (whom he killed with a rock), along with surviving the Malmedy massacre, the award of the Silver, Bronze Stars, and 3-Purple Hearts. You be the judge on how the story became so fabricated http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/163542-charles-durning/&do=findComment&comment=1238431 http://www.airborneinnormandy.com/arlingtonproblem.htm http://www.military.com/off-duty/movies/2012/12/26/wwii-vet-and-actor-charles-durning-dies-in-nyc.html
Kadet Posted February 13, 2016 #2 Posted February 13, 2016 I will say the same thing I do to those who question odd combinations on named uniforms...what does the man's record say? That is all that matters in the end. The rambling narrative in your link isn't very helpful to be honest, and sounds like it is coming from a conspiracy theorist. I will also say that I have owned at least two Silver Star groups where I could find no GO documentation whatsoever...although I know for a fact based on items in the groups that the awards were legitimate. That said, it wouldn't be the first time a Hollywood publicist embellished the war record of a celebrity. Again, his actual record is all that matters...
1SG_1st_Cav Posted February 13, 2016 #3 Posted February 13, 2016 Durning was a great actor. What is the purpose of your discussion topic? He is dead but his legacy lives on. Let sleeping dogs lay silent! May he Rest in Peace!
hink441 Posted February 14, 2016 #5 Posted February 14, 2016 I think his tombstone should be accurate. I don't care if he is a famous actor or not. Apparently the first tombstone was in error and was corrected. Would be interesting to see his actual record to see if the second tombstone is really accurate. Chris
patches Posted February 14, 2016 #6 Posted February 14, 2016 Found this page, it does a great job in dissecting of Durning's file. http://www.web2carz.com/people/who-you-know/2097/charles-durnings-war-heroism-exaggeration-fabrication
fstop61 Posted February 15, 2016 Author #7 Posted February 15, 2016 Found this page, it does a great job in dissecting of Durning's file. http://www.web2carz.com/people/who-you-know/2097/charles-durnings-war-heroism-exaggeration-fabrication Patches, This is the story that first piqued my interest-thought I had posted the link--thanks!
BigJohn#3RD Posted February 15, 2016 #8 Posted February 15, 2016 Over the years I’ve heard many different versions of which units Mr Durning served with, Rangers storming Pointe du Hoc, 1st ID in the initial waves of D-Day, Silver Star Medal and now this thread. As many on this forum know the list of Silver Star Medal recipients is by no means complete from WW2 and probably never will be at least in my lifetime. As far as the "Silver Star” on his discharge instead of the SSM or Silver Star Medal, I’ve seen similar annotations with and without GO orders mentioned but there were other documents in the group that provided proof that the award was legitimate. As far as the being an AAA Gunner and having a CIB, I have a AAA gunners Purple Heart who was shanghaied into the 423rd Infantry Regiment was captured and mustered out of the service. His records indicate he AAA Service and POW status but make no mention of the CIB nor his service with the 423rd Inf. but on the 423rd website I found the man’s name and service number along with infantry company assignment on a list of men authorized to wear the Combat Infantry Badge. So even morning reports can be wrong as to a soldiers assignment especially during the during the "Battle of the Bulge” when many units did not keep up with morning reports or the records were lost for the units that were overrun or had to withdraw under pressure. Unlike the German army which sacrificed troops and ammo to get their records to and from the front the US back than was not so annal about records in combat. So who can know on that award or lack there of. The fact that the 2014 update had the unit of assignment as the 159th Regiment which one would assume is an Infantry unit could not have been as this unit was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division which was in combat in the Pacific Theater of Operation (PTO). So one has to call into question the website that cannot properly record the units of assignment. All who have seen my comments on Fake Hero's, even dead ones, know that I can be pretty hard nosed and unmoved about the feeling of loved-ones left behind. A man claiming the laurels the same of better men who died in the acts of gallantry where they received a similar award posthumously is at best a fraud... While there seem to be a large body of evidence suggesting that his service to this nation has been embellished it still remains a fact that he is a Purple Heart Recipient at a minimum which deserves our respect. As to the other awards CIB, Silver Star and Bronze Star for CIB, it is hard to say 100% one way or the other at this time so I will withhold any criticism of Mr Durning. We do know that he shed his blood on foreign soil, spent a long time in recovery and continued to seek assignment at or near the forward areas of combat. I’m sure that he could have sought a safer job such as entertaining troops or handing out condoms to the "rear read commando” REMFs to protect their “Guns” in and around Paris while they prepared to defend Ike from Otto Skorzeny’s Commandos sent to kidnap or assinate the head of SHAEF. Best to all,
atb Posted February 15, 2016 #9 Posted February 15, 2016 The 159th Infantry was relieved from its assignment to the 7th Infantry Division in August 1943. It departed NY Port of Embarkation 07 March 1945 and arrived in France on 18 March. Along with the 3rd Infantry, the 159th Infantry was attached to the 106th Infantry Division to replace the two regiments lost in the Ardennes. I have no clue on Mr. Durning's service career. "The fact that the 2014 update had the unit of assignment as the 159th Regiment which one would assume is an Infantry unit could not have been as this unit was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division which was in combat in the Pacific Theater of Operation (PTO). So one has to call into question the website that cannot properly record the units of assignment."
doyler Posted February 16, 2016 #10 Posted February 16, 2016 Maybe not related but here on a local level there was a veteran who I became very good friends with.He served in the First Special Service Force.Saw combat from the Aleutians to Italy,Assault on La Difensia,Southern France then Norway.He earned a SilveStar..... A Silver Campaign Star.There often is confusion between a Campaign Medal and Silver Star Medal.When he passed the family(wife and children)had a headstone commissioned that has the Silver Star Medal carved into the reverse.I had seen his discharge and may still have a copy.Was it the families lack of knowledge or some one at the funeral home and monument company that led them to believe he was the reciepiant of the Silver Star Medal? Either way his monument has the medal forever carved in the back of his head stone.I never said anything to the family as Im sure its not going to make a differance and they dont have a clue.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now