Ace of Spades HQ

December 26, 2012

Charles Durning, RIP
— Ace

But Durning lived a life especially worth noting:

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.
Â“Too many bad memories,Â” he told an interviewer in 1997. Â“I donÂ’t want you to see me crying.Â”

An old episode of Dinner for Five featured Durning (and Burt Reynolds, and Dom DeLuisie). Durning wouldn't talk about his WWII experience, but Reynolds did a little bit. Durning went to Normandy on the gliders, and overshot the beach, and had to fight his way back to the beach just to take part in the main battle. Starts at about 11:50, lasts until Reynolds finishes speaking.

Posted by: Ace at 12:07 PM | Comments (102)
Post contains 191 words, total size 1 kb.

1 It's a little-known fact that Brian Dennehy towed Charles Durning's glider.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 26, 2012 12:09 PM (QKKT0)

2 What a great man in all respects. May he RIP.

Posted by: Michael Babbitt at December 26, 2012 12:09 PM (p/jtE)

RIP

Posted by: garrett at December 26, 2012 12:10 PM (6OjR8)

4 RIP, sir.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Lord Commander of the Ampersand Army at December 26, 2012 12:10 PM (GBXon)

5 If this guy hasn't earned 63 mentions of me, then nobody has!

Posted by: King Baraka Obamamehameha at December 26, 2012 12:11 PM (FcR7P)

6 Brian Dennehy WAS Charles Durning's glider. FIFY

Posted by: dfbaskwill at December 26, 2012 12:11 PM (71LDo)

7 Is Al from Happy Days still alive?

Posted by: soothsayer at December 26, 2012 12:13 PM (Y/H0D)

8 A good patriot. A decent actor -- a part of the old school of decent actors like Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, and Lee Marvin (to name a few).

Posted by: Soona at December 26, 2012 12:13 PM (yCeIL)

9 "Is Al from Happy Days still alive?"

No, but I am.

Posted by: Abe Vigoda at December 26, 2012 12:14 PM (71LDo)

10 Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a malignant traitor.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) Channelling Breitbart at December 26, 2012 12:14 PM (/eBe8)

11 A fine actor and a good man. G-d bless you, Charles Durning. No one should ever have to go through what you did and at such a young age. RIP and thank you.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 26, 2012 12:14 PM (XkWWK)

12 But enough about Charles Durning.

Posted by: Barky O'Genius at December 26, 2012 12:15 PM (QKKT0)

13 I hear they call me "Concentraction Camp Erhardt!" What an honor!

Posted by: Colonel Erhardt at December 26, 2012 12:15 PM (e0xKF)

14 RIP

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) Channelling Breitbart at December 26, 2012 12:15 PM (/eBe8)

15 Did Durning survive the massacre at Malmedy?

Posted by: kallisto at December 26, 2012 12:17 PM (jm/9g)

Later he was bayoneted by a young German soldier whom he killed with a rock.

-------------------------------------------------------

I bet it was a high-capacity rock.

Posted by: David Gregory at December 26, 2012 12:18 PM (yCeIL)

17 May his family find strength and be comforted ...

Posted by: Adriane ... at December 26, 2012 12:19 PM (9Qc6B)

>>>Later he was bayoneted by a young German soldier whom he killed with a rock.

Rock beats everything.

Posted by: Mickey at December 26, 2012 12:20 PM (b23ex)

19 Makes the episode of NCIS where Durning was a Medal of Honer recipient even more poignant.

Posted by: bRight&Early at December 26, 2012 12:20 PM (1GRX7)

20 15 Did Durning survive the massacre at Malmedy? Posted by: kallisto at December 26, 2012 04:17 PM (jm/9g) From what I understand, he either witnessed it and was captured or was nearby when it happened. I don't think he was actually in it. Will have to double-check.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 26, 2012 12:20 PM (XkWWK)

21 15 Did Durning survive the massacre at Malmedy? Posted by: kallisto ______________________ Malmedy consisted of 11 separate mass shootings of POWs and civillians over a 6 day period. He was in one of them.

Posted by: red at December 26, 2012 12:21 PM (qBY6R)

22 Not that this is on the same level but the Thunderbirds creator just died too. (Sock link.)

Posted by: andycanuck at December 26, 2012 12:22 PM (jPVBi)

23 Gerry Anderson??

Posted by: soothsayer at December 26, 2012 12:23 PM (BUcLz)

24 Yes, soothsayer.

Posted by: andycanuck at December 26, 2012 12:24 PM (jPVBi)

25 From the NY Times. Evidently he was at Malmedy and escaped: "His combat experiences were harrowing. He was in the first wave of troops to land on Omaha Beach on D-Day and his unitÂ’s lone survivor of a machine-gun ambush. In Belgium he was stabbed in hand-to-hand combat with a German soldier, whom he bludgeoned to death with a rock. Fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, he and the rest of his company were captured and forced to march through a pine forest at Malmedy, the scene of an infamous massacre in which the Germans opened fire on almost 90 prisoners. Mr. Durning was among the few to escape. By the warÂ’s end he had been awarded a Silver Star for valor and three Purple Hearts, having suffered gunshot and shrapnel wounds as well. He spent months in hospitals and was treated for psychological trauma."

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 26, 2012 12:24 PM (XkWWK)

26 Yeah, I heard that about Gerry Anderson.

RIP Charles Durning. Always liked him as an actor.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at December 26, 2012 12:24 PM (P7hip)

RIP Brave Warrior.

Also, ban assault rocks!

Posted by: Count de Monet at December 26, 2012 12:25 PM (BAS5M)

28 Gerry Anderson and his wife Sylvia also created SPACE:1999 and Captain Scarlet.

Posted by: soothsayer at December 26, 2012 12:26 PM (LINcv)

29 And Mr Durning could dance too despite his old leg wound.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJG75FJkjr8

Posted by: andycanuck at December 26, 2012 12:28 PM (jPVBi)

Lee Marvin was at times a crazy and drunken, out of control lunatic.

But he was also a Marine at Peleliu who survived, so he does get a bit of a bye on that one. That was a hellish island battle.

Jimmy Stewart flew B-17's for the Eighth Air Force, and actually flew his missions and lived (I shit you not, he lived). The movie "It's a Wonderful Life" was the first film for a bunch of guys in Hollywood (like Ward Bond) that were actually veterans. They just wanted their old lives back.

Glenn Ford was another Hollywood guy that actually saw combat. Robert Mitchum was also another veteran of WWII (don't know if he saw combat) that served.

Posted by: Barack Hussein Obama, Master of Time and Space at December 26, 2012 12:28 PM (Md8Uo)

31 20...discount double check!

Posted by: Aaron Rogers at December 26, 2012 12:28 PM (6DDE+)

32 In a tangently related question, how many actors are veterans of post-WWII wars? You keep hearing about Jimmy Stewart et all who served in WWII, but I can't think of many who served in Korea or Vietnam, let alone Iraq or Afghanistan.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 26, 2012 12:30 PM (e0xKF)

33 I post this yesterday. Durning will be buried at Arlington. How many of today's Actors or Actresses would be eligible to be buried at Arlington? None that I can think of.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 26, 2012 12:31 PM (jE38p)

34 An incredible man, it's too bad no one learns this until now(including my 70s yo parents).

Posted by: JimboHoffa at December 26, 2012 12:32 PM (qEZxt)

35 33 I post this yesterday. Durning will be buried at Arlington. How many of today's Actors or Actresses would be eligible to be buried at Arlington? None that I can think of. --- I don't think most of those fuckers would be qualified to be buried in Arlington, VA, let alone the Arlington National Cemetery.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 26, 2012 12:32 PM (e0xKF)

36 but I can't think of many who served in Korea or Vietnam, let alone Iraq or Afghanistan.

Well, there were those guys in Act of Valor...

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) Channelling Breitbart at December 26, 2012 12:33 PM (/eBe8)

37 Makes the episode of NCIS where Durning was a Medal of Honer recipient even more poignant. Posted by: bRight&Early at December 26, 2012 04:20 PM (1GRX7) That's one of the greatest moments of television I have ever seen.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, aka Jack July author of Amy Lynn available on Amazon. at December 26, 2012 12:33 PM (3Y7RV)

38 Not that this is on the same level but the Thunderbirds creator just died too. (Sock link.)

Posted by: andycanuck at December 26, 2012 04:22 PM (jPVBi)

--------------------------------------------

That was some nasty wine. Cheap, though.

Posted by: Soona at December 26, 2012 12:33 PM (yCeIL)

39 RIP Mr.Durning,a hero and also a fine actor.

Posted by: steevy at December 26, 2012 12:34 PM (9XBK2)

40 That clip was produced by Peter Billingsly. Isn't he the kid from A Christmas Story?

Posted by: flashbazzbo, s.e. at December 26, 2012 12:35 PM (i0rVe)

41 I don't think most of those fuckers would be qualified to be buried in Arlington, VA, let alone the Arlington National Cemetery. Amen.

Posted by: rickb223 Let. It. Burn. at December 26, 2012 12:35 PM (GFM2b)

42 Makes the episode of NCIS where Durning was a Medal of Honer recipient even more poignant. Posted by: bRight&Early at December 26, 2012 04:20 PM (1GRX7) That's one of the greatest moments of television I have ever seen. Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, aka Jack July author of Amy Lynn available on Amazon. at December 26, 2012 04:33 PM (3Y7RV) That's my favorite NCIS episode

Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 26, 2012 12:35 PM (jE38p)

43 don't worry-any actor today would do the same. obviously, you can't be sure it would be for our side but they would do the same.

Posted by: ejo at December 26, 2012 12:35 PM (GXvSO)

44 RIP

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 26, 2012 12:35 PM (T0lrq)

45 RIP Gerry Anderson.I particularly like his UFO series(have the complete series on DVD).

Posted by: steevy at December 26, 2012 12:35 PM (9XBK2)

46 And Mr Durning could dance too despite his old leg wound. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJG75FJkjr8 Posted by: andycanuck at December 26, 2012 04:28 PM (jPVBi) You beat me to it.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, aka Jack July author of Amy Lynn available on Amazon. at December 26, 2012 12:35 PM (3Y7RV)

47 doesn't Kerry have 3 purple hearts and a silver star? Kind of cheapens it for everyone else.
Also, wasn't Oliver Stone in Viet Nam as a marine or something like that..?

Posted by: mallfly at December 26, 2012 12:37 PM (bJm7W)

Killing a person up close and personal with a rock has to bring back bad memories no matter how justified it is during time of war.

Actually I just saw a documentary on the Israelites and their battles to conquer Cannan. They had a ceremonial ritual of cleaning twice a week during this campaign. It is thought that the ritual was more to clean the post traumatic symptoms of killing people rather than just a religious ceremony.

Posted by: polynikes at December 26, 2012 12:37 PM (m2CN7)

49 That was some nasty wine. Cheap, though. THAT guy didn't die. He's pickled and propped up out back of the HQ.

Posted by: rickb223 Let. It. Burn. at December 26, 2012 12:37 PM (GFM2b)

50 Also, wasn't Oliver Stone in Viet Nam as a marine or something like that..? --- Stone was a volunteer in the regular army, IIRC. Pretty much, the Charlie Sheen role in Platoon was him, the college kid who flunks out and volunteers because "the poor kids shouldn't be the only ones going to war."

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 26, 2012 12:38 PM (e0xKF)

51 There were lots of combat vets on TV and in the movies who became actors after serving.James Arness saw lots of combat,John Russell was given a battlefield commission on Guadalcanal at 21 years of age.Many others I can't think of right now.

Posted by: steevy at December 26, 2012 12:39 PM (9XBK2)

52 There were lots of combat vets on TV and in the movies who became actors after serving.James Arness saw lots of combat,John Russell was given a battlefield commission on Guadalcanal at 21 years of age.Many others I can't think of right now. Posted by: steevy at December 26, 2012 04:39 PM (9XBK2) I meant those actors/actresses in the 20-40 year old range. Not the old timers who did serve

Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 26, 2012 12:40 PM (jE38p)

53 BTW welcome back ace!Hope you enjoyed your vacations and had a merry Christmas.

Posted by: steevy at December 26, 2012 12:40 PM (9XBK2)

54 There are a few surprises on this list, including Ice-T and Mel Brooks.

Posted by: bRight&Early at December 26, 2012 12:41 PM (1GRX7)

55 Actually I just saw a documentary on the Israelites and their battles to conquer Cannan. They had a ceremonialritual of cleaning twice a week during this campaign. It is thought that the ritual was more to clean the post traumatic symptoms of killing people rather than just a religious ceremony.

Posted by: polynikes at December 26, 2012 04:37 PM (m2CN7)

--------------------------------------------------

I think it was longer than that. It was usually practiced after they ransacked a city, killing everything and everyone within it.

A different era. I do feel these times do run in cycles. The last one being WWII.

Posted by: Soona at December 26, 2012 12:41 PM (yCeIL)

56 actors who served

http://www.imdb.com/list/umHEaHMHPVw/

Posted by: Jones in CO at December 26, 2012 12:42 PM (8sCoq)

57 I meant those actors/actresses in the 20-40 year old range. Not the old timers who did serve

Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 26, 2012 04:40 PM (jE38p)

There is the soap opera star who was also on Dancing With The Stars.

Posted by: polynikes at December 26, 2012 12:42 PM (m2CN7)

any actor today would do the same. obviously, you can't be sure it would be for our side but they would do the same.

heh

Posted by: Count de Monet at December 26, 2012 12:43 PM (BAS5M)

59 That's one of the greatest moments of television I have ever seen. Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, aka Jack July author of Amy Lynn available on Amazon. at December 26, 2012 04:33 PM (3Y7RV) agree, and thank you for having my back after i left the thread a couple of posts back. Had a weird guy from the power company want to check out my wires.. Instead He seemed to look at the backyard and over the fence at neighbors yards.

Posted by: ette at December 26, 2012 12:43 PM (nqBYe)

60 54 I knew Ice-T served in the Army,Jimmy Hendrix was a paratrooper!

Posted by: steevy at December 26, 2012 12:44 PM (9XBK2)

61 The lead guy from "Human Target" was an Army officer during the first Gulf War, IIRC.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 26, 2012 12:44 PM (6d5GW)

62 There is the soap opera star who was also on Dancing With The Stars. Posted by: polynikes at December 26, 2012 04:42 PM (m2CN7) Yep, I think his last name is Martinez

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, aka Jack July author of Amy Lynn available on Amazon. at December 26, 2012 12:44 PM (3Y7RV)

63 >>>Had a weird guy from the power company want to check out my wires

So that's what they're calling it these days.

Posted by: Vizzini [/i] at December 26, 2012 12:44 PM (O7Q1u)

64 I knew Ice-T served in the Army,Jimmy Hendrix was a paratrooper!

Posted by: steevy at December 26, 2012 04:44 PM (9XBK2)

------------------------------------------

Don't forget Elvis Presley. He was proud of his service too.

Posted by: Soona at December 26, 2012 12:45 PM (yCeIL)

65 54 There are a few surprises on this list, including Ice-T and Mel Brooks. --- The ones sticking out to me are Dennis "Sipowicz" Franz, Ice-T, and Mr. T, as those are all post-Korea. Most of the other ones are WWII with an occasional Korea vet like James Garner thrown in.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 26, 2012 12:46 PM (e0xKF)

66 agree, and thank you for having my back after i left the thread a couple of posts back. Had a weird guy from the power company want to check out my wires.. Instead He seemed to look at the backyard and over the fence at neighbors yards. Posted by: ette at December 26, 2012 04:43 PM (nqBYe) That's creepy, You keep your heater close, take a cell phone picture? Check ID's? In other words were you a good pain in the ass ron?

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, aka Jack July author of Amy Lynn available on Amazon. at December 26, 2012 12:46 PM (3Y7RV)

67 This far and no mention of Audie Murphy, sad people sad. John Wayne actively avoided service. Eddie Albert, Green Acres, helped design a bombsight. Hedy Lamarr - Avant garde composer George Antheil, a son of German immigrants and neighbor of Lamarr, had experimented with automated control of musical instruments, including his music for Ballet MÃ©canique, originally written for Fernand LÃ©ger's 1924 abstract film. This score involved multiple player pianos playing simultaneously. Lamarr took her idea to Antheil and together, Antheil and Lamarr submitted the idea of a secret communication system in June 1941. On August 11, 1942, US Patent 2,292,387 was granted to Antheil and "Hedy Kiesler Markey," Lamarr's married name at the time. This early version of frequency hopping used a piano roll to change between 88 frequencies and was intended to make radio-guided torpedoes harder for enemies to detect or jam. Although a presentation of the technique was soon made to the U.S. Navy, it met with opposition and was not adopted.[23] The idea was not implemented in the USA until 1962, when it was used by U.S. military ships during a blockade of Cuba after the patent had expired. Perhaps owing to this lag in development, the patent was little-known until 1997, when the Electronic Frontier Foundation gave Lamarr an award for this contribution.[6] It is reported that, in 1998, Ottawa wireless technology developer Wi-LAN, Inc. "acquired a 49 percent claim to the patent from Lamarr for an undisclosed amount of stock" (Eliza Schmidkunz, Inside GNSS),[24] although expired patents have no economic value. Antheil had died in 1959. Lamarr's and Antheil's frequency-hopping idea serves as a basis for modern spread-spectrum communication technology, such as Bluetooth, COFDM used in Wi-Fi network connections, and CDMA used in some cordless and wireless telephones.[25] Blackwell, Martin, and Vernam's 1920 patent Secrecy Communication System (1598673 ) seems to lay the communications groundwork for Kiesler and Antheil's patent, which employed the techniques in the autonomous control of torpedoes. Lamarr wanted to join the National Inventors Council, but was reportedly told by NIC member Charles F. Kettering and others that she could better help the war effort by using her celebrity status to sell War Bonds.

Posted by: Mike Hunt at December 26, 2012 12:47 PM (G6kli)

68 Wasn't Don Adams from Get Smart in combat in the Pacific during WWII?

Posted by: ejo at December 26, 2012 12:48 PM (GXvSO)

69 I knew Ice-T served in the Army,Jimmy Hendrix was a paratrooper! Posted by: steevy at December 26, 2012 04:44 PM (9XBK2) --- Props to Jimi for being a paratrooper. He loses several million points, however, for getting a discharge on moral grounds because of telling people "Excuse me while I kiss this guy."

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 26, 2012 12:48 PM (e0xKF)

70 How could he land at the beach AND land in a glider? WTF?

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at December 26, 2012 12:48 PM (f9c2L)

71 A different era. I do feel these times do run in cycles. The last one being WWII.

Posted by: Soona at December 26, 2012 04:41 PM (yCeIL)

I meant to differentiate between shooting people from afar or somewhat so and killing them up close and personal. I'm sure the image of the German soldiers bashed in head never left Durnings mind. It takes a strong man to lead a normal life after being a combat soldier. I salute them all. Its not the fear of dying that effects most but the killing.

Posted by: polynikes at December 26, 2012 12:49 PM (m2CN7)

72 Godspeed Mr. Durning, prayers for your family. No, I don't know of any of the current scumbag Hollywood types.

Posted by: Moki at December 26, 2012 12:49 PM (wi/sM)

73 I like Earnest Borgnine too. The movie Marty is one of my all time favorites.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, aka Jack July author of Amy Lynn available on Amazon. at December 26, 2012 12:50 PM (3Y7RV)

74 Charles Durning in Dog Day Afternoon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSc2-J9M8EA

Posted by: kbdabear at December 26, 2012 12:51 PM (wwsoB)

75 That's creepy, You keep your heater close, take a cell phone picture? Check ID's? In other words were you a good pain in the ass ron? Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, aka Jack July author of Amy Lynn available on Amazon. at December 26, 2012 04:46 PM (3Y7RV) yeah i don't know what it's about , an hour or so before that a man came in a construction vest (scrubbing looking guy) and wanted to paint our curb numbers, He acted weird, He askd if my dog was friendly, I said sometimes, I said i would paint my own curb numbers , thanks. (dog's a mastiff and just growled the whole time) so yeah i have the dog no heater, and a heavy ass candlestick . and mace.

Posted by: ette at December 26, 2012 12:51 PM (nqBYe)

Eddie Albert, Green Acres, helped design a bombsight

-----------------------------------

He was a landing craft driver in the first wave of the Battle of Tarawa. Made numerous trips during the heavy beach fighting to evacuate the wounded.

Posted by: Soona at December 26, 2012 12:52 PM (yCeIL)

77 Sonofagun. Looked at that IMDb list. The only M*A*S*H cast member to actually serve in Korea was the one whose character tried hardest to get out.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Lord Commander of the Ampersand Army at December 26, 2012 12:53 PM (GBXon)

78 ,Jimmy Hendrix was a paratrooper! Posted by: steevy at December 26, 2012 04:44 PM (9XBK2) --- Props to Jimi for being a paratrooper. He loses several million points, however, for getting a discharge on moral grounds because of telling people "Excuse me while I kiss this guy." Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 26, 2012 04:48 PM (e0xKF) I thought he broke his leg on got out on a medical?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 26, 2012 12:54 PM (jE38p)

79 so yeah i have the dog no heater, and a heavy ass candlestick . and mace. Posted by: ette at December 26, 2012 04:51 PM (nqBYe) I got a brandy new SIG .380 looking for a home. Although the big dog was a nice touch.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, aka Jack July author of Amy Lynn available on Amazon. at December 26, 2012 12:54 PM (3Y7RV)

80 Drew Carey was a Marine Corporal. Who knew?

Posted by: bRight&Early at December 26, 2012 12:56 PM (1GRX7)

81 Drew Carey was a Marine Corporal. Who knew? Posted by: bRight&Early at December 26, 2012 04:56 PM (1GRX7) The Haircut gave that away.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, aka Jack July author of Amy Lynn available on Amazon. at December 26, 2012 12:57 PM (3Y7RV)

82 Richard Kline, aka "Larry" on "Three's Company" was an Army LT in Vietnam

Posted by: Jones in CO at December 26, 2012 12:57 PM (8sCoq)

83 I thought he broke his leg on got out on a medical? --- He claimed that. The discharge papers linked at Wiki, though, claim that he was tossed as "unsuitable", with at least one listed problem being "apprehended masturbating in platoon area while supposed to be on detail."

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 26, 2012 12:57 PM (e0xKF)

84 I salute them all. Its not the fear of dying that effects most but the killing.

Posted by: polynikes at December 26, 2012 04:49 PM (m2CN7)

--------------------------------------------

Maybe seeing your friends and comrades being killed.

A Vietnam veteran once said in an interview that the only thing he felt when he killed the enemy was the kick of his M16. That about sums it up.

Posted by: Soona at December 26, 2012 12:58 PM (yCeIL)

85 oldsailor , i wish! just went through hanukah and christmas for my girls husbands famly, broke. But maybe in the near future , end of january maybe mid february if still available?, i am feeling more vulnerable lately. would have to find money.

Posted by: ette at December 26, 2012 12:58 PM (nqBYe)

86 Maybe seeing your friends and comrades being killed. A Vietnam veteran once said in an interview that the only thing he felt when he killed the enemy was the kick of his M16. That about sums it up. --- The way Vietnam was handled, with people on individual tours instead of whole units being there for an uncertain period of time, didn't exactly build cohesiveness. Most people were just out for themselves.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 26, 2012 12:59 PM (e0xKF)

87 In 1947, McQueen joined the United States Marine Corps and was quickly promoted to Private First Class and assigned to an armored unit.[6] Initially, he reverted to his prior rebelliousness, and as a result was demoted to private seven times. He went AWOL (absent without leave) by failing to return after a weekend pass had expired. He instead stayed away with a girlfriend for two weeks, until the shore patrol caught him. He resisted arrest and as a result spent 41 days in the brig.[6]

After this, McQueen resolved to focus his energies on self-improvement and embraced the Marines' discipline. He saved the lives of five other Marines during an Arctic exercise, pulling them from a tank before it broke through ice into the sea.[6] He was also assigned to an honor guard responsible for guarding then-U.S. President Harry Truman's yacht.[6] McQueen served until 1950 when he was honorably discharged.

41 days in the brig...."COOLER!"

Posted by: Jones in CO at December 26, 2012 01:00 PM (8sCoq)

88 Tried to watch the clip, but, I just can't bear Favreau and Charles Nelson Reilly was so old and frail...

Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Wily Wrepublican Wench at December 26, 2012 01:00 PM (kXoT0)

89 new thread up.

Posted by: ette at December 26, 2012 01:01 PM (nqBYe)

90 oldsailor , i wish! just went through hanukah and christmas for my girls husbands famly, broke. But maybe in the near future , end of january maybe mid february if still available?, i am feeling more vulnerable lately. would have to find money. Posted by: ette at December 26, 2012 04:58 PM (nqBYe) My Mom has a Taurus 9mm, amongst other things I might could get her to donate, I could prolly get that to you cheap if you really think you could have troubles.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, aka Jack July author of Amy Lynn available on Amazon. at December 26, 2012 01:01 PM (3Y7RV)

91 Had the pleasure 27 years ago of spending quality time with Mr. Durning at a bar in Manhattan. Wonderful, interesting, real man. Guys like that make all of us better just because they are breathing....that's quite an accomplishment. RIP, Mr. Durning

Posted by: MoeRon at December 26, 2012 01:03 PM (yWDpP)

92 No one has mention Elvis served willingly at the height of his career.

Posted by: polynikes at December 26, 2012 01:04 PM (m2CN7)

93 Oldsailor, very nice offerings, I will let you know hoepfully sooner rather than later. in the meantime i do have the dog, two daughters husband within 5 minutes away adn a mean swinging arm!

Posted by: ette at December 26, 2012 01:10 PM (nqBYe)

94 well as long as they aren't wokring. sigh.

Posted by: ette at December 26, 2012 01:11 PM (nqBYe)

95 anyway, up to new thread.

Posted by: ette at December 26, 2012 01:11 PM (nqBYe)

96 77. Wayne Rogers was on the list. Navy. mid 50's.

Posted by: olddog at December 26, 2012 01:11 PM (MuE6W)

97 The discharge papers linked at Wiki, though, claim that he was tossed as "unsuitable", with at least one listed problem being "apprehended masturbating in platoon area while supposed to be on detail."

In other words, Hendrix was an AoSHQ moron, albeit a bit early.

Posted by: OregonMuse at December 26, 2012 01:53 PM (9GaPd)

One of the best episodes for me on "Rescue Me" was when O'Leary took Durning (his dad) to a minor league baseball game. They were sitting together and the rest of the gang had to sit in different seats. Towards the end of the episode, Durning's character died doing what he loved, watching the game....He also played with Burt Reynolds in the sitcom, "Evening Shade"

Posted by: concrete girl at December 26, 2012 02:19 PM (y2Ojs)

99 Larry David of all people defended Bush's service in the Natl Guard. He also served in the Natl Guard and resented when people claimed that it was easy.

Posted by: red at December 26, 2012 02:52 PM (qBY6R)

100

Posted by: Barack Hussein Obama, Master of Time and Space at December 26, 2012 04:28 PM (Md8Uo)

One minor point, IIRC Jimmy Stewart flew B-24's.

Posted by: Bill R. at December 26, 2012 02:53 PM (QnRSM)

101 " ... Makes the episode of NCIS where Durning was a Medal of Honer recipient even more poignant...."

Great episode. I cried watching the scene where Durning's character flashed his Medal of Honer and the two MPs that came to arrest him snapped to attention and saluted.

Posted by: ShopInternetDeals at December 26, 2012 03:10 PM (9H0mz)

102 I watch NCIS sometimes to look for mistakes (22 years Navy) but I don't have a whole lot of respect for some of the libs on NCIS. But, the Durning/MOH episode was a winner.

Posted by: EROWMER at December 26, 2012 04:30 PM (kxlCQ)

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