FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Hollywood Part 2 ~ June 10, 2013

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served
in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States
Armed Forces Today!

---

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Hollywood Part 2
 

           

Back when being a "Hollywood Legend" didn't necessarily mean you were an anti-American mouthpiece, there were some men who were real men and served their country.  I wish it was still that way!  These heroes might surprise you - they did me!  Thank mountainlion for alerting me to these!

Charles Durning

Before The Sting and Tootsie, Charles Durning had a military career worth knowing about.

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.

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 television 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. 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.

Durning was wounded by a German “S” Mine on June 15, 1944 at La Mare des Mares, Normandy. He was transported to the 24th Evacuation Hospital and by June 17 he was in England at the 217th General Hospital. He was severely wounded by shrapnel in the left and right thighs, the right hand, the frontal head region, 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. Subsequently, Durning was at one point captured by the Germans and reportedly narrowly escaped a massacre of prisoners. (Whether this was the famed Malmedy massacre is a matter of dispute, since no official record of Durning's name associated with the massacre has been found, and Durning himself did not publicly claim to have been there.)

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

Durning was known for participating in various functions to honor American veterans. He was the chairman one year of the U.S. National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans. He was an honored guest speaker at the National Memorial Day Concert for many years, televised by PBS every year on the Sunday evening of Memorial Day weekend.

For his valor and the wounds he received during the war, Durning was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three Purple Heart medals. Additional awards include the World War II Victory Medal.

In April 2008, Durning received the National Order of the Legion of Honor from the French consul in Los Angeles, awarded to those who served with distinction in France. During the ceremony, Durning spoke about his wartime experiences.

On May 26, 2013, Durning was paid a special tribute at the National Memorial Day Concert at which Taps was sounded in his honor. The tribute included clips of some of his appearances at previous concerts at which he talked about his war experiences and of him embracing fellow veterans.

 

 

Charles Bronson

Before The Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape, Charles Bronson was in the Army Air Force.

In 1943, Bronson enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces and served as an aerial gunner in the 760th Flexible Gunnery Training Squadron, and in 1945 as a B-29 Superfortress crewman with the 39th Bombardment Group based on Guam. He was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received during his service.

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

((((HUGS))))

[gorush]

I missed part one...was Eddie Albert mentioned?

[left that other site]

Those were the days when most of Hollywood still loved America.

Although, even then, Hollywood had its share of commies. Even way back then.

I’ll never understand how some people who had become so BLESSED by Liberty and freedom to not only pursue their art, but make lots of money doing what they love, could be so against the system that gave them that opportunity.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please note: The author of the Hall of Heroes is StarCMC.

Please thank StarCMC for today’s thread.

~ Hall of Heroes: Hollywood Part 2 ~

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies’ military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREADS

CLICK FOR Current local times around the world

CLICK FOR local times in Seoul, Baghdad, Kabul,
New York, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Anchorage

To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.
To our military readers, we remain steadfast
in keeping the Canteen doors open.

The FR Canteen is Free Republic's longest running daily thread
specifically designed to provide entertainment and moral support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.

We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.

NOTE: CANTEEN MUSIC
Posted daily and on the Music Thread
for the enjoyment of our troops and visitors.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hollywood Part 1 was James Garner and Ed McMahon

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3026502/posts

I will pass on, to StarCMC, Eddie Albert.

Enjoy.

[HiJinx]

Great series, ladies.
VFW Magazine this month featured many famous veterans of the Korean War.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[gorush]

I believe he piloted landing craft onto Iwo Jima.

[mountainlion]

So many different kinds of people did their duty and went back home to their life and said so little. I think there are still many out there in all walks of life ready to serve this great country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...did you and Linda enjoy your weekend?

Did the bad weather pass?

[mountainlion]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...did you and Linda enjoy your weekend?

Nice weather here. I don’t know anyone named Linda though.

[Publius]

Charles Durning does "Sidestep" on the Dolly Parton Show

[Kathy in Alaska]

I’ll never understand how some people who had become so BLESSED by Liberty and freedom to not only pursue their art, but make lots of money doing what they love, could be so against the system that gave them that opportunity.

Hear! Hear! ML....something I, too, cannot comprehend. It defies logic.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Kathy and Star!

***HUGS***



Thanks very much – coming aboard! Rendering Hand Salutes to our National Colors and to the Officer of the Deck!

And thanks very much for tonight’s Hall of Heroes thread! Charles Durning and Charles Bronson are most deserving of admission to our Hall of Heroes!

"Riamh nár dhruid ó sbairn lann!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, HJ...lots of heroes, all our military men and women.

Our thanks to you as well for your service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

And in first....ML grabs the gold!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And in second....gorush snags the silver!!

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Night Owl! ((HUGS))

Thanks for tonight's thread. I'll be off in a few minutes to call back east.....that is if anyone picks up the phone, given the news these days.

All's going well with my little family.

[SandRat]

When hollywood had patriots.