Posted on 07/04/2018 11:57:37 AM PDT by eastforker
After graduating from high school, Rickles enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served for two years during World War II on the USS Cyrene as a seaman first class. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
His ship departed Norfolk, Virginia 10 November 1944 transited the Panama Canal and arrived at Manus Province, in Papua New Guinea on 13 December to escort two squadrons of motor torpedo boats to Hollandia, New Guinea. She then sailed on convoy duty to Leyte Gulf, Phillipines, arriving 1 January 1945.
Cyrene then served as tender for PT Boasts, and on 17 January 1945 became flagship for Commander, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons, 7th Fleet. After the war ended, she sailed from Samar PI on 21 December 1945 and arrived at San Francisco on 7 January 1946, reporting to the 12th Naval District for repair work in decommissioning small craft. Cyrene was decommissioned 2 July 1946 and delivered to the War Shipping Administration for disposal the same day.
He has said of one deployment, "It was so hot and humid, the crew rotted.
(Excerpt) Read more at navy.togetherweserved.com ...
Nothing but love for Donnie - here is a sample of his humor... (4:52)
Is that what they call dry humor?
oops. Tonight Show - cracking up Johnny & Sinatra.
He once addressed Sinatra from the stage “Frank, make yourself at home ... hit somebody.” He regularly cracked Sinatra up.
Wish he was around and tore a new one for these filthy democrats
I would love to hear what he had to say about New Guinea. My father served there for three years. Cannibals, Headhunters, 20 foot long snakes, jungle diseases, rain every other day with 100+ degree temperatures turning the ground into hot mud.
We own our lives to the men who endured this for our freedom. They cannot be praised too highly.
He has said of one deployment, “It was so hot and humid, the crew rotted.
I would love to hear what he had to say about New Guinea. My father served there for three years. Cannibals, Headhunters, 20 foot long snakes, jungle diseases, rain every other day with 100+ degree temperatures turning the ground into hot mud.
><
Your Dad and the others went through as bad a hell that there was in WW II. The Japs stacked up rotting bodies and used them for barricades. Our troops had to deal with that kind of situation. It was as horrible as it gets.
He also served as CPO Sharkey
When Rickles was dating his future wife, Sinatra was at another table in the restaurant. Story was he went to Sinatra’s table and asked him to stop by so he could impress his date. Sinatra came by later and Rickles admonished him for bothering them while they were eating.
Dad brought hundreds of pictures back which we kids were too stupid to save. One showed pits filled to the top with human bones.
The stench in the pacific battles was overwhelming no wonder many of the men started smoking just to survive it.
He was great in “Casino” and “Kelly’s Heroes”
Horrible things were seen by our Dads. My Dad was in China-Burma-India theater of war.
I also lost some very neat pictures our Dad had from the war.
The Australians paid a package of cigarettes for each Japanese head the islanders would bring them.
Artillery or mortars would hit rotting dead bodies and pieces and maggots went everywhere and covered the troops.
Ah Don Rickles...The godfather of trolls.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.