Charles Durning, actor and WW2 veteran has died.

aristotle · Dec 25, 2012

This guy must have lived an amazing life. I have seen Charles Durning in movies and on television since my childhood. I had no idea he was a decorated veteran of WW2. As mentioned before, this generation is almost all gone. How many well known entertainers who served in WW2 still remain?

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=781919

layoutshooter · Dec 25, 2012

The story of his life is that of a movie script, only real. He LIVED!

RLENT · Dec 25, 2012

Actor Jack Klugman too has apparently passed on ...

LDB · Dec 25, 2012

Charles Durning played a Medal of Honor recipient on an episode of NCIS. One of my favorite episodes.

layoutshooter · Dec 25, 2012

LDB said:
Charles Durning played a Medal of Honor recipient on an episode of NCIS. One of my favorite episodes.

My favorite episode on TV, ever.

Ragman · Dec 26, 2012

layoutshooter said:
The story of his life is that of a movie script, only real. He LIVED!

RLENT said:
Actor Jack Klugman too has apparently passed on ...

2 of my all time favorites. RIP

bobwg · Dec 26, 2012

Jack Klugman was also a WW2 vet serving in the Army

layoutshooter · Dec 26, 2012

bobwg said:
Jack Klugman was also a WW2 vet serving in the Army

That is correct, as did Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin. Marvin was awarded a Navy Cross.

bobwg · Dec 26, 2012

layoutshooter said:
That is correct, as did Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin. Marvin was awarded a Navy Cross.

Dont forget Jimmy Stewart a pilot on bombers over Germany

layoutshooter · Dec 26, 2012

bobwg said:
Dont forget Jimmy Stewart a pilot on bombers over Germany

Yes, there were many.

aristotle · Dec 26, 2012

Three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star make for interesting reading. Durning survived the D-Day invasion as well as managing to escape the Melmedy Massacre after being captured in the Battle of the Bulge.

Durning speaks about landing at Omaha Beach: NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT | Charles Durning | PBS - YouTube

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/26/m...haracter-actor-dies-at-89.html?pagewanted=all

layoutshooter · Dec 26, 2012

The deaths of several siblings prior to the war, due to small pox and scarlet fever, is also very interesting. Really points out just how easy we have it in this country. Maybe TOO easy.

Ragman · Dec 26, 2012

layoutshooter said:
The deaths of several siblings prior to the war, due to small pox and scarlet fever, is also very interesting. Really points out just how easy we have it in this country. Maybe TOO easy.

Yep, That generation truley was the "Greatest Generation". IMHO

layoutshooter · Dec 26, 2012

Ragman said:
Yep, That generation truley was the "Greatest Generation". IMHO

Nope, don't agree with that. Sorry. Each generation has it great and weak members. The problem is how the press presents them.

purgoose10 · Dec 26, 2012

Wonder how many of the new hollywood yuppies saw combat?? This is the lost generation.

Ragman · Dec 26, 2012

layoutshooter said:
Each generation has it great and weak members. The problem is how the press presents them.

This is true, but as a whole, our parents generation had more great and less weak than ours.
IMHO, of course.

layoutshooter · Dec 26, 2012

Mr. Durning, was a person prior to becoming an actor. There still millions in this country who put their life on the line. Some in combat, then there are volunteer firefighters and ambulance crew. There are those who volunteer to teach kids, help feed and care of seniors.

I do agree, much of the "Hollywood crew" are pretty slimy. On shinning example od one who is NOT slimy is Denzel Washington. He is doing a lot of good things for wounded vets, without any fanfare. Even Bush JR. does a lot, behind the scenes, with wounded vets.

layoutshooter · Dec 26, 2012

Ragman said:
This is true, but as a whole, our parents generation had more great and less weak than ours.
IMHO, of course.

You can believe that if you want, I don't.

Wolfeman68 · Dec 26, 2012

Ragman said:
This is true, but as a whole, our parents generation had more great and less weak than ours.
IMHO, of course.

I agree. They endured the depression, WWII, Korea, and for some, Vietnam. Most of them had an air about them I haven't seen in others.

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skyraider · Dec 26, 2012

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.

Lets not complain when freight is slow... or we cannot get a shower