Posted on 12/25/2012 7:46:53 AM PST by Perdogg
Charles Durning, who overcame poverty, battlefield trauma and nagging self-doubt to become an acclaimed character actor, whether on stage as Big Daddy in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” or in film as the lonely widower smitten with a cross-dressing Dustin Hoffman in “Tootsie,” died Monday in New York. He was 89. He died of natural causes, The Associated Press reported, citing Judith Moss, his agent and friend
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
He was in the D-Day invasion however he served with the 29th. Infantry Regiment, he landed on the beach, lucky to have survived in any case.
He was in the D-Day invasion however he served with the 29th. Infantry Regiment, he landed on the beach, lucky to have survived in any case.
God rest his soul.
Right. I liked the movies he was in.
From Armyranger.com:
PFC Charles Durning, 85, of Los Angeles, California, served during World War II with the US Army Rangers, with a Field Artillery unit and with the 398th Infantry Regiment. Following US Army induction in January 1943 and basic training he was deployed to England in February 1944. Charles landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day 1944 early in the day as part of an Army Ranger Battalion, alongside the 1st Infantry Division. Although his unit suffered severe casualties he managed to reach safety. In late June 1944, Charles was seriously wounded by a mine at Les Mare des Mares, France and spent almost 6 months recovering. When the German Ardennes offensive broke out in December 1944, he was rushed to the front lines and suffered severe bayonet wounds in hand to hand combat. On December 16th his unit was overrun and captured in Belgium by an SS Panzer Unit that was taking no prisoners. PFC Durning was one of only a few soldiers to escape and survive the subsequent notorious Malmedy massacre. With the 398th Infantry Regiment he moved into Germany where he was again seriously wounded in March 1945 and evacuated to the United States. Charles Durning’s significant decorations include the Silver Star, awarded for valor in the Ardennes in December 1944, and the Purple Heart. After spending considerable time recovering from his wartime injuries, he was discharged at Fort Dix, New Jersey in January 1946.
There WAS a Ranger Battalion within the 29th IN Division. It was shut down and reorganized before D-Day.
Durning’s name doesn’t appear in COL Robert Black’s “Rangers in WWII” but those who served in Ranger Battalions in combat are considered members of the brotherhood.
RLTW
I absolutely love that movie. One of the best movies in the 70’s.
Thanks for the info. He was the narrator for a D-Day documentary about ten years ago that had him listed as serving in the 116 Infantry Regiment of the 29th. Infantry Division(’’The Blue&Grays’’.)
That was the first movie that came to my mind. Funny too, we were just talking on FR the other night about When a Stranger Calls so I thought of him then too. Rest in Peace to a great actor.
Catching up after the holidays, and just now reading your post. Thank you for the link to Durning’s NYT obit, and your overview of the Malmedy massacre. The story of his war experiences in the Times bio made me weep for his pain, and that of our heroic troops, then and now.
I adored Durning as an actor, but had never known of his harrowing time in the war until his obits have appeared. I note that, back when there was less understanding of PTSD, it took him until he was almost 50 to get over his and start really succeeding as an actor.
There is so much to be done for our current veterans.
Thanks again, and happy new year to you!
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