Posted on 07/18/2018 5:56:55 PM PDT by eastforker
The apprentice seaman remained in the Navy for ten years (including one hiatus), from October 1935 to October 1941 and then from January 1942 to September 1945. His first tour was served on board the four-stacker USS Lamberton (DD-119). During the 1930s the Lamberton operated out of San Diego, towing targets for surface combatants, submarines, and aircraft, a role that was to serve her well during World War II. She also participated in experimental minesweeping exercises and was redesignated DMS-1 (minesweeper, destroyer) in November 1940.
In 1941 Borgnine left the Navy, only to reenlist after Pearl Harbor. From January 1942 until the end of the war he served in the USS Sylph (PY-12), a converted yacht devoted to antisubmarine-warfare activities throughout the war. Operating first out of Tompkinsville (New York) and then New London (Connecticut), the Sylph patrolled for German U-boats during 1942, a devastating year for American merchantmen off the East Coast. In the fall of 1943 she was assigned to Quonset Point, Rhode Island, and a year later to the naval base at Port Everglades, Florida, along with her unit, the surface division of the Atlantic Fleet's Antisubmarine Development Detachment. She was used mainly for training sonarmen and testing and researching new sound and antisubmarine equipment. The Sylph and her unit contributed greatly to the U.S. victory over Germany's vaunted undersea gray wolves.
During his naval service Borgnine rose in rank from seaman to gunner's mate first class. Upon his discharge in 1945, he was allowed to wear the Amer
(Excerpt) Read more at navy.togetherweserved.com ...
Borgnine continued to make movies and television shows; in 1995-97 he played a doorman in the sitcom The Single Guy. He still corresponded with some of his old Navy pals, and as an honorary flight leader of the Blue Angels, he often took the team to dinner when they flew into Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California. Mr. Borgnine died 8 July 2012 in Los Angeles, at the age of 95.
For many years he served as grand marshall of the Milwaukee Great Circus Parade (now defunct). One year he was making a movie and his contract prohibited him from appearing, so Tova took his place.
Sure was in some memorable movies.
Met him, Tim Conway and some of the rest of the cast of McHale’s Navy during the tour when I was a little shaver. They cracked jokes for us kids about the show. Very friendly man.
I met him on Royal Street in New Orleans during Mardi Gras in ‘80. He was with Tova and another couple. He was very friendly.
I’ll never forget seeing him on some game - type panel program, with Cloris Leachman. The host asked them about spanking kids, and unsuspecting ol Ernie mildly opined that he thought there were times when children should be spanked. I thought Cloris was going to tear him limb from limb. She started ranting about child abuse, parents who spank their kids are criminals, monsters, etc. (paraphrasing here) Poor old Ernie tried to explain that he wasn’t talking about beating children, but occasionally needing to spank them, but he didn’t stand a chance against that old bag Cloris; she was having none of it.
Am I the only one who grew up thinking that “Oy Vey” was a Japanese expression?
Am I the only one who grew up thinking that Oy Vey was a Japanese expression?
Oy Vey is short for the Japanese “Omedetto gozaimasu,” which actually means Mazel Tov.
Played a real bad guy in “Hannie Caulder”
Tim Conway was great no matter what he did.
I’m guessing this was a more recent show when this happened as nobody batted an eye about spanking in the 70s or even 80s too much.
Port Everglades...That’s in my former hometown of 60 years, Fort Lauderdale. There was also a Naval Air Station there, origin of the famous Devil’s Triangle flight.
And some not-so memorable. Although I liked the film (The Devil's Rain), I'm sure many more didn't too much. In any case, had a good cast for a movie of the type. Him, William Shatner, Eddie Albert, Ida Lupino, and a young John Travolta.
Don’t forget his role in Emperor of the North. He played a heavy very well.
Also ‘Fatso’ the Brig Warden in ‘From Here to Eternity’
Had no trouble calling Sinatra a ‘little wop’ .. Wonder if they bleep that out in todays showings??
Ernest Borgnine in The Devil's Rain (1975)
Marty....
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