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LTC Stephen F.
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Edited 6 y ago
Thanks Maj Marty Hogan for letting us know that January 24 is the anniversary of the birth of U.S. Navy WWII veteran and American actor whose career spanned over six decades Ernest Borgnine who was born with the name Ermes Effron Borgnino.
"After graduating high school in 1935, he was selling vegetables off the back of a truck when he saw a U.S. Navy recruiting poster, which led to enlistment. Borgnine credited the Navy with making a man out of him, and provided the background for his character in the famous TV show McHale's Navy.
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 "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 American Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, and the World War II Victory Medal.
After the war Borgnine returned to New Haven, where the GI Bill gave him an opportunity to study for six months at the Randall School of Dramatic Art in Hartford, following up with a long climb into show business, as he spent the next four years at the Barber Theater in Abindgon, Virginia, doing odd jobs including driving, scenery-painting and various stagehand chores. Moving up to television work in New York City, Borgnine got his first movie role in China Corsair (1951), leading to a memorable appearance in From Here to Eternity (1953) before breaking through with an Oscar for best actor in Marty (1955)."
From military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/famous-veterans-ernest-borgnine.html
Rest in peace Ernest Borgnine.
"Ernest Borgnine narrates "I Am The American Sailor" with the United States Navy Band at the U.S. Navy's 231st birthday concert, held at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 14, 2006. The music was written by Master Chief Musician Jeffrey Taylor and the poem was written by Master Chief Musician Jere Wallace."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hWPqSP31lY
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSgt (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SP5 Robert Ruck SCPO Morris RamseyCPL Eric Escasio SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright SPC Margaret Higgins Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM SGT Gregory Lawritson
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SFC William Farrell
SFC William Farrell
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LTC Stephen F. that was pretty good Steve, thanks. I never seen it before.
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Sgt Randy Wilber
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Maj Marty Hogan thanks for sharing bio on Ernest Borgnine American actor. He was a very talented actor with alot of range comedy and serious roles alike.
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
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I remember seeing him in some westerns(Gunsmoke and a few others). Before McCale’s Navy.. and he was much younger in those ..
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