Charles Bronson (born Charles Buchinsky) received the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat during World War II while serving as a B-29 Superfortress aerial gunner in the Pacific Theater.12
Details of His Service and the Award
•Unit and Role: He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1943, trained as a gunner, and in 1945 was assigned to the 61st Bombardment Squadron, 39th Bombardment Group, based on Guam. As a corporal and nose/tail gunner on B-29 bombers, he flew 25 combat missions over Japan and surrounding islands.13
•The Wound: During a bombing run targeting the Hodogaya (or Hodegaya) Chemical Plant (a key industrial target near Tokyo/Koriyama), his aircraft came under intense enemy fire from Japanese fighters (including Mitsubishi A6M Zeros). Bronson was hit by machine gun fire or fragments, suffering wounds (reportedly to the arm/shoulder area) and bleeding profusely. He refused medical aid, stayed at his gun position, and continued defending the bomber until it returned safely to base.2
•Award Criteria: The Purple Heart is given to those wounded or killed in action against an enemy of the United States. His injury qualified directly from enemy action in combat.18
He was discharged in 1946 after about three years of service and also earned the Air Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster) for his missions.11
This real combat experience contributed to the authentic toughness he brought to roles like those in The Dirty Dozen and The Great Escape.
Langer's is an LA icon. Despite decades of crime & blight degrading MacArthur Park, Norm Langer has held strong, employing union workers, & enduring. I'm proud to have Norm's support. We owe it to this great man to clean up Mac Park and make LA a place where restaurants thrive. AMAZING sandwiches!
Please pray for this little angel. I met this sweet dog on Skid Row with @joey_tuccio the other day, one of the many dogs he helps that Karen Bass allows to be tortured every day by vagrants. He was just run over by a car and is in emergency surgery. These people are sick.
@TScaryMovies Video stores were magical to me. But they were small and dirty. Then Blockbuster opened in La Canada, CA and it was… GIGANTIC and clean. I remember my first rentals…. SORORITY BABES IN THE SLIMEBALL BOWL-O-RAMA (1988) and TAKING IT ALL OFF (1987). haha