Borgnine joined the United States Navy in 1935 after high school. He was discharged in 1941, but he re-enlisted when the United States entered World War II and served until 1945 (a total of ten years), reaching the rank of Gunner's Mate 1st Class.

In 2004, Borgnine received the honorary rank of Chief Petty Officer from the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry D. Scott - the U.S. Navy's highest ranking enlisted sailor at the time - for Borgnine's support of the Navy and Navy families worldwide.

(Source: http://www.history.navy.mil)

Jul 17, 2012

Navy News| by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christopher Okula

LOS ANGELES -- A U.S. Navy honor guard paid tribute to the late actor Ernest Borgnine with a full-honors military sendoff at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park and Mortuaries cemetery in Hollywood, Calif., July 14.

 

The honor guard honored Borgnine's lifetime of service and contributions to the Navy and its cause.

"Ernie, as you may know, loved and adored the Navy, and the sea, and all of you," said Tova Traesnaes Borgnine, the late actor's wife. "I know Ernie's looking down on us right now and blessing all of you and all of your fellows across the world for all you do for our country, for our people, and especially for us today."

After serving in the Navy for ten years, Borgnine left the service at the end of World War II as a Petty Officer 1st Class. Ten years later, he won an academy award for his performance as the lead in "Marty."

He went on to star as the title character in the hit '60s sitcom "McHale's Navy." In 2004, then-Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry D. Scott awarded Borgnine with an honorary advancement to chief petty officer.

"When Ernie was promoted to honorary chief ... there was never, of all the honors - even Ernie's academy award - never anything that meant as much to him," said retired U.S. Navy Capt. Kathi Dugan, one of Borgnine's closest friends. "He had tears in his eyes."

When Borgnine was making his final arrangements, requesting military honors at his funeral was definitely his idea, said Dugan.

Dugan quoted Borgnine as saying, "'I don't know if I've earned [a military funeral], but I can't think of a more appropriate way for me to leave this world than with my Navy men and women'."

The Navy portion of the ceremony was organized by Builder 2nd Class Marco Valdovinos, the funeral honor guard district coordinator attached to the Navy Operational Support Center in Moreno Valley. Valdovinos says that his 30-member contingent of Reserve Sailors have officiated at more than 1,450 ceremonies this past fiscal year.

"This veteran has a great history of contributions to our community, to our nation and to the service," Valdovinos said. "To me, it's a tremendous honor. There's nothing greater for me, to be able to serve in this capacity. To render one final salute to our fallen veteran - it is just great."

Borgnine thought so highly of the Navy that he asked in his will that attendants to his funeral donate to the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society in lieu of bringing flowers.

One attendant from the press donated a thousand dollars that day.

 

Remembering Ernie

The Board of Directors, Officers and staff of the Navy Memorial are thrilled with the Spirit of ’45 Tribute to Ernest Borgnine on Sunday, August 12, 2012.

Ernie was our National Spokesman.  Having completed his active duty in the U.S. Navy many years before Ernie came aboard the United States Navy Memorial in 1997 upon receiving our prestigious Lone Sailor Award on his 80^th Birthday.  He made up for lost time with his regular visits to Washington, D.C. over the last fifteen years of his life.  He attended Navy Memorial screenings of his films, was the Master of Ceremonies at our Lone Sailor Dinners and attended various veterans’ events at the Navy Memorial to include a book signing of his own book, “Ernie”!

 

The following quote is from Ernie’s Navy Memorial visit in 2008:

 “I feel like I’ve had three tours of duty, two with the Navy and the other with McHale’s Navy.  And now, I’m involved with a very special organization, the United States Navy Memorial, and gee whilikers it is great!  When I visited the Memorial, it felt like coming home – going back into the Navy and remembering all my old buddies again.  Serving my country at sea was a life-changing and very special experience.  Visiting the Navy Memorial brought it all back.”

 

Ernie was among the first people to get behind the national grassroots initiative to create a national day to honor the legacy of the men and women of his generation who came together to win World War II.  Proud of his service of 10 years in the Navy, from 1935 to 1945  -- longer than any Hollywood star of his generation -- Ernie liked to say that his best starring role was playing himself during WWII.

 In 2009, Ernie came to Washington, D.C. to help build public support for this idea by appearing as the Honorary Grand Marshall in the National Memorial Day Parade and speaking at the wreath laying ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial. 

Thanks to his efforts, in 2010 both houses of Congress voted unanimously in favor a national “Spirit of ’45 Day,” to be observed on the second Sunday in every August. 

 

Spirit of ’45 Day is now being commemorated in hundreds of communities throughout America each year, including observances during Major League Baseball games.  At the close of the Day, buglers perform “Taps” in honor of the more than 400,000 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, and the millions of the members of America’s “greatest generation” who have passed away since the end of the war.

This summer, on July 8^th, Ernie joined them.  Today we pay tribute to his memory with this wreath laying ceremony at statue of the Lone Sailor in front of the Memorial that he loved so dearly.  Similar  ceremonies in his honor will be taking place at other statues in cities across America, ending in Pearl Harbor, and will be repeated each year on the national day that Ernie helped to create.

 Remembering Ernie

 The Board of Directors, Officers and staff of the Navy Memorial are thrilled with the Spirit of ’45 Tribute to Ernest Borgnine on Sunday, August 12, 2012.

 

Ernie was our National Spokesman.  Having completed his active duty in the U.S. Navy many years before Ernie came aboard the United States Navy Memorial in 1997 upon receiving our prestigious Lone Sailor Award on his 80^th Birthday.  He made up for lost time with his regular visits to Washington, D.C. over the last fifteen years of his life.  He attended Navy Memorial screenings of his films, was the Master of Ceremonies at our Lone Sailor Dinners and attended various veterans’ events at the Navy Memorial to include a book signing of his own book, “Ernie”!

 

The following quote is from Ernie’s Navy Memorial visit in 2008:

 “I feel like I’ve had three tours of duty, two with the Navy and the other with McHale’s Navy.  And now, I’m involved with a very special organization, the United States Navy Memorial, and gee whilikers it is great!  When I visited the Memorial, it felt like coming home – going back into the Navy and remembering all my old buddies again.  Serving my country at sea was a life-changing and very special experience.  Visiting the Navy Memorial brought it all back.”

 

Ernie was among the first people to get behind the national grassroots initiative to create a national day to honor the legacy of the men and women of his generation who came together to win World War II.  Proud of his service of 10 years in the Navy, from 1935 to 1945  -- longer than any Hollywood star of his generation -- Ernie liked to say that his best starring role was playing himself during WWII.

 In 2009, Ernie came to Washington, D.C. to help build public support for this idea by appearing as the Honorary Grand Marshall in the National Memorial Day Parade and speaking at the wreath laying ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial. 

Thanks to his efforts, in 2010 both houses of Congress voted unanimously in favor a national “Spirit of ’45 Day,” to be observed on the second Sunday in every August. 

 

Spirit of ’45 Day is now being commemorated in hundreds of communities throughout America each year, including observances during Major League Baseball games.  At the close of the Day, buglers perform “Taps” in honor of the more than 400,000 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, and the millions of the members of America’s “greatest generation” who have passed away since the end of the war.

This summer, on July 8^th, Ernie joined them.  Today we pay tribute to his memory with this wreath laying ceremony at statue of the Lone Sailor in front of the Memorial that he loved so dearly.  Similar  ceremonies in his honor will be taking place at other statues in cities across America, ending in Pearl Harbor, and will be repeated each year on the national day that Ernie helped to create.