US Navy Beach Jumpers Assoc.

Charles A. Vorndran (Charlie), age 95, of Brick, NJ, died peacefully on Saturday, December 14, 2019, at the Veteran’s Memorial Home at Menlo Park in Edison, NJ. Charles was born in Newark, NJ and grew up in Union, NJ before joining the US Navy at the start of World War II, where he served honorably as a Radioman and US Navy Beach Jumper. The Beach Jumpers highly classified mission was "To assist and support the operating forces in the conduct of Tactical Cover and Deception in Naval Warfare." They had one basic mission; to create as much noise as possible to grab the attention of the enemy troops stationed nearby. When the PT boats arrived in earshot of shore they opened with their weapons, firing rockets and .50 caliber machine guns and setting off time-delayed smoke pots floating beside their boats. They also blasted sounds from their loud speakers that mimicked the chaos of a D-Day style invasion. Using specialized deception equipment, a few dozen Beach Jumpers could make the enemy believe they were a 70,000-man amphibious landing force, when in fact that force would be elsewhere, usually a great distance away. Upon leaving the US Navy Charles became a roofer until joining PATH where he retired as an Operations Examiner. Charles was pre-deceased by his loving wives, Lorraine I. Vorndran of 51 years and Phyllis Vorndran of 11 years. As much as he enjoyed boating, cars, flying, motorcycles, all adventure and anything on the water, his family was always his first pride and love. His love, warmth, strength, infectious smile and positive life attitude will be greatly missed by his loving children, grand-children, great- grandchildren and friends.

RM 2/c Charles Vorndran BJU-5 & 9 1944-45 d. 12-14-2019 “Fair winds and following seas”