Rod Serling is arguably Binghamton's most famous son. Rodman Edward Serling was born on Christmas Day, 1924, in Syracuse, New York ("a Christmas present that was delivered unwrapped," as he would later say). Although he was not born in Binghamton, and lived in a number of cities in later life, he always remembered Binghamton as his home town. From 1926 to 1944, his family lived on the West Side at 67 Bennett Avenue, and later moved to an apartment on Chapin Street. Rod attended Hamilton Elementary Grade School, West Junior High School, and Binghamton Central High School (where he was the editor of Panorama, the schoolnewspaper).
He joined the armed forces during World War II on the day he graduated from high school in 1942. During basic training, he earned extra money by boxing, winning seventeen matches. During active duty, he served as a paratrooper in the Pacific, surviving 40 jumps. In the Army, serving with the demolition platoon of the 511th Paratrooper Infantry Regiment in the Pacific.
After the war, he attended Antioch College, married his wife, Carolyn, in 1946, and worked as a staff writer for radio station WINR in Binghamton, and later WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. Writing scripts for plays on his own time, he became successful enough to move to Westport, Connecticut, in 1954, making a living solely on his writing ability.
Another paratrooper in the spotlight.
He joined the armed forces during World War II on the day he graduated from high school in 1942. During basic training, he earned extra money by boxing, winning seventeen matches. During active duty, he served as a paratrooper in the Pacific, surviving 40 jumps. In the Army, serving with the demolition platoon of the 511th Paratrooper Infantry Regiment in the Pacific.
After the war, he attended Antioch College, married his wife, Carolyn, in 1946, and worked as a staff writer for radio station WINR in Binghamton, and later WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio. Writing scripts for plays on his own time, he became successful enough to move to Westport, Connecticut, in 1954, making a living solely on his writing ability.
Another paratrooper in the spotlight.
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