He was the son of Louise ( née Leonard ; 1894 -- 1982 ) , a laundress at West Point , and James Durning ( 1883 -- c. 1939 ) . His father was an Irish immigrant .
His mother , Louise ( née Leonard ; 1894 -- 1982 ) , was a laundress at West Point , and his father , James Durning ( 1883 -- c. 1939 ) , was an Irish immigrant .