Veterans Center Connection
Jeff Bornstein recently learned that I write our local veterans stories for KHTS Radio on the Hometown Heroes’ web site when he visited our Veterans Center in Newhall.

Soon afterwards we met there and our friendship instantly formed. I realized that his story is truly a study in perseverance, so allow me to introduce you to Jeff Bornstein.

Jeffrey M. Bornstein

Budding Magician
Jeffrey Michael Bornstein was born April 17, 1960 in Van Nuys, California where his family lived until he was seven years old.

At age 10, Bornstein saw a magic set advertised on television so he excitedly asked his parents to buy it for him and they did. Soon, he was performing card, coin, friendly pick pocket, and various slight of hand tricks for his pals.

By age 12, Bornstein’s skills improved sufficiently for him to work at Mancini Pizza Boy Shop in Canoga Park where every Monday and Wednesday he performed walk-around magic tricks for customers.

He became so gifted that on Friday’s he performed stage shows.

Homeless
Bornstein’s family moved to Encino in 1967 where they lived until 1973 when his parents’ marriage unfortunately ended.

His dad and siblings then moved to a friend’s home in nearby Hidden Hills, but sadly his parents’ break up took a heavy toll on Bernstein causing him to become incorrigible, dropping out of high school and running away from home.

For several months he was homeless until his uncle took him in for the next 18 months.

Bornstein resumed attending high school at El Camino High School and ultimately graduated June 15, 1979 as the oldest student at age 19.

After high school, he moved back with his dad, but he was soon kicked out and began wrestling with his future.

Soon, his thoughts turned to the military and in August 1981, he and his best buddy saw a war movie, “The Boy’s in Company C”, at a Woodland Hills theater.

Through a friend, they enjoyed a private showing.

Inspiration
“The Boy’s in Company C” depicted Marines Corps combat infantry grunts in the Vietnam War.

It was a brutal “shoot ‘em up, blow ‘em up” and hand-to-hand combat movie that completely captured Bornstein’s and his buddy’s imaginations.

With no one else present, these goofy young men began running throughout the theater mimicking gallant combat marines fighting imaginary enemy insurgents.

What a blast they had! Suddenly, with intense conviction, Bornstein excitedly roared, “Let’s join the Marines – let’s go!”

So off they hustled to a Van Nuys recruiter’s office where they first visited an Army recruiter.

Instead of joining the Marine Corps, they chose the U.S. Army.

On Aug. 31, 1981, the two men enlisted via the buddy system, but once Jeff signed his three-year hitch, he realized that his good buddy had “chickened out.”

Green Berets

Jeffrey M. Bornstein 3rd ID Patch

Upon joining the Army, Bornstein was sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina’s induction station where he received numerous vaccinations, a buzz haircut, fatigues, military gear, and a boatload of NCO (Non Commissioned Officer) harassment.

Soon, he was off to Basic and Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

During AIT, Bornstein was determined to join the Special Forces (Green Berets), but to his frustration it was determined that he was color blind. His passion was instantly shot.

“I came in contact with a group of Special Forces soldiers and when hearing my desire to become one of them they gifted me with an honorary 82^ndAirborne Maroon Beret,” said Bornstein. “I still have that beret and to this day, telling this story moves me.”

Hottest Chick
During AIT Bornstein received a leave of absence to return home and he was anxious to see his old high school flame, Lisa.

However, he met her friend Michelle, whom Bornstein recalled was their high school’s hottest chick.

He never imagined in a “zillion years” that Michelle would give him the time of day, but he pursued her anyway. He was stunned when she accepted a date with him.

Overseas Service Ribbon

The two were suddenly infatuated with each other as they genuinely fell in love, but once back at Fort Gordon, Bornstein learned he would be assigned to Germany or Korea.

This inspired him to call Michelle and when she answered, he said, “Hey! Do you want to get married?”

She said yes, joined him and were married at Fort Gordon’s chapel.

Next, Bornstein was ordered to the 3^rdInfantry Division, nicknamed “Rock of the Marne” at Leighton Barracks in Wurzburg, Germany, and Michelle joined him there.

Their first child was born at Wurzburg Hospital, and today Bornstein is very proud of his three wonderful children.

Rock of the Marne
Bornstein remains proud to have served with the same unit Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy served with.

In 1982, the highly popular television series, “Happy Days” cast, working with the USO, visited his unit and they played a softball game.

Army Service Ribbon

To his delight, with his amazing agility, he robbed homeruns from Fonzie and Ralph Malph.  This experience resonated with Bornstein and he pondered how this could parlay into future plans.

After 18 months in Germany, he was assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado where soon after he experienced a mystifying seizure.

After a second seizure, to Bornstein’s deepest regret, he received an immediate medical discharge after serving almost three years with the U.S. Army.

Raggedy Direction
After returning home Bornstein’s young family moved into his mother-in-law’s Reseda home for awhile and on May 14, 1986, his dad passed away from a brain tumor.

Coincidentally, resulting from Bornstein’s admitted substance abuse, his marriage fell apart and once again he was homeless until moving in with a friend.

Bornstein soon became a bouncer at various San Fernando Valley night clubs. As head bouncer for Black Angus, he was drawn into a ferocious fist fight.

He promptly quit that occupation and returned to his peaceful passion as a strolling magician.

In 1988, Bornstein also dabbled in the motion pictures industry as a movie stunt man, but he continued living on the “wild side” struggling with unsteady employment and substance abuse.

However, he continued honing his magician craft.

Bornstein briefly lived in a decrepit backyard shack with zero amenities owned by fellow Hollywood stuntman buddy, Bobby Yerkes.

During this period he messed with substance use and ran around with wild women.

Bornstein was hitting rock bottom, but in 1989 he pursued one of his lifelong dreams to become a Hollywood stuntman. To date, he’s been beaten up by the best.

Magic Castle
In 1991, Bornstein’s friend and magician extraordinaire Martin Nash, realizing his raw talent and urged him to professionalize his lifestyle to achieve success.

This inspired Bornstein to purchase his first tuxedo and lease a Mercedes Benz SL300 convertible.

Soon, he became a regular performer at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, plus he took up performing at comedy clubs and trade shows across America.

On Nov. 5, 1991, he dropped to his knees and proclaimed, “Please God, I’ve got to clean up my act and move forward.”

Bornstein has proudly stated, “I’ve been clean and sober for 27 years.”

As success advanced, Bornstein yearned for a genuine female relationship, so he experimented with online dating.

While performing at “Looney Bins” comedy club in Oklahoma, local resident and beautiful Kimberly Henry contacted him and were soon endlessly chatting on the phone.

Back in Southern California, he had her visit him, which led to their long distance two-year dating liaison and a blossoming relationship.

Operation-Bravo.com
In 2007, Bornstein abruptly said to Kimberly, “I love you! Will you marry me?”

Kimberly said yes and they were married Feb. 25, 2007 at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas.

Soon, they were performing together at Hollywood’s Magic Castle and Bornstein said, “She’s the star on stage.”

Jeffrey M. Bornstein on Stage in Iraq

Digressing to 2004, Bornstein, an award winning magician, was the only magician invited overseas with five comedians to entertain during Operation Iraqi Freedom. They performed in five countries with 32 shows in 23 days.

Today, he and his lovely wife Kimberly perform for corporate and high end social events, as well as producing their own military show, “Operation-Bravo”, that entertains U.S. Armed Forces both domestically and abroad.

“The most intelligent thing I ever did was marrying my amazing wife,” said Bornstein, a veteran of military intelligence communications.

Jeff, I salute you for your perseverance and achieving your outstanding American Dream.

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