Born was born in
Racine, Wisconsin, to Frank and Martha (née: Madera) Born.[2] His father was born in Germany, and was a city of Racine fireman. He had two younger brothers, Captain Howard and Admiral Arthur Born, who were naval officers, and a younger sister, Grace. He graduated from
St. John's Military Academy in 1924, where he was chosen as honor graduate, and West Point in 1928. On May 4, 1949, in Arlington, Virginia, he married the former Miss Eleanor Mae Moller. He died on May 24, 1979, in Phoenix, Arizona and was laid to rest at West Point Cemetery. With his first wife, Florence née: Fountain, he had 3 children; Charles Jr., JoAnne, and Charlotte. His brothers are buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Upon graduation he was assigned to the
Cavalry. In 1934, he transferred to the
Air Corps. He was given command of the
50th Observation Squadron in 1936. In 1937, he was named an instructor at the United States Military Academy. During
World War II, he took command of the
Antilles Air Command and assistant chief of staff for operations and training of the
Northwest African Strategic Air Force before being named assistant chief of staff for operations and training and eventually deputy commander of the
Fifteenth Air Force. Following the war, he was given command of the
Second Air Force and the Fifteenth Air Force. In 1947, he was appointed chief of staff of
Tactical Air Command. Later, he would become deputy chief of staff for operations of the
United States Air Forces in Europe. In 1951, he was named deputy for operations of
Air Training Command. His retirement was effective as of January 1, 1955.[6]
^Tad Jones; Knute Rockne; Glenn Warner (December 4, 1925). "Red Grange Placed on Second All-American Team: Coaches Keep Star Off First: Rockne, Jones and Warner Claim He Has Two Main Weak Points; Friedman Is Captain; Two Michigan Men Honored; Pacific Coast Stars in the Backfield". The Davenport Democrat.