Fact-Checking Frank Sinatra's Birth Date: Centenary Milestones and Common Myths

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Q1: What is Frank Sinatra's exact legal birth date?

A1: Frank Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915. This date is verified by his Hudson County civil birth records, his church baptismal papers at St. Francis Church, and official census rolls.

Q2: Why was Frank Sinatra born with visible facial scars?

A2: Because of a traumatic forceps delivery. Sinatra weighed 13.5 pounds at birth, and the attending physician used metal forceps to extract him, permanently tearing his left cheek, neck, and earlobe.

Q3: Did Frank Sinatra’s original birth certificate say Francis or Frank?

A3: His original Hoboken birth certificate listed him as "Frank Sinatra." However, his family intended his name to be Francis Albert Sinatra, and he was officially baptized under that full name on April 2, 1916.

Q4: Did Frank Sinatra fake his medical condition to dodge the World War II draft?

A4: No. Selective Service records classified him as 4-F because his left eardrum had been completely perforated by forceps during his birth in 1915, creating an authentic, disqualifying physical injury.