Hank Bergman - World War II Service

World War II Service

Bergman joined the United States Army on March 19, 1943. He completed his basic training at Fort Meade, Maryland. His military occupational specialty and number was: Rifleman 745. On August 20, 1943, Bergman was shipped overseas to the European Theater of Operations. He served with the 3rd Infantry Division (made famous by Medal of Honor recipient, Audie Murphy), the 30th Infantry Division, and the "Blue Devils" of the 88th Infantry Division. In Audie Murphy's autobiography, To Hell and Back, Murphy mentions a soldier named Bergman, but it's unclear if he meant Hyman Bergman.

As an infantry sergeant,Bergman was in fierce combat in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. His campaigns and battles included Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno(January 22 to September 9, 1944), North Appennines(September 10, 1944 to April 4, 1945), and Po Valley(April 5 to May 8, 1945).Bergman fought at Furcoli against the German 8th Mountain Division, Volterra against the German's 90th Panzer Grenadier Division, and at Magnacavallo against the 305th German Infantry (commanded by Major General Von Schellwitz). Also, he saw action at Anzio, Arno River, Bloody Ridge (Hills 184 and 188), Mount Belvedere|Belvedere, Brenner Pass, Capo d'Aqua, Cassino, Della Tombe, Furcoli Ridge, Frasinetto, Gothic Line, Hill 497 (above Furcoli), Itri, Monterumici Highway 64 sector,Mt.Alto,Mt.della Salere, Mt. la Fine, Mt. Cerrere, Mt.Passignano,Mt. Rotondo, Palaia, Palermo, Po Valley, Roncolla, Salerno, Sassaleone, Sicily, Volturno River, Verona and Vicenza.

Read more about this topic:  Hank Bergman

Famous quotes containing the words world, war and/or service:

    You are a thousand times a properer man
    Than she a woman. ‘Tis such fools as you
    That makes the world full of ill-favored children.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    “... War on the destiny of man!
    Doom on the sun!”
    Before death takes you, O take back this.
    Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)

    Human life consists in mutual service. No grief, pain, misfortune, or “broken heart,” is excuse for cutting off one’s life while any power of service remains. But when all usefulness is over, when one is assured of an unavoidable and imminent death, it is the simplest of human rights to choose a quick and easy death in place of a slow and horrible one.
    Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860–1935)