World War II Honoree

Patrick D. Berns

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Patti Berns Wolf

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED IN COMBAT WITH 2E-21 3RD DIVISION MARINES ON ISLE OF BOUGAINVILLE, SOLOMON ISLANDS, SOUTH PACIFIC. SURVIVED THE AMBUSH IN THE COCONUT GROVE ON THE NUMA NUMA TRAIL ON NOVEMBER 13, 1943. BATTLED IN THE SWAMPS FOR PIVA FORKS WITH THE MAIN ADVANCE TAKING PLACE ON THANKSGIVING DAY. AFTER BOUGAINVILLE COMBAT, RETURNED TO GUADALCANAL AND SERVED, IN PART, AS INSTRUCTOR FOR THE MARINE CORPS BOXING TEAM. UPON RETURN TO THE U.S., PARTICIPATED ON BOND TOURS IN THE CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE AND MINNEAPOLIS AREAS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF VICTORY COMMITTEES, HEADED BY DISTRICT JUDGE PAUL S. CARROLL, TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE WAR EFFORT AND TO SHARE HIS COMBAT EXPERIENCES WITH THE WORKERS OF AMERICA. WAS PREPARING FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA WHEN THE WAR ENDED. WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN AUGUST 1945.