World War II Honoree

Norman Bigel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Brooklyn, New York

Honored By

Rene Kosofsky Halpern

Relationship

Niece

DRAFTED APRIL 21, 1942 TRAINED AS AN INFANTRYMAN AND WAS RETAINED AS A MEMBER OF THE TRAINING CADRE WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL. FROM 1942-1943, HE RECEIVED TRAINING AS A MEMBER OF THE TENTH CLASS OF THE CORPS OF MILITARY POLICE SCHOOL AT FORT CUSTER, MICHIGAN. IN FEBRUARY, 1943 HE GRADUATED OFFICERS TRAINING SCHOOL AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE CORPS OF MILITARY POLICE. THEN, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 784TH MILITARY POLICE BATTALION IN FORT CUSTER, MICHIGAN, THEIR THEY WERE TRAINED AS A UNIT. IN MAY, 1943 THE ENTIRE 784TH MILITARY POLICE BATTALION WAS SENT TO SAN FRANCISCO AND OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA TO OVERSEE THE SECURITY OF THE SHIPS AND DOCKS. FROM MAY, 1944 UNTIL APRIL, 1945 HE WAS STATIONED IN HOLLANDIA, NEW GUINEA, THEN FROM APRIL TO AUGUST, HE ATTENDED MILITARY GOVERNMENT SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. FROM AUGUST, 1945 UNTIL APRIL, 1946 HE WAS STATIONED IN THE TOKYO AND YOKOHAMA AREAS OF JAPAN. FINALLY, ON APRIL 26, 1946 HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT.