World War II Honoree

Gordon A. Bergmann

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Long Island, New York

Honored By

Jerry Penry

RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS A PARATROOPER ASSIGNED TO THE 507TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE ‘ALL AMERICAN’ DIVISION, WHO WAS KILLED AUGUST 23, 1943. SIX PARATROOPERS WERE PARTICIPATING IN A TRAINING EXERCISE, JUMPING WITH FULL GEAR AND EQUIPMENT FROM A C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ AIRCRAFT EAST OF ALLIANCE, NEBRASKA ARMY AIR FIELD. DURING THE JUMP, DUE TO HIGH WINDS THEY DRIFTED INTO A NEARBY LAKE WHERE THREE OF THE TROOPERS DROWNED, AS THEY WERE UNABLE EXTRACT THEMSELVES FROM THEIR PARACHUTE HARNESS AND EQUIPMENT.