World War II Honoree

Merle LeRoy Bergstrom

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Duluth, Minnesota

Honored By

Carmen Bergstrom

Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in January l943 and was sent to Farragut, Idaho for his boot training. Following this, he was sent to the West Coast and made his maiden trip on the SS R. C. Brennen, a freighter. Then to the Mediterranean through the invasion of North Africa, then to England, and back to New York. In April 1944, when 16 days out of the states and 3 days from England, was torpedoed and lost the ship. Spent 6 hours and 45 minutes in the water before being picked up by an English escort and taken to a hospital, then returned to the states. Left again in July 1944 and was in the French invasion, transported trucks and ammunition to the Belgian border. Returned to the states on November 15, 1944. Was home on a 25-day leave, and reported back to the Brooklyn Navy Yard on December 21, 1944.