World War II Honoree

Bernard Richard Friske

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Kendall, Wisconsin

Honored By

Charles G. Werkowski

MEMBER OF THE ALASKA NATIONAL GUARD, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, FROM August 1943 TO January 1946. SERVED WITH THE 25TH DIVISION. SAW ACTION DURING THE JAPANESE AIR ATTACK ON DUTCH HARBOR JUNE 4, 1942. OPERATED A BULLDOZER THAT RECOVERED THE FIRST JAPANESE ZERO AIRCRAFT; RECOVERED INTACT AND IN FLYING CONDITION. Technician 3rd Grade, INSTRUCTOR OF LEROI AIR COMPRESSORS AT CAMP CLAIBORNE, LOUISIANA. IN 1945 AT AGE 36, VOLUNTEERED TO SHIP OUT TO THE PACIFIC THEATER, PHILIPPINES; PREPARED FOR THE MAINLAND JAPAN INVASION. WAS PART OF ONE OF THE FIRST OCCUPATION TROOPS INTO JAPAN. SPENT FOUR MONTHS IN JAPAN, RESTORING COMMUNICATIONS, REPAIRING AIRFIELDS AND DISARMING JAPANESE TROOPS. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946. AWARDED AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON AND GOOD CONDUCT RIBBON.