Some Reminiscences of World War II

Book excerpt: The late Frank D. Bergstein served in the 29th Division of the U.S. Army from July 1941 until late 1945. He commanded Headquarters Company, 115th Regimental Combat Team, 29th Division, when it landed on Omaha Beach and for the long months of combat after the invasion. He wrote these memoirs in the late 1980s, at the urging of his family and friends. At various times in the past, mostly surrounded by an attentive audience of loved ones and friends, Frank would expound on his wartime experiences. This compilation by him, Some Reminiscences of World War II, presents a few of those more poignant memories, revealing observations, and sometimes, caustic comments he was persuaded to put in writing by his family. The work was completed and typed during the period of April 10, 1988, through April 8, 1989. Readers are fortunate that this task was accomplished before his passing, Christmas Eve 2002. The main body of Frank's work is organized into twenty-four consecutive chapters that are focused on his most important memories of that time. He was a warrior in battle, and later, as a successful businessman, inventor, and industrialist, he remained a warrior--never forgetting the lessons learned during World War II.