 |
North
High School Wall of Honor
Nels August Bergstrom
Class of January, 1946 |
 |
 |
Research done by Claradell Shedd, class of 1953. |
Nels August Bergstrom |
Nels
enlisted February 8, 1946 after graduating from North High in
January, 1946. At the time, his next of kin was Mr. N.A. Bergstrom,
1806 Forest Avenue, Des Moines, IA. |
|
Nels August Bergstrom |
 |
Year |
|
Rank |
|
Status |
 |
January,
1946 |
x |
Graduation |
x |
Graduated from North High
School. |
February
8, 1946 |
x |
Enlisted |
x |
Enlisted in US Army, Des
Moines, IA at the Old Federal Building |
date |
|
US Army |
x |
63rd Infantry Division, Fort Snelling,
MN |
date |
|
Enroute |
x |
Train from Fort Snelling to Fort
McClellan, AL |
date |
x |
US Army |
x |
Train from Fort McClellan to Fort
Stoneman, CA |
date |
x |
US Army |
x |
Fort Stoneman to Seoul, Korea via
troop transport ship |
date |
x |
US Army |
x |
Seoul, Korea to Yamoto, Japan, *11th
Airborne Parachute Training Center |
date |
x |
US Army |
x |
**Glider and paratroop (jump) training
in Yamoto, Japan. 11th Airborne Division |
Spring, 1947 |
x |
Discharged |
x |
Fort Lewis, WA. Train from Fort Lewis,
WA to Minneapolis, MN, then to Des Moines, IA |
Sept.,1947-June, 1951 |
x |
 |
x |
Drake University, Des Moines, IA.
Degree in Accounting. |
June 2, 1951 |
x |
Married |
x |
Donna Buss, Class of 1950, at St.
John's Catholic Church, Des Moines, IA |
1952 |
x |
Employment |
x |
CPA with Allen & Co., Des Moines,
IA |
date |
x |
Employment |
x |
Allen & Co. merged
with Peat, Marwick, and Mitchell |
1970 |
x |
Employment |
x |
Managing Partner with
Peat, Marwick, and Mitchell in Cedar Rapids, IA |
1975 |
x |
Employment |
x |
Managing Partner with
Peat, Marwick, and Mitchell in Davenport, IA |
date |
x |
Civilian |
x |
During years working with
Peat, Marwick, and Mitchell, began spending vacations in Arizona
as snow birds. |
1985 |
x |
Retired |
x |
From Peat, Marwick, and
Mitchell in Davenport, IA |
1986 |
x |
Retired |
x |
Lived in the Valley in
Arizona |
1988-Present |
x |
Retired |
x |
Purchased home in Scottsdale
and living there |
|
*11th Airborne Division
The 11th Airborne Division was a United States Army airborne formation,
first activated on 25 February 1943, during World War II. The division
took part in several training exercises in 1943, including the Knollwood
Maneuver. It played a vital part in this exercise, helping demonstrate
that American airborne forces could operate successfully at up to divisional
strength after the disappointing performance of the 82nd Airborne Division
during Operation Husky. Held in reserve in the United States, the division
did not take part in early Allied airborne operations.
In June 1944, it transferred to the Pacific Theater.
On arrival in the Pacific, the division entered a period of intense
training and acclimatization. By November it was combat-ready, and was
transported to Leyte in the Philippines, seeing action in an infantry
– not airborne – role. The 11th left Leyte in January 1945,
and then took part in the invasion of Luzon, operating in two formations.
The first formation deployed the division's two Glider Infantry Regiments
as conventional infantry, securing a beachhead before fighting their
way inland. The second formation, the division's single Parachute Infantry
Regiment, was held in reserve for several days before conducting the
division's first airborne operation, landing on Tagatay Ridge and linking
up with the two glider infantry regiments. The re-combined division
participated in the Liberation of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
Two companies of paratroopers from the division also conducted the famous
Raid at Los Baños, liberating two thousand civilians held in
a Japanese internment camp. The division's last World War II combat
operation was in Aparri, aiding the advance of American forces in Northern
Luzon, just before hostilities ended.
On 30 August 1945, the division moved to southern Japan, as part of
the Occupation of Japan. The division remained in Japan for four years
until May 1949, when it returned to the United States.
**11th Airborne Division in Yamoto, Japan
Ordinarily, jump school at Yamoto, Japan lasted for two weeks.
“A” stage was to consist of one week ground training and 5 jumps in
5 days. In the 3 days of ground training, usually included wer 5 jumps
in 4 days. The 11th Airborne Division area of responsibility extended
from Sendai, north, with the headquarters on the northern island of
Hokkaido at Sapporo, Japan from 1945 until mid 1949.
The jump school was located at Yamoto on the Sea of Japan. The western
border of the airstrip was the beach.
If you refer to the picture Glider View 1, you can see the beach as
we crossed it preparing for a landing on the air strip. Because of the
proximity of the beach all troopers doing glider flights or parachute
jumps at Yamoto had to wear life vests under their harnesses in case
of water landings. Usually trained in jumping from C-46, C-47, C-82,
and C-119's. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Fort
Snelling, MN; Fort McClellan, AL;
Fort Stoneman, CA pic; Fort Stoneman Embarkation graphic |
|
 |
|
Left:
Discharged at Fort Lewis, WA
Below left: Ozzie Albert Brynie
with Nels August Bergstrom
Below right: Nels August Bergstrom; Yamoto, Japan |
|
|

|
Nels
August Bergstrom
11th Airborne Infantry Division
US Army


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