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
References The comprehensive list of names from North High's 1893-2018 graduation classes are from Claradell Shedd's North Des Moines High School website. The names of all North High School graduates can be found online at http://www.ndmhs.com/. Nels August Bergstrom's 1946 class page can be viewed at http://ndmhs.com/pages/yearclass1946(2006.60).html.
08/15/11: Living in AZ.
Music: "Wind Beneath My Wings"
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