About Bernie Friedenberg
Bernard I. “Bernie” Friedenberg grew up in Atlantic City and attended area schools. On December 8, 1941, Friedenberg attempted to enlist in the military services (Marines, Navy, and Army) but was rejected by all three services due to poor vision. Undeterred, Friedenberg persisted and was eventually inducted into the Army as a non-combatant. Friedenberg received training as a Medic; attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, and was assigned to the Medical Detachment, 1st Battalion, 16th Regiment, 1st U.S. Infantry Division.
Friedenberg was deployed in many of the major battles of the War: Operation Torch in Algeria during November 1942; as a member of the “Fighting First” in the campaign for Sicily in 1943; Omaha Beach on D-Day 1944; through the fields and hedgerows of France into Germany in 1944, and the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. In these and other battles, it was Friedenberg’s job to remove or supervise the removal of wounded soldiers from the front lines to secure aid stations where he and others would render initial medical care to them.
2 Silver Stars For Heroism
2 Bronze Star Medals
2 Purple Hearts
Friedenberg received a Silver Star for his heroism on Omaha Beach on D-Day. It was here that Friedenberg, without regard to his own personal safety, entered a minefield five separate times, retrieving a wounded soldier each time. Friedenberg received a second Silver Star for his heroism in evacuating and rendering first aid to wounded soldiers while under heavy machine gun and mortar fire in Munsterbusch, Germany. Friedenberg was also awarded two Bronze Stars for valor, as well as two Purple Hearts for wounds he sustained in combat.
Upon returning home to Atlantic City after the war, Friedenberg became a staunch advocate for veterans’ matters. Friedenberg served as a member of the Atlantic County Veterans Advisory Board and as the Commander of a Jewish War Veterans Post for many years. Friedenberg also regularly spoke at secondary and post-secondary institutions on the perils of war and the true cost of freedom.
Bill Detweiler - CEO of World War II Museum
Friedenberg's wartime service was recognized by New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine in 2009, and again at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2016. Friedenberg died in 2018.