Staff Sergeant Bernard Raymond Wentworth 

Staff Sergeant Bernard Raymond Wentworth 20820942 US Army. was born on January 9, 1919, in Saranac Lake, New York.He was the son of Percy Wentworth and Irene Wentworth. In 1940 he was living at 617 N Lancaster Dallas, Texas. He enlisted in the New York National Guard in the Cavalry on July 4, 1936, at the age of 17. He entered the US Army from the National Guard on November 18, 1940 in Dallas Texas, at the age of 21. At this time he held the rank of Corporal.  On March 23, 1944 joined E Company, 253rd Infantry regiment, 63rd Infantry Division, at Camp Van Dorn Mississippi. He served in E Company for the remainder of the war. He was wounded in action on February 24, 1945.

On April 4, 1945, in Untergriesheim Germany E Company was holding back a strong close quarter combat counterattack by the 17th SS of Infantry and Tanks. Had E Company not been able to hold back this attack the SS would have pushed 2nd Battalion, 253rd Infantry, in to the Jagst River. On this earned his Bronze Star for Valor: After his Squad leader and his assistant Squad leader were killed Staff Sergeant Wontworth took command of his squad. As the attacks increased in violence, the Automatic rifleman and his assistant were killed. Sergeant  Wentworth then ran across 40 yards of terrain covered with enemy machine gun and mortar fire to reach the automatic rifle position. Firing the weapon he inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and aided greatly in repulsing the enemy attack.

He was Discharged on October 4, 1945, at the age of 26. At the time of his discharge he was 6 feet tall weighed 180 pounds had brown eyes and black hair. He married Esther Oppen on October 24, 1945, in Boston, Massachusetts. He reenlisted in 1947 and he was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the National Guard infantry on November 12 1947, Also on this date his Service number changed to O-954546, he was promoted to 1st Lt on April 19, 1950. He died on January 30, 1960, in Sacramento, California, at the age of 41.

He was awarded the Bronze Stare Medal with V and 2 Oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart Medal, American Defense Medal, The American Theater of operations Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater of operations Medal with  two battle stars. the World War Two Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal,  the Combat Infantry Badge.

 

After his Squad leader and his assistant Squad leader were killed Staff Sergeant Wontworth took command of his squad. As the attacks increased in violence, the Automatic rifleman and his assistant were killed. Sergeant  Wentworth then ran across 40 yards of terrain covered with enemy machine gun and mortar fire to reach the automatic rifle position. Firing the weapon he inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and aided greatly in repulsing the enemy attack.

1- The Battle of Buchhof and Stein am Kocher

2- 1940 United States Federal Census

3- https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=20820942&bc=sd&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=2075083

4- U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men

5- U.S., Select Military Registers, National Guard Register, Army 1951

6- U.S., Select Military Registers, National Guard Register, Army 1953

7- the Massachusetts, Marriage Index

8- Early 1950s photo of Bernie Raymond Wentworth came from JimHibbard69 originally shared the photo on 18 Nov 2012