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| Lt. Bernhardt Bialor served with the 32nd Infantry Division in Leyte. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64132351/bernhardt-bialor http://www.32nd-division.org/history/ww2/32ww2-11.html |
Bernhardt Bialor never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on December 12, 1919 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. His Yiddish speaking parents Israel and Eva were both born in Russia. They came to America in 1908. His father worked as an embroidery company machine man and later as a milk peddler. Bernard had one older brother and three younger sisters. Shortly after graduating from high school, Bernard joined the army.
He enlisted in the army in February 1939. He spent three years serving in the quartermasters corp in the Panama Canal Zone. After that he applied for and was accepted to attend Officer Candidate School. He reached the rank of second lieutenant in Company A, 1st Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division.
The 32nd ID was one of the first army units sent to the Pacific Theater. It arrived in Australia in May 1942. It first fought in difficult jungle conditions in New Guinea, where losses to tropical diseases exceeded combat losses. Lt. Bialor likely joined his unit after the New Guinea campaign. It was next part of the return to the Philippines when it landed in Leyte in mid-October 1944. It began engaging the enemy in combat there on November 14, 1944.
Nine days later it came under attack from a Japanese night attack. The generals in charge had to call in reinforcements to help the 32nd maintain the line. The Japanese tried two more night attacks with little to show for it but many Japanese casualties. Lt. Bialor was originally reported as missing in action on November 28, 1944. It was later determined that he was killed in action that day.
His grave is at Knesset Israel Cemetery in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
Last year on this date I profiled multiple Silver Star hero Glenn Hagenbuch. You can read about Glenn here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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