Welcome Home Herman Bard – Ex WWII POW
Event Date
04/14/2013
Event Time3:15 pm;
Location
Behind Wendys
Rt 130 & Chester Ave
Delran, NJ
Rally point–rt 130 and Chester Ave Delran NJ (behind the wendys @ the old sams club store)
GPS 40.016835,-74.954819
Rally time–1515
KSU–1550
Mug & Hug for Herman Bard. He is an 88 yr old WWII Vet and former POW. He was born in Riverside and has lived there his whole life. He entered the service at the age of 18 on Feb. 16,1943. He trained with the Army Air Force and received Air Crew Member Badge and Aerial Gunner Certificate and earned the rank of SSgt.
He was stationed in Italy with the 15th Bombers group and was a waistgunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. On their 13th mission (lucky # 13!) they flew into the oilfields of Ploesti. Many airships would go in and not come back. My father’s plane was also a casualty. On approach, they took a major hit. People have asked him how he was able to jump. His reply is that the bomb bay doors were open at the time of the hit. Watching flames wrap around 1000 pounders helps you make the choice! Despite that fact, he stayed on the flame ridden plane to make sure the lower turret gunner was able to get out. Only then did he jump. When they hit the ground, they were taken to the Romanian Prison Camps and held as POW from July 23,1944 – Sept 1,1944.
He received the Soldiers Medal for heroism at great risk of life during Aug 24-26,1944. He volunteered to help evacuate wounded American flyers interned in the enemy prison hospital during an intense and heavy bombardment and strafing attack that lasted continuously over 48 hours.
He was also the recipient of the following medals:
—- Air Medal
—- POW Medal (Romania)
—- Good Conduct Medal
—- American Campaign Medal
—- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver Service Star
—- WWII Victory Medal
He received an Honorable discharge on Nov. 2,1945. After his service he worked at RCA Camden as a pipefitter for 40 yrs.
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