Initial import
 
Expand exact roster rank codes (class_rank: Pfc -> Private First Class)
 
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{{Soldier
{{Soldier
|lede_on_page=1
|asn=32874468
|asn=32874468
|surname=Gaertner
|surname=Gaertner
|first=Bernard
|first=Bernard
|class_section=5D
|class_section=5D
|class_rank=Pfc
|class_rank=Private First Class
|birth_year=1922
|birth_year=1922
|death_year=1945
|death_year=1945
|nativity=Ge
|nativity=Germany
|religion=H
|religion=Jewish
|enlistment_place=NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK
|enlistment_place=NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK
|state=NEW YORK
|state=NEW YORK
|assignment=VII-961
|ipw_ge=147
|ipw_ge=147
|overseas=Y
|overseas=Y
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|class_number=19
|class_number=19
|class_display=19
|class_display=19
|birth_date=1 April 1922
|birth_place=Danzig, Germany
|death_date=1 January 1945
|photo=2414237098598197.jpg
}}
}}
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Gaertner, Bernard (32874468)|Bernard Gaertner]]''' (1 April 1922 – 1 January 1945) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 19 and served with IPW Team 147.
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
''Add a biography, family details, and sources. Click Edit to change this page; no account is required.''
Staff Sgt Bernard Gaertner was born April 1, 1922 in Hagen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Sgt Gaertner is buried in the Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, NY. From the history of 87th Infantry division: "Early in the afternoon, a jeep bearing Second Lieutenant Fredrick Gottlieb, of Brooklyn, New York, and Sergeant Bernard Gaertner (also a Ritchie Boy), of New York City, both members of the Interrogation of Prisoner of War team, struck a mine; killing them and wrecking the vehicle.
 
He was with the 1st Prisoner of War Team, 147 G-2, HQ. He was assigned to the 345th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division, and killed in action, along with Ritchie Boy Fred Gottlieb, by a German mine near Rondu, Belgium. Ritchie Boy 2nd Lt Fred Gottlieb was born in Danzig, Germany in 1914.
 
He grew up in New York, and enlisted in the US Army at Camp Upton Yaphank on August 25, 1941. He served with the Headquarters of the 87th Infantry Division, and was Killed in Action on January 1, 1945. A few seconds earlier a ton and a half truck, loaded with 57 mm ammunition had also struck a mine and burst into flame.
 
The two vehicles effectively blocked a convoy of Headquarters Company vehicles moving toward Rondu. Enemy observers spotted the stalled column of vehicles and soon German artillery began to explode all around." Lt Gottlieb was awarded the Purple Heart and the Legion of Merit (posthumous) for exceptionally meritorious conduct.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* 3rd Army
* 3rd Army
* Civil Life


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
''After you are autoconfirmed, [[Special:Upload|upload a photo]] and add <code><nowiki>[[File:Example.jpg|thumb|caption]]</nowiki></code> here, or set <code>|photo=Example.jpg</code> in the infobox.''
<div class="soldier-gallery">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
2414237098598197.jpg
2416573138364593.jpg
</gallery>
</div>


== Technical record ==
== Technical record ==
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== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
 
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2019-05-25 (1 post)
 
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2019-05-26 (1 post)