1941-January 19, 1946

Nineteen years old, still a boy to many, yet a man to the country he was representing. Bernard Mortimer Sorensen left his home town of Gunnison, Utah and took the "trail bus" to Salt Lake City for a physical examination. He passed and was sent home on the bus to get his affairs in order. A week later he was called to report back. Bernard took a train from Manti to the Rio Grande Station, and from there, he was bused to Fort Douglas, Utah to undergo more examinations and tests. His testing revealed that he was a capable young man and should be sent to Fort Bliss Texas to learn the skills of a radio operator. 

During his boot camp training, he learned to operate a 286 radar, a big cumbersome  instrument with a lot of antennas. He then underwent training in both CW and voice and how to operate and keep the machinery in good repair. Bernard's company was sent to Florida for jungle and hand-to-hand combat training. They learned the ins and outs of setting up command posts and stringing communication wire. They spent six months in Florida before being shipped by train (five days) to Sacramento, California. They took sail on the USS Mount Vernon on January 15. The ship zig-zagged (21 days) across the ocean to prohibit enemy submarines from torpedoing. Landing in New Guinea they camped and underwent more jungle training. The war began to move north and his company had to take part in the searching of nearby villages. They were not allowed to camp near the villages in fear of the many diseases inhibiting these small communities. Because of a slow down in the war, this company took charge of unloading many Liberty ships. It was here he saw the devastation of war as he unloaded the remains of many Marines who he believed were coming in from the nearby Solomon Islands.

Their company was moved yet again to the Philippines. They took a cattle train to Luna (not far from what later became, the now abandoned, San Francisco Airport) where they prepared for three months, for the "Jump in Japan." They learned how to use the sniper and snooper scope. Which was a telescope designed to see in the dark. They learned more about hand-to-hand combat. This training became their most important skill. It was believed that once the United States moved into Japan, all fighting would be done with the fist.  They were given many lectures on their clothing (had to be clothed in three different layers) and were given their shots.

One of Bernard's most vivid memories was that of seeing many Japanese soldiers who had been shot by the Phillippines. He still remembers a young man who had been shot in the upper chest. They made him stand up for a picture before he bled to death and died. One of his many duties was that of guarding the Japanese prisoners. It was the 7th of August, 1945, when they received word that the atomic bomb had been dropped. With so much devastation in their villages, Japan had no choice but to surrender.

With a quiet look in his eyes, Bernard told me that if it weren't for the atomic bomb, he would have been killed. Within the next few days his outfit was to be sent to the east side of Japan, where he would have been fighting on the front lines.

It was only a matter of guarding prisoners until he received his call to come home. Each soldier was rated on certain factors, such as how long they had been in battle and the type of work they were doing. Those with the top ratings were sent home. Bernard was in the top percentage and was sent home on December 27, 1945. He arrived in Utah on the 19th of January. Each soldier was ordered to empty their duffle bags onto the floor for inspection. Many had taken war souvenirs, such as pistols, which the government took from their possession. His release was final and he was given a bus ticket home which landed him at his front door step on January 25, 1946. 

   More than fifty years later, he remembered every detail of his experiences. He said there were many things he could tell me, but not wanting to pass on the devastation, he kept his remarks in accordance with the facts. He did although, relate one of his most enjoyable experiences.  Right after landing at Luna, the men were thirsty and started to search for water to fill their canteens. They found a home, where they inquired as to where there was water. The man told them and they set off to find it. Bernard, taking the lead, lead the men to the water hole. It was here he received the greatest scare of his life. A water buffalo stood in his path. After getting over the shock, Bernard jumped on its back to see if it would buck. It never bucked, it never really did much of anything, it just stood there.

Bernard was a Technician Fifth Grade in the 224th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion,  Radio Operator and Marksman Rifle M1. 

Bernard was a Technician Fifth Grade in the 224th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion,  Radio Operator and Marksman Rifle M1.