Bernard N. Baumann

World War II
-
Fallen

County:
Richland

Date of Loss:

Branch of Service:
Navy

Rank:
Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class

Listed on/in the:
Register of North Dakota Veterans World War II 1941-1945 and Korean Conflict 1950-1953, published 1968

Major Battle/Theatre:
Asiatic Pacific Theater

Medals and Honors:

Circumstances:

Killed in Action in Burma in a plane that was shot down by the Japanese

Biography:

Born in Lidgerwood, NDak 23 May 21; resident Richland County, NDak; entered US Navy Richland County, NDak 20 Mar 42; served Asiatic Pacific Theater

On 18 Jan 1944, Bernard N. Baumann PHM2C, USN, was on a C-47 transport plane flying from Dinjan, India to a small Office of Strategic Services (OSS) base in the village of Ngumla, Burma. He volunteered to parachute in to Ngumla to assist the base physician, LCDR James C. Luce. As the
C-47 neared the camp, it was attacked by a number of Japanese fighters and was shot down. Bernard and the entire crew were killed in the crash. Bernard N. Baumann was one of only two OSS medical personnel to be killed in action during the War. His name is listed in the OSS Book of Honor at CIA Headquarters.

Buried in Section E, Grave 407 (in a group burial) at Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois.