Lundberg, Gerald (1919-1999)

https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/worldwar_oh/9/

Biographical Information: Gerald Lundberg was born on August 12, 1919. A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Lundberg joined the Minnesota National Guard while still in high school. In World War II, Lundberg fought in North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany as a forward observer in the 995th Field Artillery Battalion. He married his wife Lorraine before rejoining the National Guard in 1951. Upon his return from service in Korea in the 49th Field Artillery Battalion of 47th Division, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He died September 3, 1999 and buried at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Anoka, Minnesota.

Transcript Summary: Gerald Lundberg joined the Minnesota National Guard while still in high school. Promoted to sergeant upon departure from Fort Dix, New Jersey, for North Africa, he sailed with 7,000 other soldiers (two of which were his brothers, William Lundberg, and Kenny Lundberg). As a staff sergeant in the 995th Field Artillery Battalion, Lundberg always went ahead of the battalion and completed their survey. When the battalion or the batteries were going into position, they were out looking for observation posts, from which they would then observe the fire. Landing in Italy near Magnano, and spent a few weeks atop an observation post near Monte Cassino. He recalled one particularly bloody engagement there where both sides called a truce and mingled while they collected the casualties. At Monte Cassino, Lundberg recalled that he fired the first artillery round into the famous monastery’s abbey. In 1969, he returned with his wife to Monte Cassino and the abbey had been completely rebuilt. Receiving a battlefield commission in France as a second lieutenant, he was awarded a Bronze Star. He spoke of his sense of purpose in World War II in comparison with the lack of purpose in the Korean War. After leaving the Army as a first lieutenant in 1945, Lundgren rejoined in 1951 and was promoted to captain. After completing advanced artillery training at Fort Sill, he went over to Korea in the fall of that year as a part of the 49th Field Artillery Battalion of 47th Division. Returning from Korea after nine months, he was made a lieutenant colonel.

Interviewed by David Overy