Grave marker for Bernard
J. Schwank in the Melbourne Cemetery, Melbourne (Brevard), Florida.
Pvt Schwank was stationed
at Schofield Barracks in the 8th Field Artillery, Honolulu, Oahu Island,
HI in 1940. It is unknown whether he was still there during the
Japanese attack on 7 December 1941.
By 27 Feb 1944, now a 1st
Lt., he was assigned to Service Company, 508th PIR at Camp Cromore,
Northern Ireland. He was one of the officers assigned to the
advanced detail sent to Wollaton Park to set up the new regimental camp
site. after the regiment was in place, he was assigned the role of
Motor Maintenance Officer. He laer served as the Base Camp Claims
Officer
1st Lt. Schwank earned the
Combat Infantryman Badge for action during Normandy, France Campaign, 6
June 1944 to 9 July 1944.
In 1948, then Capt Schwank
was announced as being granted Warrant Officer appointments in the
Regular Army. Apparently the leaner army was thinning its lower
grade reserve commissioned ranks. But, ten years later he was
restored to the grade of Captain with a Regular Army commission. He
ultimately retired in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel. |