Local Happenings
Private Arthur Berning of Battery F, Soth Field Artillery, Fort Des Moines, arrived Friday to spend a two-week furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Berning.
Source: The Milford Mail, Milford, Iowa, Thursday, October 06, 1938, Page 2
Report Two Men Missing,
Action French Theatre
Two Dickinson county youths were reported missing by the war department within the week. J. A. Berning was notified Wednesday afternoon that his son, Arthur, 31, is missing in action in France as of Sept. 25. Elmer Simpson, who lives between here and Terril, has been notified that his son, Pvt. Milton Simpson, is missing in action in France Sept. 15.
Arthur Berning lived in Milford until some four or five years ago. He had been in France with the American army, with the infantry, since late in June. The youth had once served an enlistment in the regular army so he was placed in an advanced outfit when he was inducted from San Francisco in March, 1943.
J. A. Berning, his father, received a letter Sept. 19, stating that Arthur was then in France and was well. A card bearing a change of address was received by the family about 10 days ago. The war department telegram said he has been missing since Sept. 25.
Young Berning is one of a family of nine children. A brother Joe is in the Marines in California. Another brother, Bill, operates a business in San Francisco. He was in business with Joe before he was inducted. Albert, Louis, and Carl live in Milford. A brother, the Rev. F. J. Berning, lives in Belevedere (sic), S. D. There are two sisters Mrs. Ed Heller of Sedalia, Mo., and Mrs. Harry Heller of Emmetsburg. Mrs. Berning died some years ago.
Although he had not lived here for some years, Berning came home when he had furlough. He was home 10 days in October, 1943, and was home for a day or two again in November, at the time of the bad storm, and on New Year’s day, this year. He went to England and was there about two weeks, the family thinks, until he went to France late in June.
Berning attended St. Joseph’s Parochial school in Milford, but did not attend public school and graduate. He is not married.
There are no details known here about the Simpson youth. He was reported as missing as of Sept. 15.
Source: The Milford Mail, Milford, Iowa, Thursday, October 12, 1944, Page 1
Arthur Berning Killed In Europe Sept. 25, 1944
J. A. Berning was notified on Tuesday that his son, Arthur, 31, was killed in action Sept. 25, 1944. He had been notified Oct. 11, 1944, that Arthur was missing in action as of that date. The latest official war department telegram states:
“I am deeply distressed to inform you corrected report just received states your son, Private Arthur D. Berning, who was previously reported missing in action, was killed in action on 25 September. The secretary of war asks that I extend his deep sympathy in your loss and his regret that unavoidable circumstances made necessary the unusual lapse of time in reporting your son’s death to you. Confirming letter follows. Wither Acting Adjutant General 9.”
The young man had not lived in Milford for about five years, although he counted this as his home and came here on furloughs. He has served one enlistment in the army, and was living in San Francisco with a brother, William, when he was inducted into the war army in March, 1943. He was placed in an advanced outfit at that time because of his regular army service.
Mr. Berning had a letter from his son written from France on Sept. 18, 1944, stating he was well. He received a “change of address” card 10 days before the telegram came announcing his son was missing in action.
The young man was one of a family of nine children. His mother died several years ago [1939] and his father is still living. Those surviving are a brother, Joe, in the marines, Albert, Louis and Carl of Milford, the Rev. F. J. Berning of Belvedere, S. D., Mrs. Ed Heller of Sadalia (sic), Mo., and Mrs. Harry Heller of Emmetsburg.
Berning was here ten days in October, 1943, was here through the bad storm in November that year and on New Year’s day, 1944. His family has reason to believe he went to England late last June and into France soon thereafter.
He attended St. Joseph parochial school here, did not attend the public school, and was not married.
Source: The Milford Mail, Milford, Iowa, Thursday, August 09, 1945, Page 1
Arthur D. Berning was born Sept. 26, 1913 to Joseph A. and Louisa Schlerman Berning. He died Sept. 25, 1944 and is buried in Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint Avold, France.
Pvt. Berning served in World War II with the U.S. Army 318th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 80th Division. He was KIA and awarded the Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com
