COL Alfeo "Al" Bernardi

[Qdini]

From "The Drop" Spring 2012
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COL Alfeo “Al” Bernardi D-1179

COL Al Bernardi passed away 25 December 2011. He was born in Italy and immigrated through Ellis Island in the early 1920's. He worked in the coal fields of Northern New Mexico. He attended the New Mexico Military Institute and received a commission in the United States Army. After a brief honeymoon he was sent to the Military Intelligence Center at Fort Richie, MD to study languages. COL Bernardi served in both the Pacific and European theaters during WWII. He was a specialist in Japanese tactics and the Imperial Army. He later served in Europe as an infantry officer.

After the war, he returned to school receiving graduate degrees from USC and was a proud Trojan. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War but was assigned to Germany because of his language skills. He retired after 32 years of active and reserve duty. He was assigned to the 12th SFG from 1961 to 1972.

After retirement he became a high school math teacher. He was an avid marathon runner and swimmer. He carried the Olympic Torch during a leg of the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 wearing his Green Beret.

He passed away on Christmas Day. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Norma, several children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. His children relate that he once wrote that he came here as a non English speaking student and inherited the culture and civilization of the best nation on earth.

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[PRB]

RIP Col Al