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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 1235

(x) The U.S.A. Bronze Star group of ten to Boatswain's Mate First Class G. F. Bernhardt, United States Navy, who served as a "River Rat" in Vietnam, winning both the Bronze Star and Navy Commendation Medal and was additionally wounded in action on 14 October 1969 on patrol

United States of America, Bronze Star with V emblem; Navy Commendation Medal with V emblem; United States Navy Medal with bronze Star; National Defense Medal with Bronze Star; National Defense Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal; Vietnam Medal; Antartica Service Medal; South Vietnam Campaign Medal, with boxes of issue for the first three, slight enamel damage to the last, otherwise very fine or better (Lot)

Citation for the Bronze Star:

For meritorious service while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong communist aggressors in the Republic of Vietnam from June 1969 to June 1970. While serving as a captain on a river patrol boat and later as a patrol officer attached to River Division Five Three Five, Petty Officer BERNHARDT participated in two hundred thirty combat patrols and engaged the eney on eight separate occasions. During those patrols, he boarded and searched numerous junks and sampans, interdicted cross river traffic, enforced curfew, inserted and extracted friendly forces in hostile territory and provided fire support for beseiged units and outposts. In addition, he conducted psychological warfare operations and civic action programs. His technical knowledge and long hours of hard work were directly responsible for the constant state of readiness of his river patrol boat. On 14 October 1969, while set in waterborne guardpost on the Vinh Te canal he spotted a group of enemy soldiers approaching his position. He courageously witheld his fire until he achieved the maximum tactical advantage. He then fired an accurate and devastating hail of fire which completely routed the enemy. Although wounded in the encounter, he elected to remain in his position for the rest of the night to thwart additional attacks. His professionalism, courage under fire and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Citation for the Navy Commendation Medal:

For heroic achievement while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong communist aggressors in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 24 December 1969, Petty Officer BERNHARDT was serving as boat captain of a river atrol boat set in waterborne guardpost on the Vinh Te canal when his boat came under attack. The first attack occurred after the arrival of United States Navy helicopter gunships which he had called to reconniter the area when he detected enemy troop movement near his position. The gunships were taken under fire and at the same time, the enemy attacked Petty Officer BERNHARDT's boat. At his command, his crew delivered an accurate, supressing fire as he directed air strikes on a fast retreating enemy. After having successfully thwarted the attack, he elected to remain at his location to block the enemy's infiltration route. A few hours later, his boat once again came under intense automatic weapons and rocket fire. He again calmly and professionally directed the return of a devastasting barrage of fire which supressed the enemy attack. Petty Officer BERNHARDT's efforts were instrumental in preventing an infiltration attempt by a company size Viet Cong force. His professionalism, courage under fire and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

George Franklin Bernhardt was from Pennsylvania and enlisted in 1954, he saw service around the world including Antarctica and was to serve in Vietnam where he was wounded on 14 October 1969. He carried out 216 patrols and was under enemy fire in 8 of those patrols. Bernhardt was discharged in 1974 and settled in New Zealand and died in 2016.


Sold with the following archive:

i)
Citation for the Bronze Star (with Combat "V") in folder of issue.


ii)
Citation for the Naval Commendation Medal in folder of issue.


iii)
Certificates for Royal Order of Deepfreeze (2) for 21 February 1957, U.S.S. Brough crew poster, and crossing the Arctic Circle, dated 5 February 1958.


iv)
Certificate for initiation into the Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep, dated 31 August 1958.

v)
Certificate for initiation into the Silent Occult Mysteries of the Far East, dated 20 September 1958.

vi)
Certificate for circumnavigating the globe in U.S.S. Brough, between 23 August 1958 - 11 April 1959.

vii)
Honorable Discharge Certificate, dated 18 August 1960.


viii)
Certificate for completing the course of study at the U.S. Naval Schools Command, Treasure Island, San Francisco, California, dated 1 December 1961.

ix)
Honourable Discharge Certificate, dated 17 July 1964.

x)
Certificate for the Good Conduct Award, dated 15 November 1965, in folder of issue.

xi)
River Boat Flotilla Five certificate of River War Service in the Republic of Vietnam, confirming service from 27 June 1969 - 19 June 1970 and 216 patrols of which 8 were fired upon.

xii)
Certificate for the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 14 October 1969, the certificate dated 4 January 1971.

xiii)
Certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle, dated 28 September 1971.


xiv)
Destroyer Squadron Two Citation covering the period 1 December 1971 - 29 June 1972.

xv)
Certificate for transfer from Active Duty to the Fleet Reserve, dated 1 April 1974.

xvi)
Release Orders, dated 1 April 1974. where he stated he intended to live at 175 Burt Street, Wikari, Dundein, New Zealand.

xvii)
Certificate of Retirement, dated 1 February 1984, with covering letter.

xviii)
Certificate of Appreciation. (x2)

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£270

Starting price
£210