Charles Gerhard Bong

Charles "Gerry" Bong was president of UW-Madison's Senior Class in 1941. He was head of the Wisconsin chapter for the Young America Wants To Help war relief group, a branch of the British War Relief Society. He received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant at Camp Hood, Texas, in June 1943. Bong was sent to Europe with the 811th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Lieutenant Bong was put in command of the 3rd Platoon of Company C. In late December 1944, Bong and his platoon defended the town of Longvilly. As Germans closed in, Bong loaded his men onto the unit's one surviving tank destroyer and fought his way into Bastogne. He continued to command his men through fierce fighting in Europe until he was killed by enemy artillery fire on February 9, 1945, near Beaufort. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star. Lieutenant Bong is buried at Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Luxembourg.