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S1c Arthur Anthony Bersch
Arthur Anthony “Bud” Bersch was born and grew up in Muscatine, Iowa, where he was a star guard for the St. Mathias High basketball team. He also competed around town at boxing, broad jump, and ping pong.
He was born Aug. 16, 1920 to Edward Bersch, a highway inspector and surveyor, and Nellie Stapleton Bersch, a homemaker.
He briefly attended college, then enlisted in the Navy on Oct. 15, 1940. Mr. Bersch was a seaman first class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
A requiem high Mass was held in his memory at St. Mathias Church late that December.
A second man from Muscatine, whose 1940 population was about 18,000, also died on the Arizona. David A. Leedy was about a year older than Mr. Bersch and graduated from Muscatine High School.
Sources: the Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune; Iowa application for WWII service compensation; Census; Navy muster roll. Naval History and Heritage Command photo. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
NOTE: If you are a family member related to this crew member of the U.S.S. Arizona, or have additional information, pictures or documents to share about his life or service to our county please contact us through our FAMILY MEMBER SUBMISSION FORM.