BY JEFF B. FLINN Managing Editor
Ernest Bierschenk enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17, determined to “fight the good fight” against the Nazi uprising overseas.
That was in 1942, just months after the United States entered World War II. This week, family and friends helped the WWII and Vietnam veteran celebrate his 100th birthday, born Jan. 20, 1924.
Officials from military and community organizations joined residents of the Care Choice of Boerne Nursing and Rehab Center Friday in marking the centenarian’s birthday with a party.
Jeff Wigington of Corpus Christi is Bierschenk’s nephew and his closest living relative. Wigington said Bierschenk’s older brother, Henry, was drafted into World War II. Bierschenk “said he would go ahead and enlist because the draft was coming after everyone in his age group anyway,” Wigington said during the celebration.
Shedell Giddens, community liaison with Alamo Hospice, and Ron Cortez, Kendall County Veterans Service Officer, presented Bierschenk with a framed copy of the United States of America Soldier’s Creed in honor of his years of military service. Bierschenk was part of the Army’s Military Intelligence Service in WWII and, later, in Vietnam, when he re-enlisted to serve his country once more.
Rex Pierce, president of the Alamo Chapter of the Military Intelligence Corps Association, and Christina Bergmann, Kendall County Precinct 1 commissioner, were also on hand to pay tribute to the veteran.
Bierschenk saw military action in the European Theater during WWII, primarily in Belgium, Wigington said. He served in Vietnam as well, being wounded twice during his years in the decade-long conflict.
His nephew said Bierschenk went to language school, where he learned at least three Southeast Asian dialects that he used in his military service. After finally retiring from the military, Bierschenk moved to the Edmond, Okla., area before arriving in Boerne in July 2015.
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