Frank S. Bertino was born on April 27, 1924, in Windber, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Nick Bertino and Carmella Bertino. He was married to Connie Bertino. He was a graduate of Windber High School in 1942. He served in the 263rd Infantry Regiment of the 66th Infantry Division as a Staff Sergeant during World War II. In December 1944, the 66th Infantry Division arrived in England and was quickly ordered to France as reinforcements during the Battle of the Bulge.

On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1944, more than 2,000 soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 66th Infantry Division were crossing the English Channel aboard the Belgian troopship SS Leopoldville, traveling from Southampton to Cherbourg, France. Only a few miles from port, the ship was torpedoed by the German submarine U-486. The blast and swift flooding plunged the ship into chaos amid freezing darkness, while rescue efforts were hampered by poor communication, a shortage of lifeboats, and confusion within the harbor. As a result of the disaster, 763 American soldiers were killed, and 493 were never recovered. Some perished trapped below deck, others drowned in the icy waters of the Channel, and several courageous officers and enlisted men lost their lives while trying to save their fellow soldiers.

SSgt Bertino survived the attack and continued his military service, including occupation duty in France, where he helped prepare troops for possible redeployment to the Pacific Theater and observed the handling of German prisoners of war during the Allied occupation. After the war, he remained deeply committed to his fellow veterans through organizations such as the Windber VFW and the American Legion, and he served for many years as president of the Panther Veteran Organization, preserving the legacy of the 66th Infantry Division. He later retired from Bethlehem Steel Corporation and played an active role in the Windber community, serving on the Windber Centennial Committee, chairing the “Homecoming Day” celebration, leading his class reunion committee, and participating in the Italian Heritage Society. A recipient of the Pennsylvania Voter Hall of Fame Award, Bertino had served as an Army mess sergeant during the war, a role that carried into civilian life, where he became known as a gifted cook for family and friends. In 2009, he was chosen by fellow veterans to present the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, an honor he considered his greatest accomplishment.

Bertino died on June 10, 2020, and is now buried in the Saint Anthony's Cemetery, Windber, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.witnesstowar.org
Source of photo: facebook/Panther Veteran Organization- 66th Infantry Division