Bernard C. Seitz
Corporal, U.S. Army Air Forces

On 4 June 1942, Corporal Bernard C. Seitz was serving as Gunner of a B-26 Marauder Bomber of the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, 22nd Bombardment Group (Medium), Far East Air Force (Detached), U.S. Army Air Forces.

On that day, CPL Seitz’s unit was in aerial action against Japanese surface forces during an engagement near Midway Island. The success of the torpedo-bombing mission against the Japanese Navy was totally dependent on the skill, courage and devotion to duty of each of the crew members of the participating bombers. Each crew member knowingly accepted the great personal risk to his life from the concentrated gunfire of the Japanese Naval forces and fighter planes. During this first torpedo attack ever carried out by the Army Air Forces, the B-26 bomber on which CPL Seitz served as gunner was lost. CPL Seitz’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Aerial Gunner Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Bernard C. Seitz (ASN: 32027847), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Gunner of a B-26 Medium Bomber of the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, 22d Bombardment Group (M), FAR EAST Air Force (Detached), in aerial action against enemy surface forces on 4 June 1942, during an engagement near Midway Island. Corporal Seitz displayed extraordinary heroism during a torpedo-bombing mission against the Japanese Navy. The success of the mission was dependent entirely upon the skill, courageousness and unfaltering devotion to duty of the crew members of the airplanes participating, who unhesitatingly entered into the attack at great personal risk to their lives in the face of concentrated gunfire of the Japanese Naval forces and fighter planes. During this, the first torpedo attack ever carried out by the Army Air Forces, the airplane on which Corporal Seitz was gunner, was lost. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Corporal Seitz on this occasion, at the cost of his life, have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters, Hawaiian Department, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 117 (1942)

Memorialization

The remains of Corporal Bernard C. Seitz have never been recovered. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on Court 7 of the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56121925/bernard-c-seitz