John Edward Sundberg
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
SUNDBERG, John Edward
John Edward Sundberg was born on November 1st 1926.
Mr. Sundberg was inducted into the Army on February 14th 1945, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Home at entry: Duluth, Minnesota.
He served as a Technician Fifth Grade and carpenter with the Third Engineer Combat Battalion in the Pacific Theater.
Mr. Sundberg shared the following: "The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima the day I got on board ship on August 6, 1945. Took a slow boat to the Philippines where I was assigned to the Third Engineer Combat Battalion attached to the 24th Infantry Div.
"On to Japan, Kyushu, and Shikoku to occupy and destroy artillery pieces built into the mountain sides. Kyushu would have been invaded on November 1, 1945, which was my 19th birthday.
"If the two atomic bombs hadn't worked and caused Japan to surrender, I believe I wouldn't be living."
He was awarded the following:
- Good Conduct Medal,
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal,
- World War II Victory Medal, -and-
- Army of Occupation Medal (Japan).
Mr. Sundberg was honorably discharged November 27th 1946, at Camp Beale, California.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 314.
