Bernard Sterno

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Celebrating the life of
Bernard  SternoFebruary 11, 1922 - April 23, 2010

Bernard was born in Covina Georgia on February 11, 1922 to Albert Alexander Sterno and Millie Mae Phillips Sterno. His Mother died at childbirth, and his father died the following year. He was raised by his Aunt Emma Wilkes and husband Millard Wilkes. Millard was killed in a hit-and-run auto accident in Brunswick and Emma raised Bernard. At a young age he became the family provider. At age 13, he peddled his bike to Tampa Florida in seek of work. He later became the youngest Bellhop at the Jekyll Island Club, riding his bike from Redwood Street in Brunswick down highway 17 to St. Simons Island to take the ferry to Jekyll Island to work. He later took the train to New York to work as a Bellhop. When World War II started he joined the Army and went to jump school, assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. As a paratrooper, Bernard jumped behind enemy lines, was wounded, captured, and as a prisoner of war, escaped, but could not find his unit. He went absent without leave, jumped on a departing C47 with an emergency parachute, and returned to battle. He received shrapnel wounds to his back and lost part of a finger in Holland. He saved many wounded comrades and was in the Normandy invasion. After his second capture, he was in a POW camp for months until the Russians overran the camp killing the POWs, thinking that they were Germans. Bernard jumped up in front of the shooting Russians shouting, Russians, Russians, we are Americans, Americans!, and they stopped shooting, saving many American prisoners lives.
After the war he returned to Brunswick and joined the Brunswick police department. Two years later he joined the US Air force. In his Air Force career he worked as a secret agent, radio repairman, and missile guidance technician on the ICBM program. Later he worked for NASA on the space program. Bernard was a true hero, serving the United States as a decorated war veteran all of his 88 year life. Among his many accomplishments, Bernard was a HAM radio operator, SCUBA diver and Private Pilot.
He is survived by son, Tony Sterno and his wife Vicki; daughter, Teri Lowery; grandchildren Debra Marshal, Rick Sterno, Renee Critchley, Ryan Sterno, Jena Sterno, and daughter, Anna M. Soria.

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It's been a year and a half since he passed. I learned and appreciated what he did in life more after his death than before after so many people contacted me regarding his WWII experiences. I'd like to get in touch with the families in Holland.

- Teri Lowery, Brooklet, GA

I met Bernie in a Florida campground many years ago and ended up spending a wonderful Thanksgiving with him and his wife.. He was a wonder and as a retired military man I loved his stories. A true citizen and Hero. Rest in peace.. He was a dynamo.

- Robert A Cox, Palm Bay, FL

To my sorrow I learned that our friend and great warrior Bernard Sterno is deceased ..! We knew him many years because he often visited our family in Holland. In the second world war my father brought Bernard after his jump out of the cargo plane safely through the German lines toward his soldiers friends ..! In that time I was 9 years old and I saw Bernard jumping out of the cargo plane ..! We wish his family lots of strength for the future. Antoon van der Vrande and familie. Holland

- Antoon van der Vrande, Helmond,

My condolence to the family of mr. Bernard Sterno. He was a great soldier. He contacted my grandfather in the 2e World War in Holland. My grandfather often told me a brave story of Mr. Sterno and him. Once, when he was in Holland, I believe 1998, he visited the family van der Vrande. Then I met mr. Sterno. That was a very nice moment. I'm sorry he died. With respect I will always remember Bernard Sterno as one of the liberators of Holland. In the name of fam. van der Vrande, I wish you all strength with this great lost. Holland August 26 2010. Hennie van der Vrande.

- Hennie van der Vrande, Beuningen,

My condolence to the family of Bernard Sterno. He was a great soldier. Like all of them, we will never forget them. With respect I will always remember Bernard as one of the liberators of Holland. I will take care of some personel things of him, I got a long time ago. Holland July 10 2010.

- Jaj, Gelderland Holland,

Bernard Sterno was a remarkable gentleman. I'll remeber him as long as I can remember things.

- Tevfik, Naugatuck, CT

My my Bud rest in peace.

- Bob Northcraft, Keller, TX