Not only did World War II veteran Dominic Bersani celebrate turning 99 years old on Nov. 20, but the former Navy Seabee received birthday surprises he will likely never forget.
Bersani, from East Greenbush, New York, was given an honorary diploma from Columbia High School and military medals during an event held by the Rev. Francis A. Kelley Military Honor Society and the Lois Wilson Memorial Breakfast Club at the Melvin Roads American Legion Post. He served as a fireman first class during the war.
Bersani received his diploma from the Operation Recognition Program, a project that helps veterans who never completed their high school education due to joining the service finally receive their long-overdue diplomas. He is now a proud graduate of Columbia High’s Class of 2025. He joined fellow veteran Abram Seeberger, 88, of Schodack, New York, who also received an honorary diploma earlier in the year.
Several distinguished veterans and veteran advocates attended the ceremony, including Kelley Society spokesman Tom Mullins, a military historian who presided over the event.
New York State Sen. Jacob Ashby, veteran of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, awarded Bersani the Asiatic-Pacific Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal, and read a proclamation to the Navy veteran.
In addition, retired Marine Sgt. Ken Wells handed Bersani his Navy Good Conduct Medal, Cold War Commemorative Medal and National Defense Service Medal.
Leaving School to Serve
Not fond of academics, Bersani left school in eighth grade while attending Norridgewock Junior High School in Maine.
“I didn’t like French lessons so much that on my last day of school, I threw the textbook down and quit school,” Bersani told the Albany-Times Union. “I immediately went to work in a shoe factory.”
After spending a few years gluing soles to the bottom of shoes, Bersani joined the Navy. America had entered World War II, and he felt obligated to serve.
“The day I turned 17, I joined the Navy,” Bersani said.
Japanese forces were winning battles in the Pacific and getting dangerously close to U.S. soil. After Japan captured Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Islands in late spring 1943, both the U.S. and Canada sent troops to drive out the Rising Sun.
Part of the Seabees, Bersani was sent to Adak Island to construct a staging area complete with air bases, forts, and deep-water ports to assist in defense strategies to thwart Japanese forces from the string of islands off the southern coast of Alaska. Powered by 35,000 U.S. and Canadian troops, the allied forces drove out about 9,000 Japanese soldiers.
The Seabees, Naval Construction Battalions, were vital during the Second World War, constructing military infrastructure and lending a hand in combat missions throughout both the Pacific and European theaters. The Seabees’ motto is “Can Do!” and members certainly lived up to it during the war.
Navy Calls Again
After the war, Bersani served in the Aleutians until he received an honorable discharge in 1946. He came home to Maine and his job in the shoe factory.
Bersani reenlisted in the Navy in 1949 and was promoted to ship serviceman third class. He was stationed in Florida where he worked on fixing and shipping landing crafts off to the Navy during the Korean War.
With Cold War tensions on the rise, Bersani was deployed to missions in Cuba and the Caribbean in 1954 before receiving another honorable discharge.
Following his military career, Bersani became a bridge builder, working for Cinbro Construction in Maine. He later retired and relocated to East Greenbush. Seven decades removed from the service, Bersani is still active in local veterans groups.
