LESLIE PAUL BERNSTEIN

Army - SP4 - E4

Age: 21
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Male
Date of Birth Nov 12, 1945
From: MASTIC, NY
Religion: JEWISH
Marital Status: Single

SP4 - E4 - Army - Selective Service
4th Infantry Division

Length of service 1 years
His tour began on Jul 21, 1966
Casualty was on Mar 14, 1967
In KONTUM, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Body was recovered

Center: Silver Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal
with Campaign Star, Republic of Vietnam Military Merit Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, State of New York Conspicuous Service Cross*

Below right: Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation W/Palm,
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation W/Palm

* Leslie P. Bernstein was awarded the State of New York Conspicuous Service Cross # 14092 on May 8, 1967

Mastic Beach Hebrew Center,
the local Jewish synagogue for the Mastic/Shirley area.

Plaque on the wall inside the synagogue
donated in 1967 by “Friends of the Bernstein Family”

Every year a ceremony and parade occurs on Memorial Day, sponsored by the Mastic Fire Department,
at the Mastic Memorial Park, on Montauk Hwy in Mastic, NY for the veterans who made the Ultimate Sacrifice
and for the brave soldiers who serve and defend our nation and rights for all people.

---------Leslie Paul Bernstein's plaque------------------------------Flags flown at half-mast---------Mastic Fire Deparment procession

Plaque at Mastic Memorial Park,
on Montauk Hwy and Herkimer Street, Mastic, New York

Titmus Bridge renamed to Leslie "Paul" Bernstein Memorial Bridge
Mastic, New York - May 2008

William Floyd H.S. Armed Forces Memorial Dedication Ceremony, Mastic, NY, May 27^th, 2010,
a tribute to SP/4 Leslie ‘Paul’ Bernstein and others who made the Ultimate Sacrifice

The granite base represents strength and resilience to protect our freedom and way of life.

The “eternal” flame (top) honors the fallen heros and each segment of the flame is symbolic for human spirit,

The flame is clean, polished, and eternal representing purity, and a place of honor and hope

The Path of Honor are the red bricks surrounding the Garden of Hope with engraved special messages in the bricks.

Poetic Tribute

written and dedicated

to the brave graduates

who made the Ultimate Sacrifice

in defense of our great nation.

To visit the William Floyd H.S. Armed Forces Memorial page click on the following banner:

Leslie P. Bernstein, Basic Training Graduation Yearbook picture
at Fort Hood, Texas, 1966

Discussion at the bunker

Left to right:

Al Rucker, William Berenwick (KIA 2/16/67),
unknown, Leslie Paul Bernstein ("Bernie"),
Richard Lawrence (KIA 2/16/67)

Left to right:

SGT John Sanderson, SGT Al Rucker,
Leslie Paul Bernstein ("Bernie")

This one was taken end of Feb 1967...Co A was securing this FSB ...
The soldier dropping the mortar is Leslie P. Bernstein ... Killed March 14, 1967, when the FSB came under attack.
RIP to my good friend and God Bless.
To the right of Leslie is Lenny Cecere. 2nd from left is Richard Streck.
3rd from left is "Smitty", who got his photo in Stars And Stripes when he killed a cobra.
Photo taken 3/3/1967.
Photo and caption by Roy Dixon ( Additional identifications by Richard Streck and Don Gertenrich, Aug 2009 )

"Bernie" at the Firebase
with powder box used to
charge the round for the
mortar.

"Bernie" has a new box out
and in his hand.

Picture taken 3/3/1967.

"Bernie" at the Firebase.

Photo taken 3/3/1967.

Photos were submitted in loving memory and honor:
Bob Lawrence – brother of Richard Lawrence – KIA 02/16/1967
John A Sanderson – Sgt of A Company
Roy Dixon – Veteran of A Company
Jody Bernstein – sister
Judy Rosentel – niece
Marty Van Lith – family member
Helen Sunderman – friend
Faye Hendrickson O’Donnell

A special thank you to Roy Dixon for digging deeper to find the additional photos of "Bernie."
I know how much you miss and loved him as well as his other veteran brothers -
it warms my heart to know he'll always be loved and remembered. Thanks for sharing with me.

As always, thank you to all of "Bernie's" veteran brothers who I continue to communicate with and keep me in 1/22 loop.

To Paul’s family and our friends who came to the William Floyd Armed Forces Memorial
and those who left messages of sentiments – a big THANKS to all.

Again, a very, very big and special thank you to Bernie’s ‘veteran brothers.’
It was hard to do but I shared your memories, thoughts, information, pictures, etc. with family and our friends.
I provided answers to many, many unanswered questions and everyone was extremely grateful you shared with me.
We all comprehend how difficult it is to reminiscence events that happened in Vietnam.
I couldn’t have gotten through all this without your recollections, help, and support.
I realize for all of us, these memories and events are still very vivid and will remain as such.
I remembered ALL of you during my visit back home. Thanks again my friends!!

I would like to thank Paul’s family for their support, understanding, and help.

Also, I thank Bob Harik, Michael Belis, and Don Gert for all their help with updating Paul/Bernie’s tribute page.

A very, very special thanks to Paul/Bernie’s ‘veteran brothers’ from the 1^st Battalion, 22^nd Infantry
who so graciously communicated with me to tell me their stories, memories, thoughts, a memoir, poems, music, photos, etc.
I fully realize and understand how difficult it was and still is to go back to the very worse time and situation possible.
A time when it was too fast and furious, no time to reflect, but you all remembered.
You were all so wonderful with sharing, answering my questions, and providing solace to me.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart and will always remember you all.
Paul/Bernie will never be forgotten, a hero who paid the ultimate price. Thank you my friends!