Iowa City World War II veteran honored with handmade quilt

CORALVILLE - Bernard 'Bud” Hansen's eyes have been witness to history over the past nine decades.

On Friday, those eyes cried tears of gratitude as the World War II veteran, who served during the Battle of the Bulge and helped liberate a concentration camp in Nazi Germany, was recognized for his military service during a Veterans Day ceremony in Coralville.

'I can't say enough, how much I appreciate this. I'll never forget it,” Hansen said.

Hansen, who celebrates his 91st birthday on Monday, was drafted in 1944 during his senior year at City High School in Iowa City and shipped to Europe. He was 18 years old.

'I had never been out of the state of Iowa before,” he said. 'It was quite an experience. It's hard for me to talk about. I was a young man. I went in not knowing what I was getting into.”

Hansen's platoon was a part of the Battle of the Bulge, the last major German offensive campaign from Dec. 16, 1944, to Jan. 25, 1945.

'When we were there, it was the coldest winter they had in 30 years, and it was the most snow they had in 30 years,” Hansen said.

In fact, Berniece Hansen, Bud's 89-year-old wife, said her husband's feet were frozen in his boots, which couldn't be removed until his feet thawed. However, Hansen was never seriously injured.

Later during the war, Hansen said his platoon was sent from southern Germany to the northern part of the country to become some of the first Americans to meet the Russians in the last days of the conflict.

On the journey there, on April 15, 1945, they came upon the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp - the first Allies to ever reach the death camp.

'I'll never forget it,” Hansen said.

While entering the camp, Hansen said they found piles of dead bodies - and then, one of them moved.

The girl - 16-year-old Magda Herzberger - was on the brink of death.

'She was about ready to say goodbye,” Hansen explained, noting how the girl was just skin and bones at that point. 'She was about ready to close her eyes and die when she heard all this noise.”

Hansen said he and another GI placed the girl on a gurney. Three months later, she returned home.

However, Berniece Hansen said it wasn't until 50 years later that Hansen and Herzberger saw each other again. Berniece said they learned Herzberger was coming to Cedar Rapids to speak at Temple Judah, and they decided to attend.

'She spotted him (in the crowd),” Berniece said. 'She said she'd never forget his eyes and his face.”

The Hansens remain in contact with Herzberger, who is now 87, lives in Arizona and is the author of several books on the Holocaust.

Hansen returned from World War II in 1946 and married Berniece the following year. They are to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on Jan. 19.

Hansen's daughter, Soni Harney, 56, of Iowa City, said her father didn't talk much about his war days until he reunited with Herzberger. However, during Friday's ceremony, which took place at Lantern Park Specialty Care nursing home - where Hansen is recovering from a stroke in August - plenty of stories were shared.

Like the time Hansen came upon the auto crash that led to the death of Gen. George S. Patton in December 1945.

In honor of his service, Hansen was presented Friday with a handmade, patriotic quilt, given as part of a program through MidWestOne Bank in Iowa City. Bank employees nominate veterans they feel are deserving of special thanks. Hansen was nominated by his daughter, Harney, who is the director of human resources at MidWestOne Bank.

The quilts are created by employees and their families.

'He's so deserving,” said Sue Hansen, 61, of Fairfield, another of Hansen's daughters.

Hansen said he is now focused on recovering and getting back on his feet.

In fact, he said he needs to learn to walk in time to participate in the July wedding of his grandson, Drew Harney. Hansen and his wife are the ring bearer and the flower girl, respectively, for the wedding in recognition of their 70 years of marriage.