Bartz A

2nd Lt. Albert J. Bartz was the son of Albert E. Bartz & Ida Hawkinson-Bartz and born on May 24, 1913, in Albion Township in rural Edgerton, Wisconsin. He was the fourth of the couple's seven children. The family later moved to Janesville and lived at 208 Dodge.

Albert joined the Wisconsin National Guard's 32nd Tank Company from Janesville, Wisconsin in 1932. He was later joined in the company by his brother, Robert. On October 30, 1940, just prior to the tank company being called to federal service, he was commissioned a second lieutenant.

After training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Albert took part in maneuvers in Louisiana in late summer 1941. It was after these maneuvers that the members of the battalion learned that they were being sent overseas.

Sometime after arriving in the Philippines, Albert was assigned to C Company, 192nd Tank Battalion. He was with this company when the Japanese bombed Clark Field. After the attack, Albert's tank platoon was sent out to locate Japanese paratroopers. While performing this duty, a Japanese pilot who had been captured by Filipino civilians were turned over to him. Upon completion of this duty his platoon returned to Clark Field.

On December 11, 1941, Japanese bombers again appeared over Clark Field. C Company tanks were stationed along the southern perimeter of the airfield. The bombers began pattern bombing along the southern perimeter of the airfield. Albert told the corporal with him to get into the tank. Since Albert believed he would never make it in himself, he ran for cover in a trench. As he ran, a bomb exploded in front of him. Shrapnel from the bomb hit him in the shoulder breaking his collarbone. Other shrapnel hit him and caused other wounds including one to the abdomen.

Seeing what had happened to Albert, the corporal climbed out of the tank's turret and dragged Albert to safety. He then proceeded to bandage Albert's wounds. Albert was sent to a hospital on a freight car, with the other wounded, and recovered from the wound. He then returned to duty.

A short time later, Albert was hurt when he slipped and fell into a chain that had been attached to a stalled truck. His injury was bad enough that he was sent to a field hospital in Manila. When a truce was arranged with the Japanese to allow a ship carrying wounded to leave the Philippines for Australia, Albert was selected for evacuation.

On New Year's Eve 1941, Albert sailed for Australia. As it turned out, the ship he was on was the last ship to leave the Philippines. He spent six months in the hospital in Australia then was reassigned to another unit and continued to fight in the South Pacific. During this time, he was wounded a second time. In August of 1944, Albert returned to Janesville.

For the remainder of the war, Albert was assigned to military supply movement as a Military Distribution Planning Officer on the West Coast of the United States. He rose in rank to captain and was discharged from the army on January 15, 1946.

Albert J. Bartz married Henrietta Topel. He went to work for General Motors and retired in 1970. He died on March 30, 1973, in Janesville. He is buried at Fassett Cemetery in Edgerton, Wisconsin.