Autobiographical Sketch of Ora Berkman (1890)

 

Moved from Ind. to Chicago in 1915 then traveled west to Colorado where he worked as a cowboy on ranches around Parker Colorado.

Enlisted in 4^th Division Engineers, US Army April 1917. Saw Foreign Service from 1917 t0 1918. He was gassed in Argonne Forest -near Verdun France- and was discharged in 1919.

Fourth, 4^th Division (Regulars)
Nickname: Ivy Division
- 39^th, 47^th, 58^th, 59^th Infantry (Inf.)
- 13^th, 16^th, 77^th Artillery (Art.)
- 10^th, 11^th, 12^th Machine Gun (M. G.)
- 4^th Engineers (Eng.) Major Generals Commanding: John L. Hines, M. L. Hersey.
Engaged: Chateau Thierry, Ourcq Heights, Vesle, Argonne, Rhine.

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia Description: On a light khaki square with one angle up, four green ivy leaves arranged per cross issuing from a small open circle (one leaf in each angle of the square and the vertical and horizontal axes) all within a light khaki border. Symbolism: The four leaves allude to the numerical designation of the division, while the word "Ivy" as pronounced suggests the characters used in the formation of the Roman numeral "IV." Ivy leaves are symbolic of fidelity and tenacity.

 Click to view enlarged images.

Returned to Colorado in 1920 where he met and married Hallie Swank.

Moved back to Goshen Indiana in 1926 because of economic conditions. Lived in and around Indiana and Michigan from 1926 until his wife died in 1929.

In as much he was a member of the Veterans of Foreigh War, he was to able to have his children entered into the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home at Eaton Rapids Michigan in 1929. He worked at the VFW National Home as a farm hand during 1929 and 1930.

During the later part of 1930 or first part of 1931 he moved back to Colorado where he worked at different ranches around Parker and Castlerock Area. This continued until 1934 when he married Milfred Crosby from Denver. The purchased a farm home in the Castlewood area, which is east of Englewood, Colorado.

Starting in 1934 through the depression years he worked for the WPA (Works Project Administration) wich was initated to give employment to the unemployed at that time.

In 1938 he bought his 5 children from the VFW National Home to live with him.
From 1938 through 1943 he proudle saw for of his five children volunteer for the Armed Forces, wich was participating in the Second World War.

During the years 1944 and 1945 he worked for Arapahoe County Public Works Department in Colorado. Several times during this period he was hospitalized in Fitzimmons General Hospital wich a section for Veterans.

It was at the hospital he died in December of 1945 at the age of 53 from heart condition. He now lies at rest in the Veterans Portion of Fairmont Cementry in Denver, Colorado.

Although he never a great mark in life and his name never appear in the Annals of great men, he was proud to be an American and loved his adopted country.