Alfred Morton Bergstein, MD

Alfred Morton Bergstein was born to Rachel Ulm (1856-1933) and Samuel Bergstein (1854-1939), German and Austria-Hungary immigrants, on 6 June 1891 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bergstein was the second of three children- Minnie (1888-1951) and Milton (1893-1966). The family resided in Philadelphia until the early 1900s, when they relocated to Cornwall, Lebanon County; then to Pottsville, Schuylkill County, in the 1910s (living on West Minersville St.). Bergstein attended Pottsville High School and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1915 with his M.D.- a member of the Aleph Yodh He Medical Fraternity, football, and baseball teams.

Dr. Bergstein lived in Pottsville, where he began his practice (624 Minersville St.).

Dr. Bergstein attended officer training camp at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and accepted a commission in the Officers’ Reserve Corps, U.S. Army on 13 December 1917; his brother, Milton, served in the US Navy Reserves. 1^st Lt. Bergstein remained at Ft. Oglethorpe to 3 April 1918; he left Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Calamares on 16 April with a Casual Company. 1^st Lt. Bergstein was assigned to the Medical Corps, 18^th Infantry Regiment, 1^st Infantry Division; he was engaged in the Cantigny, Marne, St. Mihiel, and Meuse Argonne Sectors, where he was gassed in May 1918 and seriously wounded via shell to the arms, legs, and head in the Exermont region (Ardennes Department) in October. 1^st Lt. Bergstein received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions near Exermont, France on 8 October;

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Medical Corps) Alfred M. Bergstein, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 18th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 1st Division, A.E.F., near Exermont, France, 8 October 1918. Under heavy shell fire, Lieutenant Bergstein cared for the wounded, although he had been severely wounded and was suffering great pain. He refused to be evacuated until all the wounded had been treated.”

Bergstein also received the French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, citation unknown, 1^st Division Silver Citation Star, “The division Commander cites the following…organizations, officers, and men of this command for distinguished conduct in the recent operations between the Argonne and Meuse…Lt. Alfred M. Bergstein, M.C., 18^th Inf., cared for the wounded and arranged for their evacuation with marked courage and commendable zeal”, and Purple Heart for his wounds on 5 October*.

1^st Lt. Bergstein spent the following months in “various hospitals as wounded combatant”, finally ending up at the Rahway (Colonia), New Jersey General Hospital #3, a facility specializing in surgical and orthopedic care. Bergstein was Honorably Discharged on 11 June 1919 at the Rahway facility.

*NOTE: Purple Heart paperwork indicates he was WIA 5 October, however, his DSC citation suggests he was not seriously wounded until 8 October. His sequence of treatment and hospital care, as well as a full description of his wounds, is unknown.

Upon his return home, Bergstein continued to work as a physician, living in Gallitzin, Cambria County, Pennsylvania at 515 Main Street- at one point, operating his practice out of said address. Dr. Bergstein was an active member of the community, becoming a commander of the Gallitzin Legion Memorial Post 174, organizer of the American Legion Drum & Bugle Corps, member of the Cambria County Medical Society, American Medical Association, and Cresson Volunteer Fire Department. Dr. Bergstein’s office moved to 815 Front Street, Cresson, sometime before the 1950s, where he died of a heart attack on 3 October 1952;

“Dr. Alfred Morton Bergstein, 61, of Cresson and Gallitzin, prominent physician in this area for the past 33 years, died unexpectedly of a heart attack last night in his office…Dr. Bergstein, it is reported, had delivered three infants last evening and was awaiting a call in a fourth case when he was fatally stricken. He complained to several patients still in his office of a pain in his chest, then collapsed and died before medical assistance could be obtained.”

“Three thousand persons walked past the bier of Dr. Alfred Morton Bergstein of Gallitzin Sunday in silent, final tribute to the community’s beloved doctor and leading citizen…Dr. Bergstein had served his community without reservation and his unselfish and tireless care of its needs during the war years, when many of the area’s doctors were in service, was expressed in their dedication to him of the Gallitzin War Memorial Book. His charities and generosity to persons of all creeds was well known”.

Bergstein is buried at Oheb Zedeck Cemetery, Pottsville, Pennsylvania, with his parents.

*NOTE: Bergstein’s headstone indicates a rank of “Captain”, however, there is no paperwork indicating this change, as he continually served as 1^st Lt., Medical Corps, for the entirety of his service.