Bangor man’s name added to Book of Honor Soldier killed in WWII remembered

BANGOR – Family and friends of World War II veteran Pfc. Bernard Striar gathered at the Bangor Public Library on Monday as Striar’s name was added to the Bangor Book of Honor.

Striar, an infantryman in the 350th Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, was killed during combat in Italy. The 88th Infantry was the first all-draftee division committed to battle in World War II, and was more commonly referred to as the Blue Devils.

“It’s not often enough that we remember those that did make the supreme sacrifice,” newly appointed Bangor Mayor Dan Tremble said. He remembers going to the library as a little boy and seeing the Book of Honor, but not thinking much of it. He said he realizes now, however, that sacrifices by men such as Striar allow us to celebrate Veterans Day and enjoy the freedoms we have today.

Striar was one of six men whose names were omitted when the Book of Honor was compiled in 1945 to remember Bangor residents who gave their lives in World War II. Striar is the third person to have been added to the book in the past three years, special collections librarian Bill Cook said Monday. Cook has been working in recent years to add pages to the book and has three more names to add before it is complete.

The 350th entered combat on May 11, 1944, in the drive toward Rome and entered the city about a month later. The regiment was in constant combat until Sept. 21, 1944, as part of the assault on the German defensive line in the North Appenines, also known as the Gothic Line.

The 350th successfully took Monte Battaglia without resistance that Sept. 27, but the success didn’t last long. Despite being outnumbered 4-to-1 and surrounded on three sides, Striar’s unit held its ground against more than 20 attacks in some of the toughest terrain between Sept. 27 and Oct. 3, 1944. It is recorded that 1,420 men in the 350th became casualties, including all but one company commander.

“The Blue Devils walked [or] rode through the worst of it,” Cook said Monday. “[They] stormed and shattered the biggest and best of them.”

As part of Monday’s ceremony, Striar was awarded the Bronze Star for his ground combat achievements, as well as the Purple Heart for wounds received as a result of hostile actions. His brother, David Striar, accepted the awards on behalf of the family.

Not much is known about Striar’s military service. There were few records to begin with, and the 1973 fire at the Personnel Records Center in St. Louis destroyed what little information there was.