Fallen Crew Members of
USS KIDD (DD-661)
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Fallen Crew Members of USS KIDD (DD-661) |
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BERNARD GUTTERMAN
Bernard Gutterman was born on November 11, 1924, to Jacob and Anna Gutterman in Cleveland, Ohio. He was one of five children including two sisters—Toby and Mintsy—and two brothers—Marvin and Sidney. Both Bernard and Marvin were destined to serve in the Navy.
Not long after graduating from John Hoy High School in 1942, Bernard joined the Navy. He enlisted on April 15, 1943, in Cleveland and reported to Great Lakes, Illinois, for boot camp. Later on, he became part of the first class of navy men to study radar. On December 23, 1943, Gutterman reported aboard the USS KIDD (DD-661) where he served as a Torpedoman's Mate 3rd class. His battle station was the portside torpedo director on the bridge of the ship. When the KIDD suffered a kamikaze attack on April 11, 1945, Bernard was one of thirty-eight sailors who lost their lives. He was 20 years old at the time. The bridge area where he |
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stood his station took serious shrapnel damage first from the explosion of the Japanese bomb and then from damaged CO2 cylinders stowed on the main deck immediately below the bridge which caused secondary explosions. Bernard was buried at sea at 1030 the following day on Thursday, April 12, 1945, along with his shipmates while the KIDD was en route back to Ulithi Atoll from the front lines.
Information for this biography of Bernard Gutterman was obtained by former KIDD crew member Richard E. Ammon, Jr., who corresponded with Bernard's brother Marvin. Marvin was also the source of the photo above. Our thanks to Mr. Gutterman for his assistance.
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