Dale Bartz

Dale Richard Bartz was born January 24^th, 1921 in Phillips, Nebraska. Dale was united in marriage to Dolores on Jan 20^th 1945 after Dale’s 18 months in the service. They lived in Grand Island, where they were second-generation operators of Bartz Floral Co.

Dale enlisted in the US Navy 3 days after Pearl Harbor, on December 10^th, 1942. He served during World War II on the USS Tide he boarded the ship on May 9^th, 1943. The Tide served in the European Theatre of Operations and was assigned to minesweeping the beaches offshore the Normandy landing in June of 1944. On the day following D-Day, June 7, 1944, she struck a German mine and sank. USS Tide received one battle star for her wartime service.

Dale was wounded June 7^th when the Tide was blown up by a mine in the English Channel. He was recovering in a naval hospital and called home to his parents to tell them “I’m put together with screws and bolts—but im getting along swell and looking forward to the day when I can come home” 

Dale received a Purple Heart after his time in the Navy. 

He was discharged on June 18^th, 1945.