Paul Karl Bergmann was born on May 14, 1919 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He served in the Army during World War II. After the war, he entered the inactive Reserves and was called to active duty during the Korean War. He settled in Milwaukee, Wis. after his Army discharge.
In the early part of World War II, Bergmann served as an instructor at Jungle Warfare School in Trinidad. As a result of this experience, he was assigned to the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) which came to be called Merrill's Marauders after their leader. He served in the Green combat team of the 2nd Battalion. Bergmann's first campaigns were in Burma where his unit was constantly under heavy fire. Bergmann was one of only 651 original members of the unit who helped to take the Myitkyima airfield.
After suffering a service-related illness, Bergmann returned to the United States. He spent some time in the hospital before being assigned as an instructor to Texas. He later served in combat during the Korean War.
