Lynn Gerald Bormann was born February 21, 1921, to Edward (1884-1946) and Elizabeth Schuster (1886-1936) Bormann, in Rome, Oneida County, New York. Lynn was the youngest of seven children. His older siblings were five brothers, Edward (1908-1984), George (1910-1967), Stewart (1913-1995), Carlton (1915-?), and Arthur (1918-1987), and one sister, Elizabeth (1916-1976).

Lynn attended Plains District School of Rome, NY, where he won various awards for speaking. In 1934, he earned awards for athletics and an agricultural exhibit at the 4-H School Fair. In 1936, he was promoted from the Junior High School to the Rome Free Academy for senior high school where he completed three years. He was a member of Zion Episcopal Church.

Lynn married Bertha Neidhart (1918-1967) on June 7, 1940. He registered for the draft on February 16, 1942, listing Revere Brass and Copper of Rome, NY, as his employer. Lynn was 6’1” tall with brown hair and brown eyes. Lynn and Bertha had three children, Mary Lou, Lynn Jr., and George. George was one of eight New Year babies born on January 1, 1943, in Rome, NY.

Lynn enlisted in the Army on March 20, 1944, in Utica, New York, as a private. He went overseas in October 1944. Lynn earned the rank of Tec 5 and served with the 1269 Engineer Combat Battalion, 7th Army of 6th Army Group, in the European Theater of Operations. Lynn died April 16, 1945, in Augsburg, Germany, succumbing to meningitis. He was buried in the U.S. Military Cemetery in Bensheim, Germany, Grave 1520, Row 7, Plot K.  and later his remains were moved to the U.S. Military Cemtery St. Avold France, Grave 80, Row 7, Plot FFF.  Bertha Bormann, his wife, received notice of his death on May 15, 1945; a memorial service was held May 22, 1945, at the Zion Episcopal Church in Rome, NY.  The American Graves Registration Service returned Lynn's belongings to Bertha in August 1945. They included a check in the amount of $22.61.  

Also listed among his belongings were his wallet, his wedding ring, photos,  and some paper work.  His wife wrote the government at least twice hoping to recover these items.  It isn't clear whether she ever recieved them. 

Tec 5 Bormann’s body was returned home to Rome, NY, on August 5, 1948. A funeral with military honors was held August 6, 1948, at the Griffin and Aldridge Funeral Home. Lynn is buried in the Rome Cemetery, Rome, Oneida County, New York. He was awarded the Rome, NY, Medal of Honor posthumously.

Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY August 4, 1948, page 2

In 1948, his widow, Bertha, married Albert Lowell, also a WWII veteran.

Sources:

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19800866/lynn_g-bormann), memorial page for Lynn G. Bormann (21 Feb 1921–16 Apr 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 19800866, citing Rome Cemetery, Rome, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by Christine Browning (contributor 48581352).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90539210/bertha_l-lowell), memorial page for Bertha L Neidhart Lowell (11 Apr 1918–Sep 1967), Find a Grave Memorial ID 90539210, citing Oak Hill Cemetery, Herkimer, Herkimer County, New York, USA; Maintained by DBT (contributor 46622280).

Fold3, https://www.fold3.com/record/701347937/bormann-lynn-g-us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954

https://www.fold3.com/image/712938305?rec=641549127

https://www.fold3.com/record/91434396/lynn-g-bormann-us-wwii-army-enlistment-records-1938-1946

HonorStates.org https://www.honorstates.org/profiles/395145/

Individual Deceased Personnel File for Lynn Gerald Bormann, National Archives, St. Louis, MI. 

Rome, New York, Medal of Honor:

https://www.omsa.org/files/jomsa_arch/Splits/1992/78102_JOMSA_Vol43_5_28.pdf

1269thEngineer Combat Battalion:, accessed at https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/1269th_Engineer_Combat_Battalion_(United_States)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1269th_Engineer_Combat_Battalion_(United_States)

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Talk%3A1269th_Engineer_Combat_Battalion_(United_States)

The National Archives WWII Army Enlistment Records:

https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&sc=24994,24995,24996,24998,24997,24993,24981,24983&bc=sl,fd&txt_24994=42121600&op_24994=0&nfo_24994=V,8,1900&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=8329208

End notes: This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project, a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3 web sites. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery. If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact hillerson@beyondbb.com.           

Date: 2/27/2024

Additional Documents