BG (Dr.) Elmer S. Friedberg, USAF (Ret)
is a retired
Air Force aviator,
optometric
and
Honorary member of the Armed Forces Optometric Society (AFOS)
who continues to work on behalf of Federal Service Optometry.
Curriculum Vitae
Born: March 24, 1917, Camden, New Jersey
Wife Suzanne, Children David, Deborah and Linda
Education: Graduated Camden, NJ High School 1933
Attended Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 1933-1934
Attended Pennsylvania College of Optometry 1934-1938.
Received Doctor of Optometry Degree
Post Graduate Courses: Indiana University,
Ohio State University, Pennsylvania College of Optometry
Professional Affiliations:
American Optometric Association - Member of the Committee on Military Affairs 1963-1971 Chairman 1968-1971 Consultant to Committee on Military Affairs 1971-1973 Pennsylvania Optometric Association - Vice President 1951-1952
Pennsylvania Optometry AssociationChairman of Veteran and Military Affairs Committee 1953 to 1980
Berks County Optometric Society - President 1954-1956; Secretary 1948-1951
Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry - admitted 1958.
Beta Sigma Kappa Honorary Optometric Fraternity - admitted 1957
American Optometric Foundation
Pennsylvania College of Optometry Alumni Association - life member, past vice president, presently member of the Board of Directors. Life member board of trustees Adjunct Professor of Military Optometry Emeritus
Civic Activities:
Pennsylvania College of Optometry Alumni Trustee - 1969-1971; Member President's Associates Medal of Honor 1995
Pennsylvania Selective Service System - Member, Medical Advisory Committee (Subcommittee on Optometry) 1966 to present.
American Red Cross - Chairman of Pottstown (Northern) Branch, Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter 1953-1955. Blood Service Chairman during Korean War 1951-1953
Lion's Club of Pottstown - Past President (I 958- 1 959)
Chairman, Pennsylvania Optometrists for Schweiker Committee in successful campaign to elect Richard S. Schweiker to the U.S. Senate - 1973.
Advisor to Pottstown Senior High School's Junior Air Force ROTC 1988 to Present Board Member - Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities
Member Pennsylvania State Selective Service System 1968-1973
Pottstown Area Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center - member of Board of Directors, Vice-President 1983-1984
Pottstown Drug Rehabilitation Center - member of Advisory Committee 1973 to present Human Relations Commission of Borough of Pottstown, PA 1972-1980
Pottstown, P A Civil Defense Committee 1951-1957
Member of Service Academies Selection Board for 5th Pennsylvania Congressional District - 1977 to 1992. Chairman of Air Force Academy Subcommittee
Creative Health Services - Founding Member and Board Member 1956 to present
Aeronautical Ratings:
Civilian - Pilot, single and multi-engine land planes, F.AA Commercial license Military - Navigator, US. Air Force
Military Record:
Enlisted as Aviation Cadet July 1, 1941; Retired as Colonel, US. Air Force Reserve July 1, 1968. Promoted to Brigadier General- USAF - Retired 3-26-88. Air Command and Staff School- graduated September 18, 1954.
Industrial College of Armed Forces p graduated Field Economic Mobilization Course July 1, 1952.
Formed and Command Flight A, 9014th Air Force Reserve Squadron - 1951-1965.
Decorations - Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, European-African Middle East Campaign Ribbon with six battle stars, Distinguished Unit Citation, Air Force Commendation Medal and others. Republic of France Normandy Invasion Medal
State of New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal- World War Two combat Awarded medal by French government for participating in World War Two invasion of Normandy 1944.
Member Military Funeral Honors Program - Department of Defense
Air Force Medical Service Liaison Officer to Pennsylvania College of Optometry (Appointed by Air Force Surgeon General 1974).
Academic Activities:
Adjunct Professor for Military Optometry at Pennsylvania College of Optometry 1959 to present.
Chairman Visiting Professional Staff - The Eye Institute - Pennsylvania College of Optometry 1983.
Book Review Editor, Journal of American Optometric Associations 1959-1963
Member of Editorial Council, Journal of the American Optometric Association 19731976 Member Armed Forces Optometry Society
Civilian Awards and Citations:
Chapel of Four Chaplains - Legion of Honor Award - April 1981.
Pennsylvania College of Optometry Alumnus of the Year 1984 Pennsylvania Optometric Association Optometrist of the Year 1973 - 1989 Berks County Optometric Society Optometrist of the Year 1973 & 1989 American Red Cross - Outstanding Leadership Award - 1955 Pottstown, P A Lions Club - Lionism Award - 1968 Recognition Award - Owen J. Roberts School District - Consulting Optometrist 1946-1973.
American Red Cross certificate of Appreciation for 50 years volunteer service
Organizations:
Free and Accepted Masons - Blue Lodge 254, Pottstown, P A
Reading Consistory, 32nd degree - Reading, PA
Rajah Shrine - Reading, P A
Member, Military Order of the World Wars
Member B 'Nai Brith
Member, Military Officers Association of America
Member, Retired Officers Association Member,
Jewish War Veterans
Member, American Legion
Addenda:
Co-authored article Detection of Carotid Stenosis. Published in Review of Optometry July 1985
Member of Governor's Council in Physical Fitness and Sports - 1986 Term expires December 1990
Civilian consultant for optometry to the Surgeon General, U.S. Air Force, June 1987 to present
Vice President of Scott Broadcasting Company 1986-1996
Pennsylvania College of Optometry - Board of Trustees - 1989
Philadelphia Naval Recruiting District Assistance Council- 1989
Awarded State of New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal for distinguished meritorious service in air combat during World War II in the European Theater of Operations Member of Board of Directors - Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities.
WILLOW GROVE PA CHAPTER NEWSLETTER,
February 1992
FRONT AND CENTER
by COL J. G. Santner
This month I am proud to put before you a rather unusual story about an unusua1 US Army Air Corps officer who for his first mission, which he chose to fly as a volunteer, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism. With great pride and deep respect I call upon BG (Dr.) Elmer S. Friedberg, USAF (Ret) to step front and center.
BG Friedberg, who was born on 24 Mar 1917 in Camden, New Jersey.
Enrolled at Temple University after graduating from Camden High School in 1933. In 1934 he had a rather abrupt change in career plans and entered the Pennsylvania College of Optometry from which he graduated with a degree of Doctor of Optometry in 1938. While working as an optometrist in 1939, he was so appalled by the news accounts which he read about Hitler's persecution of the Jews that he volunteered to become an Aviation Cadet in what was then the US Army Air Corps. He submitted the required transcripts, took and passed a flight physical, and waited patiently. Six months passed. He was notified that he had to take another flight physical which he took and passed. Another six months. Passed before he received a letter requesting that he report to Trenton for 'an interview. There he was told that the US Army Air Corps urgently needed personnel skilled in optics to work on the top-secret Norden bombsight. Because the colonel with whom he spoke convinced him that he would be able to apply for pilot training after he was commissioned, he agreed to attend an Armament Officer Aviation Cadet School. In June, 1941 he reported to the school in Denver, CO and was graduated on 5 Dec 1941, two days before Pearl Harbor Day. His first assignment as a 2LT was with the 46th Bombardment Group as Armament Officer. As the position of Armament Officer was non-flying. GEN Friedberg once more applied for flight training only to be told that there was a three-year waiting period before he could be considered. However, once again fate intervened and a severe shortage of navigators enabled GEN Friedberg to apply for this training. In Nov 43 he earned his wings as a navigator and anxious to go into combat, he volunteered for transfer to 410th Bomb Group, where to his chagrin he was assigned as Group Armaments Officer. He wanted to fly. But the exigencies of the service prevailed, and he remained Group Armaments Officer, although he did fly missions as navigator.
His unit was deployed to England (Gosfield. near Colchester in Essex City) where it became operational in March 44. On 25 Mar 44 GEN Friedberg volunteered to fly on a mission as an observer-gunner. As the Group neared a German airfield near Beaumont, France severe anti-aircraft fire struck the plane, knocking out one engine. The pilot had to abort and try to return to England, A check of the bomb bay revealed that one bomb had hung up, presenting a rather grave problem to the crew. The A-20 (Havoc), a twin-engine craft was losing altitude because of the weight of the bomb. Since there was no access to the bomb bay, BG Friedberg chopped a hole with an ax. He was barely able to squeeze his arm through the hole and release the bomb just before the plane reached the white cliffs of Dover. Because of his actions, the pilot was able to belly land the belly land successfully with no injuries to those aboard. Orders awarding GEN Friedberg the Distinguished Flying Cross were cut the following July, but no copy was sent to GEN Friedberg who did not receive the award until 26 long years had passed.
On D-day BG Friedberg recalls the awesome sight of our invasion forces sailing to the Normandy beaches. It seemed to him that a spectacular bridge of ships stretched all the way from Eng1and to France. Because of our overwhelming air superiority, our forces were able to cross the English Channel with no opposition from enemy aircraft and after hard fighting established a firm beachhead on Hitler’s Festung Europe.
Two months after D-Day his unit moved to Coulomierres, France where it remained, flying many missions in support of our ground forces until the end of hostilities in Europe on 5 May 1945. In Feb 46 BG Friedberg returned to the US and was released from active duty as a captain at Fort Dix, NJ and reverted to reserve status.
After a short refresher course in optometry BG Friedberg resumed his practice and his reserve activities by starting Flight A of the 9014th Air Reserve Squadron in Pottstown, PA. In a very short time be was promoted to Major and served for fourteen years as an outstanding flight commander.
On 4 Aug 1951 he married the girl of his dreams Suzanne Narella. The Korean War was in process, but he was not recalled to active duty. However, he served his country by helping to establish the Optometry Section of the Bio-Medical Sciences Corps of the newly created Air Force. Later he became Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association. During the Viet Nam War he became Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee of the American Optometric Association. He also served with the PA State Selective Service System as at the time doctors were being drafted. Currently he also serves as Adjunct Professor of Military Affairs at his alma mater, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Among his many awards and decorations are: The Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the European Mediterranean Theatre of Operations Campaign Medal with six battle stars.
Dr. Friedberg, who retired from the USAF as a brigadier general in 1970, resides in Pottstown, PA with his wife. They recently celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary.
Their three children, all college graduates. are: David, MBA, is currently looking for a new position, Debbie McAvoy, a nurse, and Linda Penney. Debbie has a charming, little girl Allison, age 6, and Linda has a son George Andrew, age 2.
BG Friedberg has served his country with love and dedication for over fifty years, earning from each of us our respect and admiration along with a well-deserved hand salute for his outstanding achievements in both war and peace.
