Services Sunday for World War II vet Bernie Tuvman, stalag POW

It was a privilege recently to meet Bernard M. Tuvman, an Army Air Corps waist gunner whose B-17 Flying Fortress was shot down during World War II. Tuvman parachuted from his spiraling aircraft and was held as a POW in Stalag 17 for 20 months before his liberation at the end of the war.

And now I’m sorry to report that Tuvman, a long-time resident of West Los Angeles, died this week, at 91, after several weeks of failing health.

I met Tuvman at the Home for Heroes hospital at the West L.A. VA, where he had formed a rich friendship with his roomate, Phil Nadler, whose plane was shot down over the Pacific during World War II.

Tuvman, who worked for many years as a glazier, and Nadler, an attorney, formed a fast bond, comforting each other as they lay side-by-side in their hospital beds. When Tuvman, a Massachussetts native, was temporarily moved to a critical care unit recently, Nadler told me:

“I didn’t like it one bit.”

After Tuvman’s passing, his son, Paul, went to the hospital to check on Nadler.

“He was sad and we shed some tears reminiscing about Dad,” Paul Tuvman said.

Tuvman then went up to Room 211, where his father had spent his last days, and saw that a U.S. flag had been draped over his bed by the medical staff.

“I was all choked up and was deeply moved by this tribute,” Paul Tuvman said.

Tuvman is survived by his wife of many years, Estelle, and their sons Paul and Ken.

Services wiill be held Sunday at 11 a.m. at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Ave., Los Angeles.

ALSO:

Two Pomona gang members charged with murder

Suspect booked in stabbing of Dodgers fan, held under observation

Coyote snare traps called inhumane, L.A. councilman wants to ban them

@LATstevelopez

steve.lopez@latimes.com