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Private First Class Morton Bronstein

  • Unit: 34th Intelligence Squadron
  • Date of Birth: February 10, 1931
  • Entered the Military: November 26, 1951
  • Date of Death: December 20, 1976
  • Hometown: New York City, New York
  • Award(s): National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal
  • Cemetery: Section Q , Site 1598A. Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, New York
Contributed by Advanced Placement United States History Alumni, Class of 2025
Mentored by Mr. Patrick D. Sprinkle
New York City Lab School for Collaborative Studies
2024/2025

Early Life

Morton Bronstein was born on February 10, 1931, in Manhattan, New York. He was the son of Abraham Bronstein, a Russian immigrant, and Tellie Bronstein, a first-generation American of Russian ancestry. Both of Bronstein’s parents worked as store clerks to support their household, which also included daughter Lucille, Tellie’s Russian immigrant father, Joseph Wollman, and Tellie’s sister, Lucille Bronstein. 

After graduating from high school and prior to his military service, Morton Bronstein attended Brooklyn College, where he majored in English. Also, according to the 1950 U.S. Census, at the age of 19, Bronstein also worked part-time as a librarian. However, his academic pursuits at Brooklyn College were interrupted three years into his degree program when he answered the call of duty via the Selective Service. Bronstein paused his pursuit of higher education and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

Excerpt from a census document listing demographic information for the Bronstein family.
According to the 1940 U.S. Census record, Morton Bronstein grew up in Manhattan, New York, where his household included his Russian grandfather and aunt. National Archives and Records Administration.
Lined excerpt from the 1950 Census showing information on the Bronstein family.
In 1950, according to the U.S. Census, Bronstein appeared to be quite studious, as he was attending college and working part-time in a library. National Archives and Records Administration.
Photo showing the gate of Brooklyn College.
Entrance of Brooklyn College where Bronstein was studying to obtain an English degree prior to being drafted, 1951. Brooklyn College Yearbook.

Homefront

During the Korean War, New York City, already a global powerhouse, experienced a complex interplay of economic and social shifts. As the world’s leading manufacturing, financial, and shipping hub, the city’s vast industrial capacity was partially redirected towards supporting the war effort. 

The Brooklyn Navy Yard, facing previous decline, saw a resurgence, revitalizing its workforce to refit and modernize naval vessels, including aircraft carriers, and beginning construction on the massive USS Constellation. This influx of wartime contracts boosted employment. 

Meanwhile, New York’s immense corporate headquarters, including giants like Standard Oil and IBM, played crucial roles in supplying materials and technologies. Despite this industrial might, the city also grappled with internal transformations. 

The burgeoning suburbs, driven by highway construction, began to reshape the urban landscape, notably carving through and fragmenting Bronx communities, with lasting detrimental effects. While some New Yorkers cultivated small-scale sustenance through farm gardens in city parks, reflecting a sense of local resilience, the state of New York also contributed the highest number of Korean War veterans, a testament to the city’s and state’s significant role in the conflict. Amidst this backdrop, the city’s vibrant cultural scene continued to flourish, even as the nation was engaged in a distant war.

Photo of a naval shipyard with a crane in the center.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard built and refurbished military ships to support the American war effort throughout the twentieth century, c.1952. Historical NYC.
Photo of a large battleship at sea.
The USS Iowa, pictured above on August 3, 1957, was built in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and recommissioned for the Korean War. Naval History and Heritage Command.

Military Experience

Morton Bronstein’s Air Force service during the Korean War was crucial to the intelligence efforts of the era. His service began in 1951. Bronstein underwent extensive training at several bases, including Sampson Air Force Base in New York, Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, and Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. He trained as a clerk and ultimately specialized as a Senior Crypto Operator within the 34th Intelligence Squadron. This specialized unit, focused on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, placed him at the forefront of the newly established central cryptologic organization. While his service included logistics work, his primary role involved deciphering communications and providing intelligence, which reflected the vital need for signal intelligence during the conflict. 

Deployed to Tripoli, Libya, and then Turkey, Bronstein spent 18 months overseas, where he contributed to the 6993rd Electronic Security Squadron. His dedication earned him the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

Ultimately, Bronstein prioritized his education. He left active duty early to return to Brooklyn College and transferred to the U.S. Air Force Reserves, where he served at Mitchell Air Force Base on Long Island. 

Bronstein’s application for an identification card, August 14, 1952. Portions have been redacted for privacy reasons. National Archives and Records Administration.
Bronstein’s studious disposition made him an ideal candidate for cryptography, which required longer and more in-depth training, as indicated on his DD-214 file, 1955. Portions have been redacted for privacy reasons. National Archives and Records Administration.

Veteran Experience

Upon his separation from active duty in 1955, Morton Bronstein transferred to the Air Force Reserves in Fort Hamilton, New York, where he served until 1959, while he simultaneously resumed his English studies at Brooklyn College. His life then took him to Los Angeles, California, where he married Carole Gertz in 1967. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 1976. 

Aerial photo of a military installation.
A 1957 U.S. Army aerial view photograph of Fort Hamilton, New York, where Bronstein fulfilled his military service in the Air Force Reserves. Brooklyn Reporter, June 11, 2019.

Commemoration

Tragically, Morton Bronstein’s life was cut short, as he passed away on December 20, 1976, at the age of 45. His post-military years reflected a period of personal transitions that included marriage, divorce, and a geographic relocation, alongside his continued pursuit of education, which demonstrated the multifaceted experiences common among veterans returning to civilian life. Morton Bronstein is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York.

Morton Bronstein’s grave at Long Island National Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York, April 8, 2025.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Brooklyn College Yearbooks. Brooklyn College, 1951. https://jstor.org/stable/community.35827092.

“Brooklyn Navy Yard Historic District.” United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, April 7, 2014.

Morton Bronstein. California, U.S., Divorce Index, 1966-1984. https://ancestry.com.

Morton Bronstein. California, U.S., Marriage Index, 1960-1985. https://ancestry.com.

Morton Bronstein. Official Military Personnel File, Department of the Air Force. National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Morton Bronstein. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014. https://ancestry.com.

Morton Bronstein. U.S., Veterans’ Gravesites, ca.1775-2019. https://ancestry.com.

New York. New York City. 1940 U.S. Census. Digital images. http://ancestry.com.

New York. New York City. 1950 U.S. Census. Digital images. http://ancestry.com.

USS Iowa (BB-61). Photograph. August 3, 1957. Naval History and Heritage Command (L45-138.05.01). https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/naval-subjects-collection/l45–us-navy-ships/121-140/l45-138-05-01.html.

Secondary Sources

Alexander, John. “Fort Hamilton Army Base Cornerstone Set June 11, 1825.” Brooklyn Reporter [Brooklyn, NY], June 11, 2019. https://brooklynreporter.com/2019/06/fort-hamilton-army-base-cornerstone-set-june-11-1825/.

“History of Farm Gardens in NYC Parks.” NYC Parks. Accessed November 25, 2024. https://www.nycgovparks.org/about/history/community-gardens/farm-gardens.

“Korean War Veterans By State.” U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Updated February 1, 2018. Accessed December 4, 2024. https://www.data.va.gov/dataset/Korean-War-Veterans-by-State/7tmk-t8ud/about_data.

“Morton Bronstein.” Find a Grave. Updated February 25, 2000. Accessed May 4, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/414113/morton-bronstein#view-photo=261149184.

“Morton Bronstein.” National Cemetery Administration. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://gravelocator.cem.va.gov. 

“Morton Bronstein.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed May 4, 2025. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/MORTONBRONSTEIN/7C95A18.

“New York after WWII.” Public Broadcasting Service. Accessed November 23, 2024. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/newyork-postwar/.

“New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn – Historical Photographs.” Historical NYC Blog. March 5, 2015. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://historicalnyc.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/new-york-navy-yard-in-brooklyn-historical-photographs/.

“‘The Wrong Complexion for Protection.’ How Race Shaped America’s Roadways and Cities.” National Public Radio, July 5, 2020. https://www.npr.org/transcripts/887386869.

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.