Hjalmar Berentsen survived the torpedoing of the D/S Bris off the east coast of the U.S. in 1942. He later contracted tuberculosis. He cured in Saranac Lake, New York. In December, 1945, he sent the following letter from Norway to a friend named Mark Carson, a bar owner in Saranac Lake:

Hi Mark.
How are you, your wife, and every body else? Bet, you are surprised, there come a letter, allway from Norway to you. Well, as you know, how thing is in this world now. nothing chsuld surprise, any body no more. Aboard the ship, on our way too Norway, we did talk a lot about Saranac, and all those nice places, there is in that city. I did told the boys, I would send a card or a little note too you, and they all told me right then, too give you theyr best regards. We all hope we will be back there some time. You see Mark, we all liked Saranac very good. I think your Bar room, was the one we liked best of them all. Hope you don’t mind me saying so. How is all the nice ladys there use too go in your place. Say “skaal” too all of them from us Norwegian. Here in Norway, we don’t get very much too drink. Two Bottle, every third month. The beer we have, just like rootbeer. They do say, will be better after Christmas. Well, I for one like too see that first before I believe that. Things in generally is not so good. Can’t excpect any thing else, after the Germans was here, and clean out. Bet you have a hard time, too read this, my English is not so good. Us boys there was in Saranac, and around there, are now all over Norway, some whent home, other one too rest home. Then some too Sanatorium, the food is not so good. If you have time, write me a little note. You know, I like too hear how things goes over there. Perhaps I will be back some day. The best of luck too you. Hope there will allways be a crowd in your place. From one of the Norwegian boys, there was living in 15 Park Avenue. Regards Hjalmar Berentsen
Merry Christmas. A happy New Year too all of you.

For a scanned copy of the letter and a photograph of the house where he was treated, see [hsl.wikispot.org]