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Naturalization and Early Life in the US

After four years in the DP camp, Bert boarded the USAT Mercey on June 7, 1949. The ship was full of refugees from the Nazi Reich, mostly Jewish, and lasted twelve miserable days. Bert arrived in the United States on  June 19th, 1949, when the Mercey made port in New York, New York. He was met by cousins, Aunt and Uncles, and after an unexpected weeklong stay, eventually arrived in Atlanta, GA. The 22 hour train ride from NYC brought him to the Union Station in Atlanta, where he was greeted by Rabbi Tobias Geffen, who greeted him in Yiddish, and brought him back to his wife and his home. That day, June 27th, 1949, was the first day of the rest of his life. 
Bert's Alien Registration Receipt Card (front), signifying his status as a legal permanent residence in compliance with the Alien Registration Act of 1940. (1/2) Alien Registration Receipt Card (back), with date of admittance, date of birth, and other identifying details. (2/2) Bert wasted no time after arriving in Atlanta, enrolling that same fall in night courses at Central High — despite having only started learning English a few months prior. Bert's intelligence, hardworking nature, and determination to start a new life can be glimpsed here: straight A's his first ever semester of school in the US. At the time, Bert's teacher Julia Clifton told Esther that, at this rate, “he would become the most successful man in the South in whatever field he chose." By Spring of 1950, Bert had leapt from a 9th grade class level to 12th, continuing night classes while he worked as a sewing-machine mechanic for the Berger Sewing Machine Company. Another semester of straight-A's. Seven months after beginning night school, Bert graduated with his high school diploma, and would go on to take night courses for the next two years at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Bert's Declaration of Intention, filed with the District Court in Atlanta on May 4th, 1950. The document indicates his intention to become a US citizen, and includes mandatory affirmations such as renouncing all allegiance to foreign states or leaders, and the assertion of not being an anarchist. Here his name is still listed as "Dagobert Lewin." A receipt from the US Dept. of Justice Immigration and Naturalization service, indicating their receipt of Bert's application for naturalization. Dated May 26, 1952. Still "Dagobert Lewin," for now. This Certificate of Naturalization made official Bert's status as a US citizen. Dated February 5, 1953. Notably, this certificate establishes his new legal name, Bert Lewyn, changed from Dagobert Lewin primarily from a desire to ensure correct pronunciation. Bert's first ever W2 tax form, for a yearly income in 1949 of $664 (about $6,700 in 2019 dollars) from Bernard Berger Sewing Machines. For his work as a mechanic, Bert was paid 49 cents an hour ($5.11/hr in 2019 dollars). Three years later and Bert's yearly income had increased — $2693.55 from the Machine Tool & Engineering Corporation (about 28K in 2019 dollars).