Jack M. Berger
(Temp. Sgt. Jack Berger graduation photo from The Parachute School at Fort Benning, GA. He would hold the temporary grade for the transport until arrival at the Replacement Center Overseas at which time he would be reduced in grade when assigned to a unit with experienced NCOs)
NAME: Jack Melvin Berger
ASN: 37120692
PLACE OF BIRTH: Sta Hospital, Ross Field, Arcadia, California
DATE OF BIRTH: January 5, 1921
DATES OF SERVICE:
Army - January 19, 1942 to November 7, 1945
Air Force - January 31, 1948 to June 1, 1967
UNIT ASSIGNED: 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, C Company, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion
CAMPAIGNS: Rome-Arno, Southern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe
AWARDS (WWII): Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Purple Heart, Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation 2nd Award, Good Conduct Medal, European Africa Middle Eastern Campaign Medal 5th Award, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal
AWARDS (POST WAR): Legion of Merit, Air Force Outstanding Unit Citation, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award, Air Force NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:
Jack Berger registered for the draft on 13 Jan 1942. Jack Berger completed 10 months and 20 days of service with the National Guard. He was then inducted into the Army on January 19, 1942 at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. He attended Normoyle QM MT (Quartermaster, Motor Transport) School in 1942. He then volunteered for the paratroops and graduated Parachute School at Fort Benning, Ga on August 21, 1943. Jack Berger departed for ETO on May 17, 1944. On May 30, 1944 he arrived in Italy and was temporarily assigned to a Replacement Depot where he went through theater specific training. Jack was then assigned to 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, C Company, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion as an Anti-Tank gunner where he carried the M1A1 Bazooka. He participated in the invasion of Southern France, Operation Anvil-Dragoon. C/509 is identified as being assigned to the area around Roquebilliere in September/October 1944 (p. 299, Stand in the Door) numerous patrols were conducted during this time. In September 1944 he met a French girl named Huguette in Belvedere, France. >Before daylight 30 October 1944 C Company moved out towards Turini (p304 Stand in the Door) Orders published on November 1, 1944 awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. On December 6, 1944 at 2300, Pvt. Jack Berger went AWOL and got married to Huguette on December 7, 1944 at the Cimiez Church in Nice, France and then reported back for duty on December 8, 1944 at 1530. Another Soldier by the name of Dick Fisco also got married on the same day at the Cimiez Church.
A few days later the 509 th PIB moved out by rail and trucks to Villers-Cotterets, France northeast of Paris after being attached to the 101st Airborne Division (22 Nov 44-18 Dec 44). On 22 December 1944 at 0645 hours the 509th PIB moved out (p310 Stand in the Door) it was attached to the 3rd Armored Division under the XVIII Airborne Corps. On 23 December 1944 the 509th PIB arrived in Manhay and control was reverted to the VII Corps. C Company was loaded on trucks and moved out on the truckline running north from Bastogne to Liege also known as Route 15. There they faced the 2nd SS Panzer at a strategic crossroads known as Baraque de Fraiture. It became known as Parker Crossroads (p311 Stand in the Door). The 509th PIB held out from 22 to 30 December at Sadzot, Belgium, against two SS Panzer Grenadier Battalions, and earned the battalion its second Presidential Unit Citation. Jack Berger received his Purple Heart on February 15, 1945 for injuries received on January 5, 1945. (C Company Daily Journal). Jack's injuries were bilateral frostbite to the feet (C Company Daily Journal) and shrapnel in right leg (Discharge Papers). On 28 February 1945 Jack was transferred to the 508th PIR / 82nd Airborne. Jack was working in Germany for the Intelligence Service.
Jack was honorably discharged from the Army while in Germany as a Pvt. on November 7, 1945. Jack tried to take Huguette back with him but while in Paris the Red Cross told her that she would have to travel back with all of the other war brides. Jack took her back to Nice and she waited for her papers to arrive. On 14 Mar 1946, Jack Berger sailed from Le Harve, France on the Elgin Victory arriving in New York, NY on 23 Mar 1946. In May 1946 Huguette returned to Paris with her papers and was assigned to Camp Phillip Morris in Le Harve. The camp was awful and the ship 'Zebulon Vance' (Ship of Death) to New York was even worse. 13 babies and 360 women died while enroute.
After working several jobs Jack Berger re-enlisted as a Pfc. in the newly formed U.S. Air Force on January 31, 1948 at Offutt Field, Fort Crook, NE. He and his wife Huguette spent many years overseas serving in Rabat, Morocco 1951-1953, returned to Morocco 1955-1959, stationed at Chatearoux, France in 1962-1967. Jack Berger was transferred to the 507th Transportation Squadron, ADC at Kincheloe AFB, Michigan were he retired on June 1, 1967 as a Senior Master Sergeant with 24 years and 7 days of service.
In 1984 Jack and Huguette went to France to participate in the 40th Anniversary events in Europe. Jack had been active in supporting the museum in Ste Mere Eglise and his name is permanently listed on a bronze plaque in the museum. Jack also became a member of the Riviera Post #5 American Legion during his trip.
In 1996 Jack Berger entered a Veterans Home after suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.
16 Oct 2004 Jack Berger passed away. He is survived by his wife and children.
(Above: Pvt. Jack Berger at Fort Benning, Georgia, July 1943)
(Above Left to Right: Jack Berger, Trooper Unknown, French Girl Unknown)
(Above: Jack Berger and Huguette, September 1944)
(Above Standing Jack Berger at 'The Fort')
(Above: 'The Fort')
(Above Right: Gallagher at 'The Fort')
(Above Front: Steve at 'The Fort')
(Above Left to Right: Puerto Rican Trooper, Frenchmen, David)
Jack Berger, Rushing and Everett Reed (also a former 509er) while in the 82nd Airborne in 1945 after the end of the war
Rushing and Jack Berger
Nooah? and Jack Berger in Wannsee, Berlin, Germany
Jack M. Berger
Jack M. Berger
Jack M. Berger
Nooah? and Jack Berger in Wannsee, Berlin, Germany
(Pvt. Jack Berger is on the left with a cigar. They are approximately 10,000 feet over Germany in a C-47 Skytrain enroute to Nice, France on September 9, 1945)
(Above Left to Right: Huguette, John, Jack Berger)
(Above: Jack Berger U.S. Air Force retirement photo)
Biography researched and written by the Webmaster
Photographs contributed by the Berger Family