Gerald David Berger
Captain, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)

Gerald David Berger was born on 7 July 1942 in San Antonio, TX.

In 1965, Gerry enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He entered the 38th Officer Candidate Course at Quantico, VA, and was assigned to the 2nd Platoon of Delta Company. He graduated on 17 December 1965 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USMCR. At The Basic School in Quantico, he was assigned to Basic Class 3-66 in the 1st Platoon of Delta Company and completed that course in May 1966. Gerry then went for additional training as an artillery officer (MOS 0802) at the Army's Field Artillery School, at Fort Sill, OK.

As an artillery officer, Gerry did a stateside tour before being posted to the Republic of Vietnam. Capt Berger arrived in-country on 24 March 1968 in the aftermath of the Tet Offensive and served in an interim assignment until July.

After completing his interim assignment, on 24 July 1968, Capt Berger assumed command of the 4.2 inch (107mm) Mortar Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force, in Quang Nam Province, which was attached to Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2/7 at the time. BLT 2/7 had made an amphibious operation (Eager Yankee/Houston IV) earlier in July in Thua Thien Province. When Gerry joined the BLT, it was conducting Operation Swift Play/Allen Brook designed to find, fix and destroy enemy forces, capture or destroy enemy materiel and destroy enemy fortifications in the Go Noi Island area, approximately 9 kilometers southeast of Hill 55 in Quang Nam Province.

On 31 July, BLT 2/7’s mission was expanded to providing security for the engineers and their heavy equipment assigned to do land clearing on the Island. This security mission required two of the BLT’s companies. Gerry’s 4.2 inch mortar battery was co-located with these security elements and the Battalion’s 81mm mortar platoon. At 04:35 on 5 August 1968, BLT 2/7s integral 81mm mortar platoon was firing a Harassment and Interdiction (H&I) mission. A defective 81mm HE mortar round exploded as it left the mortar tube, instantly killing Capt Berger and wounding three of his mortarmen. Capt Gerry Berger died in Quang Nam Province approximately 9 kilometers southeast of Hill 55 (BT 025551).

At the time of his death, Gerry was 26 years old and single.

Medals and Awards

Purple Heart
Combat Action Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Honors

The name Gerald David Berger is located on Panel W49 Line 12 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Captain Gerald David Berger is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, TN, in Fountain Lawn 'B,', Lot 653.

[Thanks to Captain Dave Mellon, USMCR, a classmate of Gerry Berger in the 38th Officer Candidate Course and Basic Class 3-66, for the valuable information he provided for this bio. Capt Mellon served as a platoon commander in Vietnam and was wounded.]