The Alaska daily empire., 1918-08-13
FRED BERGER IS MAJOR AND CORPS QUARTERMAsTER Juneau Man Gets Promo ton in Army Service,
 and with Pershing's
 First Army Corps. GETS FRENCH HONOR Experience with French Av- iation Squadron Results
 Getting Unique Com
 mission There.
GETS FRENCH HONOR

Major Fred V. Berger, formerly with the c. w. Young Company of Juneau, is now Chief Quartermaster of the First United States Army Corps of Gen. Pershing's army, ac- cording to Charles c. Finn, north west manager of the John Finn Met al Works, with offices and refineries at Seattle, who is Juneau visi- tor. He was promoted to the rank of Major June 25th.
 Major Berger is also member of one of the famous French Aviation Squadrons. He became a member, with his commission made out on a piece of captured German air plane, by going into battle as the gun man in a French battle plane. Tn writing of the incident, Major Berger said that he has not clear recollection of anything in the bat tie except that he was in a flock of German machines, he had found their range and was Hitting them right" A few minutes afterward his machine made a landing and the French pilot was trying to kiss him. He was cited, and given a decoration and commission in the flying squadron. The First Army Corps commander, however, refused to permit him to go in the afr any more as, he said, he needed good Quartermaster.
 F. L. Gibson to Get Commission.
 F. l.. Gibson, also formerly of C. w. Young Company, now Quar- termaster's Sergeant. has been rec commended for Second-Lieutenancy, passed his examinations and was waiting for commission, according to MT. Finn. Major Berger writes that he already had made Arrange ments to have "Gib" transferred to him as soon as the latter got his commission.
 "1 am in a disgustingly safe place." wrote "Gib." 'and am waiting to get to the Front with Fred"
 The First Army Corps has been engaged in the MarIie battle
 Finn and Berger Classmates.
 MT. Finn was high school class mate of Major Berger. Speaking reminiscently of his association with Major Berger, MT. Finn said:
 Twenty years ago last spring, Fred Berger, Tom McCleave and l sneaked away to the Presidio and enlisted in the United States Army that we might get into the Spanish American War that had just started All of us were under age, and my father caught me in time to pre- vent my being sent to the Philip pines. Fred and Tom, however, by swearing that they were year old CT than they were, were accepted and went to the, war. Both served gallantly, and made fine records. Fred retired from the army. was with the Washington National Guard for a while, and then went into bus mess, finally landing at Juneau, where he was when the big war started.
 Writing to me recently, he said he had not an idea of what had be- come of Tom McCleave, except that he knew he was in the army, until he went to the front in France. T met him. said Fred, wearing the uniform of a, Major. I was a Cap tain. We had celebration at which there were a lot of San Francisco and Seattle boys. We now meet frequently.'
 Likes Alaska. t
 This has ben the greatest trip of my 1ife.' said MT. Finn. "I have been kicking myself ever since I left Seattle because had lived in that city for thirteen years and not visited Alaska before this trfn"