A Pink Mist
After four years in the Marine Corps, John Bercaw joined the United States Army and spent a year in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. After Vietnam, he served as an instrument instructor pilot at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia before joining the Illinois Army National Guard where he remained until 1990, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 and a Master Army Aviator. His medals include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with the "V" device and the numeral 21, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal with Bronze Star, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He earned a B.A. from Aurora University, Aurora, Illinois in 1977 and worked for the Federal Government. Upon retirement, he spent nine years as an instructor at Waubonsee Community College in Illinois, and now lives with his wife Cynthia in Kentucky