Charles J. Berry
Charles Joseph Berry (July 10, 1923 – March 3, 1945) was a Corporal in the Marine Corps who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II. After graduating high school Berry enlisted in the Marine Corps and upon graduating recruit training in South Carolina was stationed in Quantico Virginia and then North Carolina before being sent with 1st Parachute Battalion to fight in the Solomon Islands. After leaving North Carolina he went on to fight at Bougainville and then went to Guadalcanal for a short time before being sent to San Diego, California . While stationed at Camp Elliott in San Diego he was attached to the 5th Marine Division before being sent to the Hawaiian Islands and receiving the rank of corporal. He landed on Iwo Jima on D-Day, February 19, 1945, and was killed in action on March 3, 1945, during the action which earned him the Medal of Honor. Initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, he was re-interred in Elmwood Cemetery, Lorain, Ohio, in 1948. Biography. Charles Joseph Berry was born in Lorain, Ohio, on July 10, 1923 and graduated from Clearview High School  (Lorain, Ohio) in 1941. After graduation he went to work as a truck driver for a moving concern. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 1, 1941 when he was 18 years of age and was ordered to Parris Island, South Carolina, where he received his recruit training. Following the completion of recruit training, he was transferred for duty to the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia, but shortly afterwards was ordered to the Marine Barracks, New River, North Carolina, where he entered parachute training. After qualifying as a paramarine, he was promoted to private first class on  June 2, 1942. He sailed from San Diego, California, on March 11, 1943, and arrived in New Caledonia later that month with the 1st Parachute Battalion, he left New Caledonia in September 1943. He arrived in the Solomon Islands a few weeks after his departure, and in October 1943, went to Vella La Vella, where he remained for one month. In November 1943, he landed at Bougainville, and during that campaign, took part in the raid at Koairi Beach and in the Empress Augusta Bay action. Prior to returning to the United States in February 1944, he spent a short  time at Guadalcanal. Following his arrival at Camp Elliott, San Diego, he joined the newly organized 5th Marine Division in early 1944. In July he departed for the Hawaiian Islands with that division. He was advanced to corporal on July 22, 1944. He landed on Iwo Jima on D-Day, February 19, 1945, and was killed in action on March 3, 1945, during the action which earned him the Medal of Honor. Initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, he was reinterred in Elmwood Cemetery, Lorain, Ohio, in 1948. Awards and decorations. In addition to posthumously  receiving the Medal of Honor, Cpl Berry was also awarded several other military decorations. Medal of Honor citation. The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to for service as set forth in the following CITATION: /S/HARRY S. TRUMAN Posthumous honors. The Erie Avenue Bridge in Lorain, Ohio, was renamed the Charles Berry Bridge in 1988, in honor of Cpl Berry, a native son of the city. The destroyer escort (DE-1035) was named in his honor.