World War II Honoree

David Anderson Berry

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Willow, Oklahoma

Honored By

Alvin H. Roberts

Relationship

Friend

HE WAS DRAFTED 16 DECEMBER 1942 WHILE LIVING AT WILLOW, OKLAHOMA. HE WAS SWORN IN AT OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA ON 26 DECEMBER 1942. HE REPORTED TO FT. SILL FOR INTRODUCTION AND PROCESSING. HE ALSO ARRANGED FOR AN ALLOTMENT TO SUPPORT HIS ELDERLY PARENTS. HE WAS SENT CAMP CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY AND ASSIGNED TO THE 82ND ARMORED MEDICAL COMPANY AND RECEIVED TRAINING TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF MEDICAL AID TECHNICIAN. HE WAS ALSO TRAINED TO SERVICE AND REPAIR MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT USED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL. ADDITIONAL TRAINING (INFANTRY) AT CAMP BARKELEY, TEXAS. HE HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY ON MARCHES CARRYING FOOD, TENT, FOOD, CLOTHING AND BATTLE GEAR SO HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO SAN ANTONIO AND ASSIGNED LIGHTER DUTY. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE QUARTERMASTER CORPS AT FT. WARREN TO A NEW UNIT. AFTER A COUPLE OF ASSIGNMENTS HE ARRIVED AT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS AND BOARDED A SHIP BOUND FOR LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND. AFTER ARRIVING THERE AND PROCESSING HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AND SHIPPED TO FRANCE. HE SERVED THIRTEEN MONTHS IN FRANCE, GERMANY AND AUSTRIA. DURING THIS TIME HE RECEIVED THE BRONZE SILVER STAR. HIS PRINCIPAL DUTY WAS GUARDING AND OVERSEEING THE WORK OF GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR WHO WORKED FOR THE ARMY. BEFORE COMPLETING HIS DUTY IN EUROPE HE WAS AUTHORIZED A SHORT FURLOUGH TO VISIT SWITZERLAND. FINALLY IT WAS HIS TURN TO RETURN HOME SO HE SAILED FOR NEW YORK IN ONE OF THE VICTORY SHIPS. HE TRAVELED BY TRAIN FROM NEW YORK TO CAMP CHAFFEE, ARKANSAS WHERE HE WAS DISCHARGED 6 APRIL 1946.