World War II Honoree

Matt C. Berry

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Giles, Tennessee

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY APRIL 26, 1941 AT FORT OGLETHORPE, GEORGIA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER, WHERE HE EXPERIENCED COMBAT WITH THE 22ND INFANTRY REGIMENT THE FOURTH INFANTRY ‘IVY’ DIVISION ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. FIRST ARMY. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY ‘D-DAY’ TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HIS REGIMENT WENT ASHORE ON UTAH BEACH, DURING THE ASSAULT ON THE GERMAN ARMY DEFENSES. HE WAS KILLED JUNE 26, 1944 IN HIS DIVISION’S CAPTURE AND OCCUPATION OF CHERBOURG, FRANCE. REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1945 AND MEMORIALIZED IN THE TABLETS OF THE MISSING AT THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE SOLDIER WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN COMBAT. THIS AMERICAN PATRIOT RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART, WHO SO GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.