Gerald L. Berry - USMC 1968-1993

Colonel Gerald L. Berry, USMC (Ret.) recounts his experience in the Vietnam War for the Military Officers Association of America Indian River Chapter (MOAA) in Vero Beach,Fl. Col. Berry served as a USMC CH-46 helicopter pilot in Vietnam and served a major role in the helicopter evacuation of Saigon, the largest helicopter evacuation in history know as - Operation Frequent Wind.

Colonel Gerald L. Berry was raised in Anaconda, MT. He graduated from Des Moines Technical High School in 1963 and Simpson College in 1967. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on January 1, 1968 and completed flight training in November of 1968. He was transferred to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 in the Republic of Vietnam in January of 1969.

Returning from Vietnam in February 1970, Col. Berry was ordered to HMM-265, Santa Ana, Calif. After serving as assistant director of training and as a flight instructor in Meridian, Miss., he returned to the Fleet Marine Force in 1974 and joined HMM-165 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa where he was assigned as NATOPS officer. While with HMM-165 Col. Berry participated in Operations Eagle Pull and Frequent Wind. On April 29 and 30, 1975, Col. Berry flew a CH-46 helicopter non-stop for 18 hours with orders to evacuate the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. His mission culminated with the successful airlift of Ambassador Graham Martin out of Saigon signaling the end of the Vietnam War.

Returning from overseas in 1975, he was ordered to 1st Marine Brigade, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and served as operations officer of MAG-24. During 1979, he was ordered to the 12th Marine Corps District, San Francisco, Calif. as the assistant director for officer procurement.

Colonel Berry is a 1983 graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. In July of 1983 he was ordered to MAG-29 and subsequently to VMO-1 as the executive officer in September of 1983. He served as the commanding officer of VMO-1 from July 30, 1985 until February of 1987.

Col. Berry was assigned as the executive officer of The Basic School from Feb. 1987 until August of 1988. Col. Berry attended the Naval War College in the Academic year 1988-1989, where he was the recipient of the Stephen B. Luce Award. Assigned to III MEF, Colonel Berry served as the operations officer of the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade and as the commanding officer of Marine Air Ground Task Force 1-90 and 4-90. From August 1990 until July 1991 he served as deputy chief of staff G-3 then G-3 Plans at 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. In July 1991, he assumed command of MAG-36. In his last position, he was the commanding officer of MAG-36 commanding over 60 aircraft and 3,000 Marines and Sailors to support fleet operations during Operation Desert Shield.

He holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from Salve Regina College and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. Col. Berry's personal decorations include three Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Single Mission Air Medals, Air Medal (46 awards), the Navy Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon. Col. Berry has over 4,800 total fight hours and retired in 1993 after 25 years of service.

USA Warrior Stories Exec. Producer Ross Rowlinson was invited to document and produce retired USMC Colonel Gerry L. Berry's speaking engagement in January 2025 at the Military Officers Association of America Indian River Chapter (MOAA) in Vero Beach,Fl.