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.
Charles Joseph Berry | |
|---|---|
Charles J. Berry, Medal of Honor recipient | |
| Born | July 10, 1923 Lorain, Ohio |
| Died | March 3, 1945 (aged 21) Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Japanese Empire |
| Place of burial | Initially the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, later reinterred in Elmwood Cemetery, Lorain, Ohio |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 1st Parachute Battalion 1st Battalion 26th Marines |
| Battles/wars | World War II
|
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
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.