Naval History and Heritage Command

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Arthur Frank Berry, Jr. was born in Jacksonville, Illinois on May 29, 1907, son of Mrs. A.F. (Elizabeth Welch) Berry London, England and the late Mr. Berry. He was graduated from Venice High School, Venice, California, where he participated in athletics and was Vice President of the Student Body. He enlisted in the US Naval Reserve in June 1930, advanced from Seaman, second class to Boatswain’s Mate, first class by November 1940, and was advanced to Boatswain in April 1941. Commissioned Lieutenant (junior grade), USNR, in April 1943, he was promoted to Lieutenant in April 1944; to Lieutenant Commander in August 1946; and to date from July 1, 1954.

During the first ten years of his naval service he was assigned to the Fifth Division, USNR, at Los Angeles, and to the Section Base, San Pedro, California. After instruction at the Net School, Tiburon, California, he had duty from February 1941 to January 1942 at the Net Depot, San Pedro, with additional duty on board USS Buckthorn (YN-9) and USS Chestnut (YN-6). As Boatswain, from April 1941 until January 1942, he remained at the Net Depot, responsible for installation of nets and gate vessels. For seven months he served as Instructor and Advance Net Base Unit Commanding Officer there and from September 1942 until July 1944 he served as Executive Officer of the Net Depot, Cairns Installation Officer, Milne Bay, the SEVENTH Fleet (Advance Base Command) and as Liaison Officer to the Royal Australian Navy at Port Morseby, New Guinea.

After his commissioning, he continued duty at Milne Bay until September 1944 when he joined USS Snowbell (AN53) to serve as Executive Officer until the cessation of hostilities in August 1945. For three months thereafter he was Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of USS Stagebush (AN69), and from April to September 1946 severed as First Lieutenant of USS Eppino Forest (LSD4). He then had two months in command of USS Benham (DD-796), and as Task Unit Commander of five destroyers being deactivated.

In November 1946 he reported as Executive Officer of Surface Division 11/26, USNR, at Bakersfield, California, and after five months, served as that Division’s Commanding Officer until February 1950. The next two years he was Inspector-Instructor of the US Naval Reserve Training Center, North Hollywood, California, and from May until August 1952 was a student at the Harbor Defense School, Treasure Island. During the period August 1952 until May 1954 he was Assistant Base Operation Officer and Port Control Officer, US Naval Base, Pearl Harbor, TH; and for eighteen months thereafter had sea duty as Executive Officer of USS Henrico (APA-45), which participated in the Taehon Evacuation.

Since February 1956 he has been Commanding Officer of the US Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Training Center, Lincoln, Nebraska, with additional duty as Officer in Tactical Command of Great Lakes Training Squadron #21, member of the District Reserve Policy Board and Casualty Assistant Call Program Officer.

Commander Berry has the Naval Reserve Medal, with two stars; the American Defense Service Medal, with star; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, two stars; the World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia Clasp); China Service Medal (extended); and the National Defense Service Medal.

As a civilian, Commander Berry has been in vaudeville and motion pictures, and has been stand-in and double for Herbert Marshall. He has had four years’ law enforcement work as a member of the Harbor Police, Santa Monica, California, in the rank of Lieutenant; and was employed by the Credit Bureau, Bakersfield, California. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, and continues to be interested in athletics, particularly football, softball, tennis and swimming.

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