Doug Graves
Cecil C. Berry, who lives at 3799 Graves Mill Road, Graves Mill, VA 2272, will be presented the Bronze Star on Tuesday-February 19th at 3:30pm. Our United States Congressional Representative Robert Hurt (Virginia's 5th District) will personally present this award to Cecil on that date and time, at the Madison County Administrative Offices auditorium (adjacent to the Kemper Mansion-Madison, Virginia).
Staff Sergeant Cecil Claude Berry, was born March 27, 1922 near Garth Run, Madison County, Virginia to Muscoe and Mary Berry. He has lived within the Garth Run/Graves Mill area of Madison County his entire life.
During World War II Staff Sergeant Berry honorably answered his country's request for military service by being inducted within the United States Army, on December 22, 1942, at Charlottesville, Virginia. He became a Gun Commander, within the Anti Tank Company of the 394th Infantry Regiment. He saw extensive military action during World War II within the European Theatre. Specifically, he saw action in the Ardennes Offensive-Battle of The Bulge, the Rhineland Campaign, and other generally offensive actions throughout Central Europe. His Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was that of a "Gun Commander."
He qualified as an expert Infantryman and earned the coveted and highly prestigious "Combat Infantryman Badge." He also received the Good Conduct Medal, the American Theatre Ribbon, the European African Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Ribbon!
Staff Sergeant Berry was honorably discharged at Fort George C. Meade (Maryland) on February 10, 1946.
Madison County residents Mr. Gerry Stephenson, along with our good neighbor Randall Lillard, were instrumental in initiating the required administrative process seeing to it that Staff Sergeant Berry receive his long overdue award. Our thanks go out to those two gentlemen.
And, our most sincere thanks go out to Cecil for his military service, and his commitment to our Country!
Please feel free to attend the award ceremony honoring a true American hero, Staff Sergeant Cecil C. Berry. And if you do attend, please give him a big--"Thank You" for his service and commitment.
Staff Sergeant Cecil C. Berry at his home-Graves Mill, Virginia
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