Vet, 89, continues to help military

At 89, World War II and Korean War veteran Bob Berry stays up-to-date on Congressional veterans issues. It’s his job.

As a member of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ Veterans Advisory Council, he has daily contact with her or her office.

This dedication follows Berry’s military career with the Army and Air Force from July 3, 1940, through July 31, 1960. Now, at a time when he could be relaxing, playing golf or doing whatever fancies him, Berry has become a graduate of the National Veterans Legal Service Program.

Lifting a 2,046-page Veteran’s Benefits Manual, he says, “Most veterans aren’t aware of what’s in here.”

Berry remains dedicated to the Armed Forces and to assisting veterans to get benefits that are rightly theirs.

Berry’s history

Berry was a newly promoted sergeant when Pearl Harbor occurred.

“I was awakened, told to get in uniform and report to the provost marshall immediately... the formerly open base in Texas was secured.”

Nothing was the same after that.

He vividly remembers the troops boarding Pullman-type trains with all windows blackened and no one knowing where they were going.

Like other veterans of World War II, many experiences are indelibly inscribed in their memories.

Berry’s war-time experiences took him to the China, Burma, India Theater; Capetown, South Africa, and Madagascar, which was then occupied by Germany and Japan.

He recalled time spent in Karachi when Pakistan didn’t exist and of travels between Karachi and New Delhi when the heat was unbearable and not being able to eat anything except bananas, which were safe because of their skins.

“I don’t know how we ever made it... It was too hot to sleep. No placed smells worse than India did then. Some got dysentery and were shipped home.”

More than 60 years later, as part of House Resolution 866, Berry is helping to promote National Veterans History Project Week and is recording two DVDs with the Library of Congress for the project.

Berry said he’s grateful to Giffords for her role in securing $18.5 million for a veterans home and $3 million for restoration of the Veteran’s Hospital campus, both in Tucson.

The state of Arizona has added an additional $10 million for the veterans home.

Does Berry ever expect peace?

“No. No. Never peace. There will always be some uprising somewhere,” he said.

“We invaded Iraq to get rid of Hussein. We should have left and gone to Afghanistan. Now it’s too late.

“Iraq will be just like it was when we went in.”

Contact Green Valley freelance reporter Ellen Sussman at ellen2414@cox.net.