[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 281]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                      HONORING LT. BENJAMIN BERGER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 6, 2009

  Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to my very 
good friend, Lieutenant Benjamin Berger, a veteran of the U.S. Navy. In 
honor of his courage, initiative and devotion to duty, he was awarded 
the following decorations: Silver Star for heroism during the Normandy 
invasion, and the Presidential Unit Citation. On April 16, 2008, Lt. 
Berger was bestowed the title of ``Chevalier'' of the Legion of Honor 
by the President of the French Republic.
  Born in Chicago, Illinois in June 1920, Ben graduated from Sullivan 
High School and obtained his degree from Loyola University. After 
working part time for the U.S. Postal Service, he was inducted into the 
U.S. Navy as an officer in December 1942. Following basic training in 
Chicago, he was shipped off as a communications officer to the U.S. 
Amphibious Force, 3rd Division and participated in the invasions of 
North Africa and Sicily.
  In December 1943, he was assigned to England and trained as a fire 
control officer in support of the U.S. Rangers. On June 6, 1944, he 
landed at Vierille with the Army Ranger 2nd and 5th Battalions in one 
of D-Day's most dangerous assignments. Lt. Berger organized critical 
naval gunfire control support not only for his unit, but also for 
another unit whose leadership had been disrupted during the landing 
chaos. His actions contributed to a successful assault on the important 
enemy gun emplacements above the cliffs at Point du Hoc and later the 
towns of Isigny and Grandcamp. Benjamin was separated from the U.S. 
Navy at Norfolk, Virginia in October 1945.
  Ben married his first wife, Florine Perlman, in December 1941 and 
they had two children, Elise and Stephan. He retired from his position 
as Operations District Manager in Southern California for Thrifty Drug 
Stores in 1981. He married his current wife Rae Polland, who is a 
lovely vivacious lady, served as senior intern in my district office. 
They were married in June 2002, and now reside in Valley Village, 
California near their extended family.
  Madam Speaker and distinguished colleagues, I ask you to join me in 
saluting Lieutenant Benjamin Berger for his impressive military career 
and dedicated service to the United States of America.

                          ____________________