Honorary Sergeant Major of the Regiment
On October 20, 2006, in a ceremony conducted by the 2/12th Cavalry at Fort Bliss Texas. MSG (R) John Berger was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the 12th Cavalry Regiment and appointed as the Honorary Sergeant Major of the 12th Cavalry Regiment. The ceremony was led by the Thunder Horse Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel James Nickolas and Command Sergeant Major Charlie Payne who presented the certificates in front of the formed Battalion. MG Fil, the Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division, was in attendance.
John Berger entered the Army in 1959 and served twenty years before retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1979. Initially he was trained as an infantryman, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 25th Infantry Division. Later he served on the Mortar Committee at the Infantry School at Fort Benning.
In 1966 John went to Vietnam and was assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division where he was the Platoon Sergeant of the Mortar Platoon. In 1967 he returned to the Infantry School as an instructor on the Mortar Committee. After attending the Army Recruiting School, he spent the latter part of his active duty career as a career counselor in various recruiting commands. In 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, he was recalled to active duty and served at Fort Meade.
In addition to being involved in the 12th Cavalry Regiment Association, John is active in the Combat Infantryman Association and was the past commander of the Arizona chapter.
John has been married to Pauline for forty-five years and lives in Surprise, Arizona.