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Local military hero laid to rest
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| By: Mark J. Crawford, Editor |
September 25, 2009 |
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Bryan D. Berky
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Bradford High grad Bryan D. Berky was laid to rest in Gainesville on Saturday, Sept. 19, in a ceremony that celebrated his life and his sacrifice as a military hero.
The 25-year-old United States Air Force staff sergeant died from wounds received in battle in Afghanistan on Sept. 12.
Remarking on the number of people who filled the chapel, Berky's brother, Jeremy, expressed the family's gratitude for the outpouring of love and support they have received from their friends, the community and the Air Force.
He said his brother has always been their hero and blessed their lives in many ways. He lived his life to the fullest, whether it was rock climbing, scuba diving or playing live music. He loved excitement and taking risks, and that led to his choosing career as an elite explosives technician in the Air Force.
His loyalty to his service was surpassed only by his love for his family.
"No matter what would be going on in our lives, Bryan would always be there for support or to lend a helping hand," his brother said. Berky was outgoing and the life of the party, he added. He could always be counted on for a good time.
"Together we say goodbye to my larger-than-life big brother, Bryan David Berky. He is a hero to us all and our country and will be greatly missed," he said.
The chaplain shared the words of Berky's wife, Erin, who said the honor and respect that had been shown toward her husband was deeply moving. The couple began as the best of friends as children and married after high school. Because of that, they shared many memories, she said, the most precious of which was the birth of their son nine months ago.
"The birth of our son, Harrison, was the best day of Bryan's life. He was an amazing father with an unspeakable love for his son," she said.
She said Berky's essence will never fade and he will forever be there for the family as a father, husband, son and hero.
The chaplain added that the family would keep Berky's memory alive for his son, and it turn, Harrison would come to remind them all of his father.
The ceremony took place at Forest Meadows in Gainesville with full military honors. Berky was posthumously awarded several honors, including a purple heart, a bronze star, an Air Force combat action medal and a joint service commendation medal.
During the ceremony, more was said about the battle in which Berky lost his life. He was assisting in a humanitarian mission in aid of the World Food Organization. The unit was ambushed by militants with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
Berky immediately took up position as gunner in his vehicle, providing security for a disabled vehicle and its crew. He manned his weapon while fighting off intense enemy fire and providing cover for his team, which included the Afghan army and U.S. Marines special operations forces.
Berky was mortally wounded by small arms fire during the three-hour battle while holding his position and fighting off a tenacious enemy force.
During his most recent deployment to Afghanistan, Berky participated in 12 combat missions supporting internal security assistance forces. On one occasion, he took direct and indirect fire from insurgents and provided suppressive fire so his team could move safely back to its vehicle. Once there, he positioned the vehicle so the gunner could engage targets and so it could provided needed cover for the medical evacuation of two soldiers wounded in action.
In addition to his wife, son and brother, Berky's survivors include his parents, William and Sonya Berky of Melrose.
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©Bradford County Telegraph 2009
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