Sidney Bryan Berry

Sidney Bryan Berry (February 10, 1926 – July 1, 2013) was a United States Army Lieutenant General, Superintendent of West Point (1974–1977), and Commissioner of Public Safety for the state of Mississippi (1980–1984).

Early life and education

Berry was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on February 10, 1926. He received his appointment to the academy from Mississippi, graduating 160th in his class from West Point in 1948. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry branch, and assigned to his first unit in Japan in 1949.

After duty in the Korean War, he earned a graduate degree from Columbia University (1951–1953). He was a military assistant to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara (1961–1964), traveling to South Vietnam on multiple occasions. 1964–65, Berry was a student at the U.S. Army War College, in Carlisle Barracks, PA.

He would serve two and a half years in the Vietnam War between 1965 and 1971. His second combat wound occurred during his first tour (1965–1966) when he was serving as senior Military Assistance Command, Vietnam adviser to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam 7th Division. His awards for his service in South Vietnam included the Distinguished Service Medal, 2 Silver Stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Legions of Merit, the Purple Heart, 42 Air Medals, and a second Combat Infantryman Badge. Following his tour as USMA Superintendent, Berry commanded the V Corps, US Army, Europe, from 1977 to 1980. He retired from active military service on 1 March 1980.

Decorations

Post military Upon retirement from the military Berry served as Mississippi's Commissioner of Public Safety, 1980–1984. He then retired to Pennsylvania.

Berry died at a retirement home in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 2013, of complications from Parkinson's disease. At his death he was 87 and was survived by his wife of 64 years, Anne; two daughters, a son and 12 grandchildren.