Lucy Berger






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Lucy Berger Family


Lucy Berger Family Genealogy

This area is being updated, but please read the great war stories and memories below.

Berger Family Members in War

Lucy's husband, Clement, was in the United States Army from May 25, 1918 to May 26, 1919.


Lucy's daughter, Laura Mae LeBlanc married Frank Romero. Frank was in the United States Army from December 21, 1942 to November 2, 1945.


Laura Mae LeBlanc and Frank Romero had a daughter; Peggy Ann. Peggy married John Earl LeBlanc. John Earl was in the United States Army from March 7, 1968 to January 1, 1970.


Lucy's son, Aldon Clement, was in the United States Navy from January 7, 1944 to January 7, 1946.


Aldon Clement LeBlanc and Belva Comeaux had a daughter, Susan Faye LeBlanc. Susan Faye married Kilren J. Cheramie, III. Kilren was in the United States Marie Corps from December 15, 1960 to June 1966.


Lucy's sister, Aline Berger married Clet LeBlanc, Sr. Aline and Clet had Clet Jr. who married Eula Marie Comeaux. Clet Jr. was in the United States Coast Guard from August 31, 1943 to April 6, 1946.


Aline Berger and Clet LeBlanc Sr.'s son, Frank LeBlanc, married Mary Joyce LeBlanc. Frank was in the United States Army from May 11, 1944 to May 2, 1946.


Aline Berger and Clet LeBlanc Sr.'s daughter, Georgia Marie, married Nolan James Fremin. Nolan was in the United States Army from July 19, 1969 to July 14, 1971.




Lucy Berger and Clement LeBlanc's son, Joseph Elmo LeBlanc (b. 10/18/1931-d. 7/25/1992), was in the United States Navy and served in the Korean War. Elmo enlisted in the Navy on January 4, 1952 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He received the rank of SR. From the time of enlistment in January until May, not much is known about Elmo's involvement. He probably endured a period of training. After training, he would have traveled to San Diego California where he would board the ship called the LST 845.

LST stands for Landing Ship Tank. LSTs are used to transport and land tanks, amphibious vehicles, and other rolling stock in amphibious assault. A common nickname was Large Slow Target because the ship could only move at 12 knots max. With the ship's speed and her valuable cargo of troops, tanks, and ammo, she was an attractive target for the Japanese planes. She had only one big gun (a 3"50 cannon) and was nearly defenseless on shallow shores because her "Tin Can Escorts" (destroyers) could not go into those waters. She had six 20mm antiaircraft guns, five 40mm antiaircraft guns, two 50-caliber water-cooled machine guns, and four 30-caliber water-cooled machine guns. The machine guns were used for firing onto the shore at enemy troops. The LST was 326 feet long, 50 feet wide and weighed as much as 480 tons when fully loaded. She could complement 8-10 officers, 89-100 enlisted men and had a troop capacity of approximately 130 officers and enlisted men. Two General Motors 12-567 Diesel propulsion engines, two shafts, and twin rudders powered the ship.

Elmo received the rank of GM3 (Gunner's Mate 3rd Class) and was assigned an Erecting Machinist 475.010 position once on board the LST 845. LST 845 took part in amphibious training operations and after overhaul; she departed San Diego on May 26, 1952 to again support U.N. forces in Korea. Arriving in Sasebo, Japan, on July 10, she spent more than 6 months in Japanese and Korean waters bolstering the naval supply line to South Korea. She departed the Far East on February 4, 1953, arrived in San Diego on March 5, and operated off southern California during the remainder of 1953.

Departing San Diego on January 25, 1954, LST 845 steamed on her third deployment with the mighty 7th Fleet in the Far East. She reached Yokosuka on February 25, and during the next 5 months cargo runs and amphibious exercises sent her from Japan to Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Inchon. On August 14, she departed Yokosuka for Haiphong, North Vietnam, to provide support for Operation "Passage to Freedom," and to provide aid to the USS Epping Forest (LSD 4) that departed Camp McGrill the day before. The Operation was designed to provide aid for fleeing Koreans from communist North Korea. The Epping Forest was part of the first elchon or group and consisted of administrative, camp and equipment operating personnel with camp gear, rations, fuel, and equipment and supplies. LST 845 was considered part of the second elchon although she left earlier than her group members-USS LSTs 887, 901, 1096 and 1149 who departed Yokosuka on August 16. Both elchons reached Typhoon Grace during passage but no damage to equipment was sustained. She reached Haiphong on August 27 and made four runs to Tourane, South Vietnam, during the several weeks. In addition to transporting military cargo, she carried civilian Korean refugees seeking to escape from Communist domination in North Vietnam. After returning to Yokosuka on October 20, LST 845 sailed for the United States on November 7 and arrived in San Diego on December 12.

While operating out of San Diego, LST was named the USS Jefferson County on July 1, 1955 after counties in 25 states. She trained along the California coast until August 13, 1957. She earned six battle stars for the Korean War. After the training period of training began, Elmo was honorably discharged on December 16, 1955 form San Diego, California. He spent 3 years 11 months and 13 days in the service, 3 years 8 months and 21 days of which were out to sea. Elmo had to serve in the Naval Reserve until January 3, 1960.

Elmo was granted to receive the Korean Service Medal (2 stars), the United Nations Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal, but he never received them because of a law in Congress that said that no soldier could receive any medals from a foreign country for his service.

Thanks to the efforts of Brent LeBlanc, Elmo's son; Carey LeBlanc, Elmo's grandson; and Elmo's wife Myrtis; the medals were obtained in the "Acadiana and Lafayette Salutes the United States Heroes of the Korean War and their families at the Second Korean War Service Medal Ceremony" on May 19, 2001, at 10:00 a.m. after the law in Congress was overturned. The medals are in Carey LeBlanc's possession.

Addresses have been obtained of those that were on the LST 845 and we are attempting to contact these soldiers to get more information.


 

Lucy Berger Family Memories

Gabrielle Stanford
Daughter of Melody and Blaine Stanford
Granddaughter of Susie LeBlanc Evans
Great Granddaughter of Aldon and Belva LeBlanc
Great Great Granddaughter of Lucy "Gam" Berger LeBlanc

"When I was a baby, I was at Gam's house with my Mom, Granny and Papa "Sug." When Gam was holding me, she was 92 years old and I was 6 weeks old. My Mom was 20. My Granny was 42 years old. Did you know that there was a duck on her wall? My Mom and Granny were pretty. Gam was looking like she was smiling and frowning."



Michael Kim
Son of Lucy Comeaux Kim
Grandson of Lillian and Ernest Comeaux
Great Grandson of Lucy Berger

"I remember going to visit Gam at the Nursing Home when I was young. I never really got to communicate well with her because she only spoke French. Since then I had always wanted to speak French, so I took French my first year in high school."




Laura Mae LeBlanc Romero
Daughter of Lucy Berger LeBlanc
Niece of Cecile, Honorine, Anita, and Aline Berger

"Cecile was sweet and always cheered you and did lovely handwork. Honorine always had a lovely smile and always looked very happy. Anita was my godmother and I loved her dearly. I can say she always tried to help and was sweet and caring. I was very close to Aline-she always tried to help me out in any way she could. Lucy was my Mother-words cannot express what she was-always so sweet and caring. I loved them all!"


Carey Joseph LeBlanc
Son of Brent and Stacy Falgout LeBlanc
Grandson of Elmo and Myrtise LeBlanc
Great Grandson of Lucy Berger and Clement LeBlanc

I can remember watching television with Gam at my grandma Myrtise's house. Gam used to hold me and talk to me in French. I can vividly remember laying down by her side and listening to her say the rosary in French. I could not understand a word of it but always enjoyed hearing her voice.


More memories to come...