By Krista Finstad Hanson

For the Times

During World War II, the 12th Armored division was called for service on September 15, 1942 at Camp Campbell, Kentucky and later at Camp Barkeley at Abilene, Texas. They left for Europe in September of 1944. They were one of 10 integrated units with African American soldiers in their ranks.

They were stationed at Tidworth Barracks in Wiltshire from October to November 11, 1944 when they arrived in Le Havre, France. They were in Alsace and then Germany in December of 1944. They fought valiantly and had heavy battle casualties at Herrlisheim and in the Colmar Pocket in the Vosges Mountains.

In March they joined with General Patton’s 3rd Army to cross the Rhine River. They fought in the Saar River region, the Danube and Southern Bavaria. They liberated concentration camps at Landsberg and Dachau. They then liberated at POW camp at Murnau. They captured German prisoners of war in April 1945 included some significant Nazi leaders.

After V-E Day on May 8, 1945 the division was a part of occupation forces in Ulm until November 22, 1945. Some went to France while others were awaiting shipment home. The division deactivated in December of 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.

Lafayette County soldier Warrant Officer Wilbur C. Berget served with the 92nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron — Mechanized, of the 12th Armored Division of the US Army.

Wilbur Clarion Berget was born November 25, 1916 in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. His parents were Alvin and Bessie (Olson) Berget.

From the 1930 & 1940 US Census, the Berget family lived in Wiota Township in Lafayette County. The household included father Alvin, mother Bessie, and children Wilbur, Vernon, Genevieve, Arlene, Vivian, and Donald. Father Alvin was a farmer working in general farming. In 1940 Wilbur was a farm laborer for no pay. 

On October 16, 1940, Wilbur Clarion Berget registered for the WWII Draft. He lived at Route 1, Gratiot in Lafayette County. His father was his employer and next of kin.

On February 24, 1941, Wilbur C. Berget enlisted in Milwaukee for service in WWII. Berget was single, without dependents. His civilian occupation was “carpenter.”

From the June 22, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Wilbur Berget Wins Promotion,” the news from Camp Barkeley, Tex., was “The appointment of Wilbur C. Berget, Wiota, to warrant officer (j.g.), has been announced by Maj. Gen. Carlos Brewer, commanding general of the 12th armored division... His present assignment is with a squadron supply.”

From the January 10, 1946 Monroe Evening Times article titled “W-O Berget Accidentally Killed Serving in Germany,” the article from South Wayne stated “Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Berget, residing near Wiota, have received word of the accidental death of their son W/O Wilbur C. Berget, 29, in Germany Christmas Eve. The government telegram stated that the lad head been injured in an auto accident and died Christmas Eve.

Warrant Officer Berget entered service Feb. 23, 1941, while residing on his parents’ farm near Wiota...

Warrant Officer Berget spent his last furlough at home in the fall of 1944 and Sept. 20, 1944, left from New Your for overseas. He served in France and later in Salzburg, Germany. His company, squadron supply of the 81st cavalry reconnaissance, served with the 12th armored division along the coast of Bavaria.

Word had been received by his family that he had been awaiting transportation to the United States in December, shortly before his death...

A member of the West Wiota Lutheran church, he served as janitor there for several years. Surviving are his parents, two brothers, Vernon and Donald, at home; three sisters, Genevieve, Vivian, and Mrs. Kenneth Anderson, South Wayne...”

From the August 22, 1948 Wisconsin State Journal article “30 Madison, Area War Dead Arrive in New York from European Graves,” the article stated “The bodies of 30 Madison and Madison area servicemen killed in Europe in World War II and being returned for burial here … aboard the army transport Lawrence Victory…” The list included Warrant Officer Wilbur C. Berget.

From the September 29, 1948 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Wilbur C. Berget Services Today,” from South Wayne, the news stated “Services for Wilbur C. Berget, warrant officer junior grade, who was killed in an accident in Germany Dec. 24, 1945, were to be held …today …Survivors include his parents, two brothers, Vernon and Donald, and three sisters, Genevieve, Mrs. Burnell Wang, and Mrs. Kenneth Anderson, South Wayne.”

Warrant Officer Wilbur Clarion Berget was repatriated and reburied in the West Wiota Lutheran Cemetery in Gratiot in Lafayette County. 

{Note: Because Berget died after the war’s end, he is not considered a WWII Fallen Soldier. However, he was killed while serving on active duty. He is included in this project because he was still in service with the occupation forces in Germany after WWII’s end.}

Thank you, Warrant Officer Wilbur Clarion Berget, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.