Charles H Bercier Jr

Charles Hardy Bercier, Jr (Charlie) died in the early morning hours of 15 April 2025, following a long illness; he was 85. Throughout his ordeal, he was continually attended by the family he loved so much and in whom he found much delight.

Born in Ferriday, LA, to Charles Hardy Bercier and Helen Louise Nurdin on 14 October 1939. Growing up in a career Navy family, Charlie spent his early years on the move and graduated from Bishop England High School, Charleston, SC in 1957. Among the graduates of this “Class of ‘57” was Barbara Anne Haring who (through God’s grace) would become his lifelong companion. The two of them went on to attend the College of Charleston in SC where Charlie was awarded his Bachelor of Science degree with Medicine in 1961.

Following their college graduation, the two of them were joined in Holy Matrimony on June 23, 1962. Charlie was then commissioned an Ensign, USNR during his freshman year of medical school at Louisiana State University where he received his M.D. in 1964. He then completed a rotating internship at the Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, VA, in 1965 and was assigned temporary duty as the Medical Officer aboard the USS Mountrail (APA-213). He then reported in October 1965 to the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Pensacola, FL, and was designated a Naval Flight Surgeon in April of 1966.

From May to November 1966, he was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 26, MCAS New River, NC. In November 1966, he deployed with HMM-262 to the Republic of Vietnam for approximately 12 months. In June 1968, he was reassigned as Assistant Flight Surgeon, MCAS Quantico, VA.

In June 1968, he reported for residency training in Aerospace Medicine to Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, earning his Master’s in Public Health in 1969. He completed two years of additional training in May 1971 at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute and was certified a Diplomate of the American Board of Preventive Medicine (Aerospace).

From August 1971 to December 1978, Charlie served as the Senior Medical Officer, USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42); Senior Flight Surgeon, Marine Aircraft Group 31, MCAS Beaufort, SC; Assistant Chief, Academic Service, Naval Aerospace Medical Institute. In December 1978, Charlie was promoted to the rank of Captain and was reassigned as Chief, Academic Service.

In January 1982, he reported to the Second Marine Aircraft Wing, FMFLANT, MCAS Cherry Point, NC, where he served as Wing Medical Officer. From August 1983 to June 1990, Charlie served as the Force Surgeon on the staff of the Commanding General of Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic. Finally, from June 1990 to June 1993 he was assigned as Commanding Officer, Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Naval Air Station Pensacola where he went on to retire from active duty service with the maximum of 30 years.

Charlie was a fiercely devoted husband and father to his four children. He is preceded in death by his wife Barbara Haring Bercier and survived by his children: Danielle Bercier (Silverhill, AL), Miriam Bercier (Jacksonville, FL), Stephanie Bercier (Pensacola, FL) and Charles Bercier III and his wife Jennifer (Silverhill, AL). He has four grandchildren: Charles Hardy Bercier IV (Mia), Ashley Bercier Webster (Jake), Zachary Alexander Bercier (Sydney), Jonathan Nathaniel Bercier; and one great grandchild: Katherine Elizabeth Webster. His time was spent with them in the woods, on the farm, at the ballpark, girl scouts, boy scouts and on the water. He poured himself into his family where his influences live on. Always active in his church, he considered the Little Flower Church Community his second home and he served over 30 years in the Knights of Columbus and other charitable and service organizations. Clearly, he left many tracks across many hearts, but most especially those of his family who miss him very much.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26