Frederick G. Berard Sr.

1917-2011

WATERVILLE - Frederick G. Berard Sr. of Waterville passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on March 12 at the age of 93. He was born in Winslow the son of Francis Berard Sr. and Gertrude (Jolicoeur) Berard.

He married Christine Rancourt at Sacred Heart Church in Waterville on April 23,1942.

Fred was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942, serving with the 99th Infantry Division in The European Theatre. He was involved in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Bronze Star. Fred also received a Certificate of Merit for meritorious service during the period 5 November 1944 to 30 April 1945. In Losheimergraben, Germany he made emergency repairs to an ammunition truck which had been disabled in the forward area. By making skillful use of field expedients temporarily repaired the vehicle and drove it to the rear. The repairs were made during darkness and while the area was under constant artillery fire.

On 17 December 1944 a 2 1/2 ton truck of the ammunition section was hit by enemy artillery fire at Murringen, Belgium. Normally the truck would have been evacuated to a higher echelon for repairs but due to the urgent need of transportation to haul ammunition during the German counteroffensive the truck was skillfully repaired by Sergeant Berard and put back into operation. The work on the truck was done under adverse weather conditions and enemy artillery shelling.

His ability to use improvised tools and equipment permitted him to make repairs which would ordinarily not have been made by a section mechanic. His efforts during the fast moving offensive through Germany were largely responsible for the efficient operation of the trucks of the ammunition section of the 394th Infantry Regiment.

Returning from the war in 1945, Fred co-owned Berard’s Auto-Body in Waterville for more than 40 years with his brother Francis.

Russian city of Kotlas presented a watch to Fred a WWII veteran and had this to say, “I wish to profoundly thank the American servicemen who helped my country during war.”

He was pre-deceased by his parents, his wife of 55 years, sisters Theresa Bunker and Ruth Totten, brothers Francis, Wallace and Ralph Berard.

Survivors include his daughter Theresa Leclerc and husband Marc of Waterville. Sons Fred (Butch) Berard Jr. and wife Jean of Oakland, Jerome (Jerry) Berard and wife Marie of Fairfield and Robert Berard of Waterville; grand children, Lisa Scruggs, Colette Rugg, Mary, Matthew and Joshua Berard, Scott and Derek Bolduc, Lisa Loisel, Kristen Berard, Tammy Pinnette and Laurie Landry; 15 great grand-children and many nieces and nephews.

To those who wish may make a donation to the American Legion Capitol Fund Honor Board in his honor at Bourque-Lanigan Post No. 5, PO Box 41, Waterville, Maine 04903 or Sacred Soup

Kitchen, 72 Pleasant Street, Waterville, Maine 04901.

A special thank you for the excellent care and thoughtfulness from the nurses and medical staff of 3 North at the Thayer Unit.

Visiting hours will be held 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, March 15th at Veilleux Funeral Home, 8 Elm Street, Waterville where members of the Waterville Elks will perform a brief Chapel Service at 2:30 p.m., the Waterville American Legion will perform their Chapel Service at 3:00 p.m. and the Waterville VFW will also perform their Chapel Service at 3:45 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 16th at St. Francis Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Grove Street, Waterville.