James Vincent DiBernardo (1934 - 2009)

Major James DiBernardo was a Prisoner of War for 1858 days during the Vietnam War.

Biography

Major James DiBernardo served in the United States Marine Corps in the Vietnam War
Service started: 1953
Unit(s): 1st Marine Air Wing/American Forces Radio -TV Network
Service ended: 1978

Birth

James Vincent DiBernardo Jr., sometimes reversed order of his name, was born on 18 October 1934 in Fulton, Oswego, New York, United States.

Marriage and Family

He was married to Sharen K. Unknown c. 1957. His wife was pregnant when he left for Vietnam. When he returned home, he learned that she had given birth to twin girls, Susan and Joy. They were 4 years old when he finally saw them. ^[1]

Children

1. Gail E. DiBernardo was born on 15 April 1958. She died on 14 October 2009.
2. Vincent DiBernardo
3. Anthony DiBernardo
4. Joy Lee DiBernardo, twin, was born on 7 June 1968. She married Earl Neldon Trimble Jr. on 27 January 1994 in Clark County, Nevada.
5. Susan DiBernardo, twin, was born on 7 June 1968.

Military Service

He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 5 June 1950. Service Number 1379343. His basic training was completed at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. His assignments can be seen in the muster rolls added in sources. Korea, Japan and Hawaii were among his assignments. He was trained as a Combat Correspondent and in public affairs. He briefly left active duty from 12 October 1958 until 1 April 1959 before he began an assignment at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

In July 1966, he received a direct commission to 2nd Lieutenant. After a brief time at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, he became the Public Affairs Officer with the U.S. Military Assistance Command in South Vietnam until he was captured.

Prisoner of War

James was a Prisoner of War from 3 February 1968 until 5 March 1973 when he returned as part of Operation Homecoming.

After a 16 hour battle, he and others were captured on 3 February 1968 during the Tet Offensive in Hue at the Radio-Television station where he was the officer in charge of the Armed Forces station. First the group was marched for 10 days and then the North Vietnamese drove them to a jungle camp in southern North Vietnam in a truck over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. He was eventually taken to the Hanoi Hilton.

Military Honors

His Bronze Star Medal with Valor Citation:

For heroic achievement while interned as a Prisoner of War in Southeast Asia from February to August 1968. Soon after Captain (then First Lieutenant) Dibernardo's capture, he and a group of prisoners began their journey to a permanent installation. During this period, he exerted himself in a positive leadership capacity, maintaining the military organization of the men at all times. In the first of the temporary camps which the group was to occupy, he instructed his group to resist against providing anything more than the most basic biographical information. Although subjected to routine cruelties for refusal to cooperate, Captain Dibernardo continued to provide leadership and guidance for his group. Through his professionalism and dedication to duty, Captain Dibernardo reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.

1. Bronze Star
2. 3 Purple Hearts
3. 2 Navy Commendations
4. Vietnamese Medal of Honor

Retirement from the United States Marine Corps

James retired on 15 June 1978. He and his family had lived in Temecula, California since 1976 and he resided there unitil his death.

Death and Burial

Major DiBernardo died of prostate cancer on 20 November 2009 in Temecula, Riverside, California, United States at the age of 75. He was buried in the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, Riverside, California. Find A Grave: Memorial #72641623

Sources

• Veteran Tributes found [here]
• The Obituary Daily Times. The Obituary Daily Times. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~obituary.
• Full obituary published 22 November 2009 can be found [ here]
• Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.
• Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It gives birth and death dates and Enlistment and Release dates.
• 1955, 6 January. Corporal at El Toro Air Base in Santa Ana, California. Unit Diary. U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1893-1958. Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159. Records of the U.S. Marine Corps, Record Group 127; National Archives in Washington, D.C. MOS 4312. 1st Replacement Battalion, Air FMFPac.
• 1955, 29 April. Unit Diary. U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1893-1958. Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159. Records of the U.S. Marine Corps, Record Group 127; National Archives in Washington, D.C. Corporal with H&HS MACG-2 1st MAW Korea. MOS A312. (He was a Corporal attached to H&HS MACG-2, 1st MAW, Korea, temp du compl. MOS 4312 (Press Man)
• 1956, June. U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1893-1958. Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159. Records of the U.S. Marine Corps, Record Group 127; National Archives in Washington, D.C. He was a Corporal stationed with H and HS MWhg 1STMaw Fmf, Korea.
• 1957, 10 January. Sergeant in Iwakuni Japan. H&HS MWHG 1st MAW FMF (Headquarters and Service Company, Marine Air Wing Headquarters, 1st Marine Air Wing, Fleet Marine Force.) MOS IS 4312. (Press Information Man)
• 1957, 29 January. U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1893-1958. Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159. Records of the U.S. Marine Corps, Record Group 127; National Archives in Washington, D.C. Rank was Sergeant. Station was Casuals MarCor CasCo DofP, c/o MarBks USNS TI SFran Calif. Drop tr to MB NTC Glakes ILL f/du
• 1958, October, Treasure Island, San Francisco. U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1893-1958. Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls. ARC ID: 922159. Records of the U.S. Marine Corps, Record Group 127; National Archives in Washington, D.C. He was a Staff Sergeant stationed on Misc Assign Conus Cas Co Hq Bn Hqmc, Henderson Hall Arlington, Va.
• United States Military Registers, 1902–1985. Salem, Oregon: Oregon State Library. James V. DiBernardo with birth, military date of 1 Aug 1969.
• Associated Press File Drawers of National, International, News Feature Name/Subject Cards, 1937–1985. Microfilm. Associated Press Corporate Archives, New York, NY. Capt. James V. DiBernardo Explains support of Col. Guy's Allegations of POWs. 13 July 1973.
• Associated Press File Drawers of National, International, News Feature Name/Subject Cards, 1937–1985. Microfilm. Associated Press Corporate Archives, New York, NY. Among 34 released POW, arrives at Clark AB, captured during 1968 Tet Offensive. 3 May 1973.

Footnotes

1. ↑ Obituary

Acknowledgements