- Date Of Birth: July 29, 1931
- Date Of Death: March 25, 2016
- State: Florida
Colonel Carl F Bergstrom Jr. USMC (Ret)
While attending Brockport State Teachers College, Carl enlisted in the Navy Reserve on August 8, 1950. Active Duty began on Sept 9, 1951 at the Navy Boot Camp Bainbridge, Maryland. After graduation from boot camp, Carl attended Aviation Electronic Schools in Jacksonville, Fl. and Memphis, TN. His first fleet assignment was at Norfolk, VA as an Aviation Electronic Technician in ASW Squadron 801 flying the AF Guardian aboard the carrier USS Block Island.
He was accepted into the Naval Aviation Program (NAVCAD) in March 1953, completed Flight Training and commissioned a 2nd Lt USMCR in September 1954. His first duty station was MCAS El Toro, CA. He volunteered for duty in Hawaii and in February 1955 joined VMF-232 flying the FJ-2 Fury at Kaneohe Bay. During November 1955 he became a member of a “cadre” assigned to VMF 451 at Atsugi, Japan until November 1956.
His next duty assignment was with the 1st MAR DIV as ALO 3rd Battalion 7th Marines and XO “L” Company until March 1958. Returned to Kaneohe Bay with VMF 232 flying FJ-4’s, F8U-1 & F8U-2 Crusaders. Deployed aboard the USS Bennington and off- loaded at NAS Atsugi, Japan flying FJ-4’s during the Formosa Straights Crisis from May 1959 to Sept 1959. Returned to Kaneohe on Oct 1959 and attended Fleet Air Gunnery School (FAGU) at Yuma, AZ. He then became a team member of VMF-232’s F8U-2 award winning team at the ALL Navy Fighter Weapons Meet at Yuma in Dec. 1959. Also Carrier Qualified in the F8-U on the USS Ticonderoga.
Accepted into the “College Degree Program” at Omaha in March 1961. Received a BS Degree in Jan 1962. A 1 year overseas tour followed at 1st MAW MCAS IWAKUNI, Japan. Served as XO H&S Co. In 1963, he became a Flight Instructor in VT-26 Beeville,TX flying the F-11F Tiger Cat until Mar 1966. He then attended the Air Force Staff and Command School until June 1967 during which he obtained his Master’s Degree in Business from The George Washington University. His fighter pilot days were over and he transitioned to be an attack pilot in the A-4E’s at Yuma, AZ. His next assignment was VietNam and he volunteered to TRANSPAC a TA4-F from MCAS El Toro to Chulai, Vietnam. His first duty was as OIC of MATCU-67 and then Operations Officer of VMA-211 and during which he flew over 350 Combat Missions until Sept 1968.
He joined HQMC in 1968-1972 as a staff member of the Aviation Installations Section (AAJ-2. In Jan 1972 assigned as CO of the MARTD at NAS JAX, FL. until selected to attend the Army War College in June 1973 in Carlisle graduating in June 1974. An overseas tour followed at MCAS Iwakuni serving as XO MWSG-17. Assigned to the 3rd Wing at MCAS El Toro in June 1975 as XO & CO of MAG -13 until Sept 1977. Served as Chief of Staff of 5th MAB until reassigned to HQMC in Mar 1978 and became the Head of Officer Assignments Branch (MMOA) until retiring on July 1st, 1980
Moved to California in Aug 1980 and joined Home Savings of America as a Branch Manager. Retired in 1996 as a Senior Regional Vice President. Moved to Sandestin, Florida in July 2004.
Married to the former Carole Meyer in Oct 1955. Three daughters; Deborah (Fred) Breeze of Tallahassee, Florida; Laura (Steven) Reitman of Hinsdale, Illinois and Patricia Bergstrom of South Pasadena, California; two granddaughters are their pride and joy; Andrea Longhi and Allison Reitman both of Chicago, Illinois.
Awards include Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star w/V, Air Medal w/Star and numerals 28.
