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Robert Worth Berry
West Point, FRIENDS
Be Thou At Peace
Posted by Douglas A Dribben '83 on December 8, 2011:
BG Berry was a consummate professional as an attorney and a professor. I was fortunate enough to have him for both semesters of Law, and took another class in the Law Department that kept me in contact with him.
As a professor, he was the best. Demanding, helpful, and truly concerned about his students, his somewhat gruff exterior at times masked a soft inner spirit. I remember well coming into class Mondays and hearing him, in a sly manner, address a "hypothetical" situation that one of my classmates had actually gotten into that past weekend. His love for and unofficial sponsorship of the Corps, through opening his quarters on the weekend to all cadets and their dates, brought him unfettered access to the secrets cadets had, and he knew everything about everyone, yet he kept confidences and never reported anything he learned to the Academy "officialdom." The trust he earned was amazing, and matched only by the support he gave to cadets.
In my senior year, he was aware that I had a desire to become a JAG, and encouraged me to return to the Law Department as a Professor someday. I did, but missed the opportunity to work for him, as he had retired before my arrival. His mentorship of me then and as I began my legal career was invaluable, and I am today a lawyer in part because of the inspiration he provided, and the professionalism and concern for all he embodied.
BG Berry was the OR for the football team and was the most involved faculty member in the lives of cadets I have ever seen, then or since. He is truly a friend of West Point, and deserves the honorary Corps membership he has been given. Be thou at peace, Sir; Well done. We who were lucky enough to know you will sorely miss you. The Army legal family has suffered a huge loss in your passing, but is far better off having known you.
Very respectfully,
Doug Dribben '83
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