Wilbur Clarion Berget was born on November 25, 1916 in Gratiot, Wisconsin. He grew up on his family's farm, raising cows and other livestock. He attended local schools and graduated from South Wayne High School in 1936. Upon graduation, he helped out on the family farm before working as a carpenter. He was inducted into the Army on February 25, 1941 and set out for Campo, California where he joined the 11th Cavalry. Throughout his military service he would write descriptive letters to his parents, Alvin and Bessie, as well as to his siblings, Arlene, Donald, Genevieve, Vernon, and Vivian. He trained at Camps Seeley and Lockett in the southern part of the state for over a year before transferring briefly to Fort Benning, Georgia. By August 1942 Berget, now a sergeant in the 92nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, was stationed at Camp Campbell, Kentucky. Berget served in the Headquarters Company, where he worked to keep his unit well supplied. He traveled ahead of his unit to Camp Barkley, Texas in November 1943 to arrange for accommodations and supplies. In June 1944 he received a promotion to warrant officer, junior grade.
After a short furlough at home in the fall of 1944, Berget and his unit were shipped to Europe in September. There, they served with the 12th Armored Division throughout France and Germany. Berget made sure rations and other supplies were on hand as his unit saw significant action against the retreating German forces. After the war ended in Europe, Berget waited patiently for an opportunity to return home to his family. By December 1945 he had written his family that he expected to be shipped home shortly. However, on December 23 Berget and two other soldiers were involved in a very serious on-duty car accident. Berget received medical attention and surgery, but he died on the morning of December 24. He was buried overseas, but his family requested that his remains be delivered home, and in 1948 he was reinterred near his hometown.
