Lt. Berlin entered the war as a Grenadier (bomb thrower) and was severely wounded in the First Battle of Verdun. Shrapnel shattered his left arm and he was invalided out of the service. For his heroism and devotion to duty, he received a Croix de Guerre. For his wound he received the Medaillle Blesse’ (Wound Medal).
After he healed from his wounds he applied and was accepted into the air service to train as a pilot. He was assigned to a bombing squadron, Escadrille Breguet 123, Groupe de Bombardment No. 5, in September of 1917, as a pilot and participated in many raids until the end of the war.
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