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| placeofburial =
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| placeofbirth = Port Jefferson, New York
| placeofbirth = Port Jefferson, New York
| placeofdeath = Manhattan
| placeofdeath = Manhattan, New York
| placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
| placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
| nickname = Copy
| nickname = Copy
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'''Vernon E. “Copy” Berg''' (born 10 July, 1951) was Naval Academy graduate and artist. He was the first Naval Academy alumnus to actively fight the policies against homosexuality in the services. After Mr. Berg's suit against the Navy, which had given him an ''other than honorable'' discharge as an ensign in 1976, the armed forces adopted a policy of generally granting honorable discharges to homosexuals.
'''Vernon E. “Copy” Berg''' (born 10 July, 1951) was [[U. S. Naval Academy]] graduate and artist. He was the first Naval Academy alumnus to actively fight the policies against homosexuality in the services. After Mr. Berg's suit against the Navy, which had given him an [[other than honorable discharge]] as an ensign in 1976, the armed forces adopted a policy of generally granting [[honorable discharge|honorable discharges]] to [[homosexuals]].


==Biography==
==Biography==


Copy Berg was born in 7 July, 1951 in Port Jefferson, New York. He was called Copy because he was so like his father, Cmdr. Vernon E. Berg Jr., a Navy chaplain. He obtained a Naval & Marine Reserve appointment to U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated with the Class of 1974<ref>US Naval Academy Register of Alumni (2008)</ref> with a Bachelors of Science Degree.
Copy Berg was born in 7 July, 1951 in [[Port Jefferson]], New York. He was called Copy because he was so like his father, [[Commander]] Vernon E. Berg Jr., a [[Chaplain to the Forces|Navy chaplain]]. He obtained a Naval & Marine Reserve appointment to U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated with the Class of 1974<ref>US Naval Academy Register of Alumni (2008)</ref> with a Bachelors of Science Degree.


===Naval Academy===
===Naval Academy===


While at the Academy, Copy was known to be prolific at his art which appeared in The Log Magazine, the Art and Printing Club posters, T-Shirts, Beat Army buttons, Christmas dinner programs and as centerfolds of programs and could be seen dancing across the Stage of Mahan Hall in the Masqueraders' musicals. He is quoted as saying "It's not that a Midshipman can draw, write or sing well, its that a Midshipman can draw, write or sing at all."<ref>Luckybag (1974)</ref>
While at the Academy, Copy was known to be prolific at his art which appeared in The Log Magazine, the Art and Printing Club posters, T-Shirts, [[Army Navy|Beat Army]] buttons, Christmas dinner programs and as centerfolds of programs. He could be seen dancing across the Stage of Mahan Hall in the Masqueraders' musicals. He is quoted as saying "It's not that a [[Midshipman]] can draw, write or sing well, its that a Midshipman can draw, write or sing at all."<ref>Luckybag (1974)</ref>


He sang in the Protestant Chapel Choir and [http://www.usna.edu/Music/Accessable/ensembles/mgc/mgc_index.html Naval Academy Glee Club].
He sang in the Protestant Chapel Choir and [http://www.usna.edu/Music/Accessable/ensembles/mgc/mgc_index.html Naval Academy Glee Club].
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His discharge was upgraded to honorable in 1977 as a result of the legal action.
His discharge was upgraded to honorable in 1977 as a result of the legal action.


In 1978, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that Mr. Berg and former Tech. Sgt. [[Leonard Matlovich|Leonard P. Matlovich]] of the Air Force had been unfairly discharged, although it did not reinstate them, as both had sought. Mr. Berg was discharged after an investigation revealed he was in a gay relationship.
In 1978, the [[United States Court of Appeals]] for the [[District of Columbia]] ruled that Mr. Berg and former Tech. Sgt. [[Leonard Matlovich|Leonard P. Matlovich]] of the [[Air Force]] had been unfairly discharged, although it did not reinstate them, as both had sought. Mr. Berg was discharged after an investigation revealed he was in a gay relationship.


===Life as an artist===
===Life as an artist===


After departing the US Navy, he moved to New York and earned a master's degree in design from [[Pratt Institute]] in Brooklyn. He died in Manhattan on Wednesday January 27 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title=Obituary |publisher=New York Tmes |date=1999|01|30 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/30/nyregion/vernon-berg-3d-47-gay-ensign-whao-fought-navy-on-discharge.html |last=Dunlap |First=David W. |retreived=2010|01|16}}</ref>
After departing the [[U.S. Navy]], he moved to New York and earned a master's degree in design from [[Pratt Institute]] in Brooklyn. He died in Manhattan on Wednesday January 27 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title=Obituary |publisher=New York Tmes |date=1999|01|30 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/30/nyregion/vernon-berg-3d-47-gay-ensign-whao-fought-navy-on-discharge.html |last=Dunlap |First=David W. |retreived=2010|01|16}}</ref>


67 liner feet (161 boxes) of the Copy Berg Papers are held by the New York Public Library, Manuscripts and Archives Division.<ref>{{citation/make link |url="http://www.nypl.org/archives/995?iamaselector="|New York Public Library}}</ref>
67 liner feet (161 boxes) of the Copy Berg Papers are held by the [[New York Public Library]], Manuscripts and Archives Division.<ref>{{citation/make link |url="http://www.nypl.org/archives/995?iamaselector="|New York Public Library}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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* [[USNA Out]]
* [[USNA Out]]
* [[Sexual orientation and the United States military]]
* [[Sexual orientation and the United States military]]
*[[Leonard Matlovich]]
* [[Leonard Matlovich]]
*[[Joseph Steffan]]
* [[Joseph Steffan]]


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 08:16, 17 January 2011

Vernon Edward (Copy) Berg, III
Birth nameVernon Edward Berg, III
Nickname(s)Copy
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1970-1976
RankEnsign

Vernon E. “Copy” Berg (born 10 July, 1951) was U. S. Naval Academy graduate and artist. He was the first Naval Academy alumnus to actively fight the policies against homosexuality in the services. After Mr. Berg's suit against the Navy, which had given him an other than honorable discharge as an ensign in 1976, the armed forces adopted a policy of generally granting honorable discharges to homosexuals.

Biography

Copy Berg was born in 7 July, 1951 in Port Jefferson, New York. He was called Copy because he was so like his father, Commander Vernon E. Berg Jr., a Navy chaplain. He obtained a Naval & Marine Reserve appointment to U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated with the Class of 1974[1] with a Bachelors of Science Degree.

Naval Academy

While at the Academy, Copy was known to be prolific at his art which appeared in The Log Magazine, the Art and Printing Club posters, T-Shirts, Beat Army buttons, Christmas dinner programs and as centerfolds of programs. He could be seen dancing across the Stage of Mahan Hall in the Masqueraders' musicals. He is quoted as saying "It's not that a Midshipman can draw, write or sing well, its that a Midshipman can draw, write or sing at all."[2]

He sang in the Protestant Chapel Choir and Naval Academy Glee Club.

Time in the Fleet

After graduation from the Naval Academy, Berg reported to his first ship the USS Ship (DD-XXX), the Flagship for the U. S. Navy Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean home ported is GaetaGaeta, Italy.

Discharge and Trials

His discharge was upgraded to honorable in 1977 as a result of the legal action.

In 1978, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that Mr. Berg and former Tech. Sgt. Leonard P. Matlovich of the Air Force had been unfairly discharged, although it did not reinstate them, as both had sought. Mr. Berg was discharged after an investigation revealed he was in a gay relationship.

Life as an artist

After departing the U.S. Navy, he moved to New York and earned a master's degree in design from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. He died in Manhattan on Wednesday January 27 1999.[3]

67 liner feet (161 boxes) of the Copy Berg Papers are held by the New York Public Library, Manuscripts and Archives Division.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ US Naval Academy Register of Alumni (2008)
  2. ^ Luckybag (1974)
  3. ^ Dunlap (1999). "Obituary". New York Tmes. {{cite web}}: Text "01" ignored (help); Text "01" ignored (help); Text "16" ignored (help); Text "30" ignored (help); Unknown parameter |First= ignored (|first= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ [New York Public Library {{{2}}}]

Bibliography

  • E. Lawrence Gibson, Get Off My Ship, Avon, 1978.
  • Randy Shilts, Conduct Unbecoming: Gays & Lesbians in the U.S. Military, Ballantine, 1993.

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