On October 13, 1944, John Bergman was called up to the Army. His basic infantry training was transferred to Camp Fannin in Tyler, Texas. Then to Fort Ord in California from Tyler, Texas. The Asiatic-Pacific Theater received John. Besides serving in the 128th Infantry Division, he served in the Philippines. Then assigned to the 32nd Division’s Company K of the 128th Infantry Regiment. John received his Purple Heart while serving in the Philippines. He endured leech-infested waterways, malaria, and wounds. He went to Japan for Occupational Duty from the Philippines in the fall of 1945. John’s unit was one of the very first to touch down in Japan.
More of Bergman’s Training
John W. Bergman obtained his undergraduate business degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1969. He was born in Shakopee, Minnesota, on February 2, 1947. Later, he graduated with an M.B.A. from the University of West Florida. He received formal training in Naval Aviation Flight Training, Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command & Staff College, Landing Force Staff Planning (Marine et al. [MEB] and Air Command Element [ACE]), Reserve Component National Security and Naval War College Strategy & Policy, Syracuse University National Security Seminar, Combined Forces Air Component Command, LOGITECH, and CAPSTONE.
He remembers traveling on the troop train via Nagasaki and Hiroshima, two cities devastated by war. In addition, he also won the Bronze Star, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Presidential Situation Medal, Philippines Liberation Ribbon, and Purple Heart. John received his Army release in December 1946. Following his father’s footsteps, John returned to Kansas after serving in the military. He subsequently became a Santa Fe Depot Agent, a position he kept for a long time until retiring.
Military Service of John Bergman
After leaving the Rhode Island National Guard in 1978 to take a job in Chicago, Bergman rejoined the Marine Corps Reserve. He then served in several 4th Marine Aircraft Wing units at NAS Glenview, Illinois, including Mobilization Training Unit IL-1, HML-776, which flew the UH-1, and VMGR-234, which flew the KC-130.
In 1988, the first commanding officer appointed Bergman of VMGR-452 at Stewart Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Newburgh, New York. He established the second KC-130 squadron in the 4th MAW and oversaw the Chicago Mobilization Station from 1992 to 1994.
Bergman worked as a Special Staff Officer in 1995 in Overland Park, Kansas’ Marine Corps Reserve Support Command. He moved to the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana, in late 1997 to become Assistant Chief of Staff/G-1. Ranking brigadier general. he was appointed 4th Marine Aircraft Wing Deputy Commander.
First, Bergman served as deputy commander after being transferred in June 1998 to the Marine Forces Europe Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. Second, he was dual-hatted as EUCOM and Deputy J-3A while on active service from April to July 1999. He later oversaw the II Marine Expeditionary Force Augmentation Command Element at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before taking over as commander of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing in New Orleans, Louisiana, in August 2000.
Bergman took up leadership of the 4th Force Service Support Group in New Orleans, Louisiana, in September 2002. From 2001 to 2003, he also presided over the Marine Corps Reserve Policy Board of the Secretary of the Navy. In October 2003, he was called back to active service and appointed head of Reserve Affairs in Quantico, Virginia.
Budgeting and Spending
Bergman declared that reducing spending would be his primary focus in Congress in March 2016. In a July 2016 television interview, Bergman listed passing a balanced budget amendment as one of his three main goals, along with “using the Constitution” and “getting Congress working together” rather than being focused on political disagreement.
Bergman joined all House Republicans in voting against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 in March 2021. The act was intended to stimulate the economy and hasten the recovery of the United States from the economic and health repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current recession.
Career of John Bergman
First, John Bergman piloted the T-28 with VT-6 at NAS Whiting Field in Florida while assigned as a flying instructor. Then, after leaving the military in 1975, he piloted UH-1 helicopters with the Rhode Island National Guard in Quonset Point. Next, he served in multiple 4th Marine Aircraft Wing units at NAS Glenview, Illinois. This happened after moving his civilian career to Chicago, Illinois, in 1978. (Mobilization Training Unit IL-1; HML-776, flying the UH-1; VMGR-234, flying the KC-130). Bergman chose to establish the second KC-130 squadron in the 4th MAW.
He flew UH-1 helicopters with the Rhode Island National Guard in Quonset Point after leaving the military in 1975. After moving to Chicago, Illinois, he served in several 4th Marine Aircraft Wing units at NAS Glenview, Illinois. He established the second KC-130 squadron in the 4th MAW, and in 1988, he assumed command of VMGR-452 at Stewart ANGB in Newburgh, New York. He oversaw the largest of the 47 Mobilization Stations for the Marine Corps in Chicago, Illinois, from 1992 to 1994.
Furthermore, when he returned to active service in October 2003, he started working as the Director of Reserve Affairs. He is a member of the Reserve Forces Policy Board. The secretary of Defense appointed Bergman in charge of aiding the Department of Defense for the Reserve Components.
The Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Single Mission Air Medal with Combat “V”, Air Medal with number “1”, and OSD emblem are among Major General Bergman’s decorations.
