Brother K. H. Berthoud, Jr. of Mu Lambda Chapter
Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth H. Berthoud, Jr., USMC Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth H. Barthoud, Jr. assumed his current assignment as Special Advisor for Negro Officer Procurement, G-l Division, Headquarters Marine Corps., in July 1957. Kenneth Herman Berthoud, Jr. was born December 28, 1928, in New York, New York, and attended grammar and high schools there, graduating from Evander Childs High School in 1946. He attended Lincoln University for two years prior to entering Long Island University, Brooklyn, New York, where he was graduated with an A.B. degree in October 1952. A member of the U.S. Naval Reserve from July 1947 until August 1952, he was discharged to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on August 11, 1952. He entered the Platoon Leaders Unit, 5th Marine Corps Reserve and Recruitment District, in Arlington, Virginia. In September, he was transferred to the 4th Training Battalion, The Basic School, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia. After completing the course, he was commissioned a Marine Corps Reserve second lieutenant on December 13, 1952. He accepted permanent appointment in the Regular Marine Corps on July 13, 1953. After completing the 20th Special Basic Course, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, Lieutenant Berthoud served as an Instructor's Assistant, Operations and Training Group at The Basic School until September 1953.
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From September 1953 until March 1954, he saw duty as Company Commander, First Provisional Casual Battalion, F M F , Pacific Troops; Platoon Company "A", 3rd AmTrac Battalion, FMF; and Platoon Comamnder, 325 Company, 4th Replacement Battalion, Staging Regiment, respectively, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California. He then served for five months as Patoon Leader wih Company "D", 3rd Tank Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, FMF. He was promoted to first lieutenant in August 1954. Lieutenant Berthoud's next tour of duty was as S-2 Officer, and, later, Company Executive Officer/Company Commander, Company "A", 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Rein), F M F . During this assignment, he completed the Associate Armored Company Officers Course at the Armored School, Fort Knox, Kentucky, in September 195, and the Supply Officers Course, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in April 1957. He was promoted to captain in July 1956. Transferred to the Marine Corps Supply Activity, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in July 1957, Captain Berthoud was assigned duties as Assistant Head, and, later, Head, Warehousing Branch, Material Division, until August 1958, when he became Assistant Head, Supply Branch, Support Division there, serving in the latter capacity until July 1960. Following that assignment, he returned to Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California, to become Officer in Charge, Budget and Requirements Branch, Base Material Battalion, 1st Force Service Regiment Center, Barstow, California, he served as Data Processing Planning Officer until June 1966. He was promoted to major in November 1963. In July 1966, Major Berthoud became Battalion Operations Officer, Supply Battalion, 1st Force Service Regiment, Force Logistics Command, in the Republic of Vietnam, and served in that capacity until June 1967. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in October 1967. A complete list of his medals and decorations includes: the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V", the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, the Korean Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Corner A BLACK SOLDIER'S PRAYER "DEAR GOD" I'm asking you tonight To think of me each day, I'd like to feel that as I fight, You're with me all the way. The call to arms I followed Because I thought it right, The cause itself seems hallowed In all my people's sight. Perhaps I'm just a fool To risk my life again, Maybe I'm just a tool For bigger craftier men . Am I just cannon fodder? Some people say 'tis so, They say, why do you bother? Your glory will be woe. But I've a strong conviction This is Our fight And contrary to some fiction— Two wrongs don't make a right. Freedom will never be ours If we stand idle by, This is no time to cower It's a case of do or die. And when this was is over For myself I'll ask no glory , But Great God; I pray with fervor That we'll have a different story. That my people in that day may stand In our great united land And know a new day's begun. That's why I fight, Dear God; I know that I'm not wrong; And before I rest beneath the sod. May we all sing freedom's song. By Mrs. Anne M. Harper