Kenneth Berube (Class of 1966) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War, 1965-2010
John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu
Published in 2016
Collection Overview
| Title: | Kenneth Berube (Class of 1966) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War |
| Date range: | 1965-2010 |
| Creator: | Lowrance, Bill |
| Extent: | 0.5 Linear feet |
| Abstract: | Kenneth Allen Berube (1943-1967), Class of 1966, is honored on Panel 24E, Row 99 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, in Washington, D.C. and on Brown University’s War Memorial, installed on the Ruth J. Simmons Quadrangle, near Soldier's Arch. This collection contains photocopies of official papers and low-quality images documenting Berube’s military career, and personal recollections of two Marines who served with him in Vietnam. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts |
| Collection number: | AMS.1U.B10 |
Scope & content
Kenneth Allen Berube (1943-1967), Class of 1966, is honored on Panel 24E, Row 99 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, in Washington, D.C. and on Brown University’s War Memorial, installed on the Ruth J. Simmons Quadrangle, near Soldier's Arch. This collection contains photocopies of official papers and low-quality images documenting Berube’s military career, and personal recollections of two Marines who served with him in Vietnam.Access Points
Subject Names Subject Organizations- Brown University. Class of 1966.
- United States. Department of the Navy.
- United States. Marine Attack Squadron 211.
- United States. Marine Corps.
- United States. Navy. Medals, badges, decorations, etc.
- United States. Navy. Pre-Flight School (Pensacola, Fla.).
- Vietnam Veterans Archive (Brown University).
- Air pilots, Military
- Airplanes--Piloting
- Beechcraft T-34 (Training plane)
- Bombing, Aerial--Vietnam
- Skyhawk (Jet attack plane)
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Aerial operations, American
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Casualties
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Social aspects
Arrangement
This collection is contained in five folders and is predominantly photocopies of original documents and photographs of or about Kenneth A. Berube.
Biographical Note
Captain Kenneth Allen Berube (1943-1967), Brown University Class of 1966, is honored on Panel 24E, Row 99 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and on Brown University’s War Memorial, installed on the Ruth J. Simmons Quadrangle, near Soldier's Arch. Kenneth Berube was born in Springfield, Massachusetts and lived in Monson, Massachusetts where he was an outstanding student and worker at Monson Academy, graduating in 1961. He attended Brown University and entered Officer Training School. He completed recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC and then went on to Camp Lejeune, NC, for combat training. On 15 January 1965, Berube graduated as the “Outstanding Student” of his U.S. Naval School, Pre-Flight class (Naval Air Station (Pensacola, Florida)). He attained this honor “by his excellent academic performance and his outstanding moral, physical and military conduct.” He appears wearing pilot gear in a photograph taken at Naval Air Station Chase Field, Beeville, Texas, home to Training Air Wing 3 and three training squadrons operating the T-2C Buckeye and TA-4J Skyhawk II jet trainers. This training prepared U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Student Naval Aviators as strike pilots in sea-based jet fighter and attack aircraft.Berube served in the VMA-211, MAG-12, 1ST MAW, III MAF squadrons. By April 1967 he was “in-country” in Vietnam and had been promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to 1st Lieutenant. While an account notes he seemed pleasantly surprised at this acknowledgement of his skills, he was respected by his peers as well as his seniors. Donald J. McCarthy, a fellow squadron pilot in United States Marine Attack Squadron 211, remembered that Berube “was a quick witted, sharp young officer and he was the most popular of our junior pilots. He was a dedicated Marine and he was as courageous as any pilot in the squadron. He was not foolhardy, and his courage was founded in his ability to fly the A-4. He loved that aircraft—and the more experienced pilots sought him out to fly as their wingman.” Bill Lowrance, an enlisted soldier, felt Berube was the “epitome” of what Lowrance wanted to be; he was one of the best officers who seemed to go out of his way to treat people caringly, with a dash of wit.
On August 11, 1967, at age 23, when beginning an attack as the pilot of a Douglas Attack Aircraft Skyhawk (A-4E) over Chu Lai, Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam, Berube’s aircraft took ground fire, crashed and burned. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
Kenneth Allen Berube was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism and Achievement, the Air Medal with Ten Gold Stars, the Purple Heart, the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. The Kenneth Berube '61 Prize Fund is awarded each year in honor of Kenneth Berube at Wilbraham-Monson Academy. The Berube Prize was established in 1968 by his parents*, awarded to that student of the Wilbraham & Monson Academy community who best exemplifies, as a worker, the determination and dedication to duty of Kenneth A. Berube.
His parents were Victor E. Berube and Norma Ruth Allen Berube who was born November 7, 1915 in Springfield, Massachusetts and died in 2014 at the age of 99 years old. Both his parents were from Monson, MA.
Access & Use
| Access to the collection: | There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested. |
| Use of the materials: | Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them. |
| Preferred citation: | Kenneth Berube (Class of 1966) oral history and papers relating to the Vietnam War, AMS-1U-B10, Brown University Library. |
| Contact information: | John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu |
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION | |
| Acquisition: | Donated by Bill Lowrance (friend of Berube's) on May 10, 2012. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Barbara Ambos. |
| Encoding: | This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2016-01-22 |
| Descriptive rules: | Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
Additional Information
| Related material: | Part of the Vietnam Veterans Archive (Brown University). |
Inventory
| Box 1, Folder 1 |
Images : photocopied photographs and clippings of Kenneth Berube's Marine and Navy pilot training environments and colleagues, A Navy Flyer's Creed, and Certificate Solo Flight. 5.0 pages Contents Note: Photocopies of the photographs. Air pilots, Military Airplanes--Piloting Beechcraft T-34 (Training plane) Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Aerial operations, American Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Casualties Berube, Kenneth A. (Kenneth Allen), 1943-1967 United States. Department of the Navy. United States. Marine Corps. Uniforms. United States. Marine Corps. United States. Navy. Medals, badges, decorations, etc. United States. Navy. Pre-Flight School (Pensacola, Fla.). |
1965 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
Citation: Air Medal with Gold Stars (posthumously) for service April 11-July 22, 1967 2.0 pages Contents Note: This is a photocopy of the original of citation. It was awarded posthumously to Captain Kenneth Berube and reads in part: "For meritorious achievement in aerial flight as a designated Naval Aviator in Marine Squadron TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN during combat missions in support of the Republic of Vietnam from 11 April to 22 July 1967. Completing numerous missions during this period while often exposed to hostile fire at close range, Captain Berube (then First Lieutenant) contributed materially to the success of his squadron. His courage and devotion to duty in the face of hazardous flying conditions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. For the President, Paul R. Ignatius, Secretary of the Navy" |
1967 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 |
Letter accompanying Citation: Air Medal with Gold Stars (posthumously) for service April 11-July 22, 1967 1.0 page |
1967 December 15 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
McCarthy, Donald J. - photocopy of the letter he wrote to Berube's parents regarding Ken's death 4.0 pages |
1983 April 29 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 |
Lowrance, Bill to Brown University explaining the letter from Col. McCarthy to Berube's parents regarding Ken's death. 2.0 pages |
2008 July 17 |
| Box 1, Folder 4 |
Outstanding Student Award, U.S. Naval School, Pre-flight 2.0 pages |
1965 January 15 |
| Box 1, Folder 5 |
Recollections by Bill Lowrence of Kenneth Berube as told to Professor Beth Taylor in a telephone interview 3.0 pages |
2010 June |