Bernie was the youngest son of Frank and Beatrice ( Verschage) Fleming. He started his life in Illinois but moved to Riverside California as a young teen. He graduated Riverside Poly High School in 1966. Soon after he enlisted into the United States Marine Corps. He attended Basic training in San Diego and learned how to fire the 81 MM mortar. He was a proud Marine and left for Vietnam in late 1967. On the early morning of 4 March 1968, while serving with H&S Company in defense of his OP on Hill 28 he was killed when his 81 MM mortar exploded in the tube. Bernie was killed instantly and Thomas Linder was wounded. The explosion caused the ammo point to catch fire. Bernie was only 19 and was loved by his parents, brother Frank, sister Margaret and many nieces and nephews. He was put to rest in Riverside California.
Bernie was the youngest son of Frank and Beatrice ( Verschage) Fleming. He started his life in Illinois but moved to Riverside California as a young teen. He graduated Riverside Poly High School in 1966. Soon after he enlisted into the United States Marine Corps. He attended Basic training in San Diego and learned how to fire the 81 MM mortar. He was a proud Marine and left for Vietnam in late 1967. On the early morning of 4 March 1968, while serving with H&S Company in defense of his OP on Hill 28 he was killed when his 81 MM mortar exploded in the tube. Bernie was killed instantly and Thomas Linder was wounded. The explosion caused the ammo point to catch fire. Bernie was only 19 and was loved by his parents, brother Frank, sister Margaret and many nieces and nephews. He was put to rest in Riverside California.
