Morris Berman was born on August 10, 1891, in New York, New York. He enlisted in the Regular Army on August 15, 1912, and served as private, corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, and regimental supply sergeant of Company B and Supply Company of the 26th Infantry until he was appointed a second lieutenant, Infantry, temporary, on June 30, 1917. On July 11, 1917, he was promoted to first lieutenant, Signal Corps, temporary. On July 1, 1920, he was commissioned a first lieutenant, Air Service, in the Regular Army.
SERVICE
He was on duty with the 21st Infantry at San Diego, California, from June to December 1917. In January 1918 he entered the School of Military Aeronautics, Georgia School of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, and upon completing the course the following April went to the School of Military Aeronautics, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, in May 1918. Completing his studies there in September 1918, he entered the Air Service School for Radio Operators, University of Texas, at Austin, Texas.
In August 1919, he was transferred to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for duty in the office of the Department Air Service Officer. He became Assistant Corps Area Air Officer, Headquarters, Eighth Corps Area, Fort Sam Houston, in September 1920, and in February 1921, was assigned to the Office, Chief of Air Service, Washington, D.C., as Chief, Officers’ Section, Personnel Division. He enrolled in the Air Service Pilot School, Carlstrom Field, Florida, in August 1921, and was graduated in December 1921. From January 1922 to November 1923, he was Post Adjutant, Kelly Field, Texas, and the following December proceeded to Camp Nichols, Rizal, Philippine Islands, to become Commanding Officer of the Philippine Air Depot until January 1925, when he joined the 2d Observation Squadron and became Adjutant of Kindley Field, Fort Mills, Philippine Islands. He became Commanding Officer of Kindley Field and the 2d Observation Squadron the following April.
He returned to the United States, and in February 1926 became Assistant Chief, Property and Requirements Section, Supply Division, Office of the Chief of Air Service, Washington, D.C., until the following November when he was appointed Chief of the Material Branch, Field Service Section, at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, serving at Wright Field and Fairfield, Ohio. In September 1928 he became Purchasing and Contracting Officer, Procurement Section, Air Corps Material Division, at Wright Field, Texas.
From December 1929 until December 1930 he served as Commanding Officer of the Air Corps Training Center at Randolph Field, Texas. He then went to Brooks Field, Texas, for a brief tour of duty, and in February 1931 became Air Corps Supply Officer, Air Corps Advanced Flying School and 10th School Group, at Kelly Field, Texas.
In March 1934 he was ordered to the San Antonio Air Depot, Duncan Field, San Antonio, Texas, as Adjutant and Personnel Adjutant, and the following July was named Executive Officer, San Antonio Air Depot. He became Commanding Officer of the San Antonio Air Depot in August 1935, and the following October resumed his duties as Executive Officer.
He became Chief, Civilian Personnel Branch, Air Corps Materiel Division, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, in August 1937, until May 1940 when he was named Commanding Officer of the Ogden Air Depot at Ogden, Utah. He later assumed command of the 482d Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron at Ogden, Utah, until February 1943 when he assumed command of the Ogden Air Depot Control Area Command, Hill Field, Utah (redesignated Air Service Command). In July 1944 he was sent to Kelly Field, Texas to command the San Antonio Air Service Command there, and in November 1944 went overseas to England for duty with the United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe. In January 1945 he assumed command of the Base Air Depot Area, United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe.
General Morris, having returned to the United States in July 1945, suffered a fatal heart attack on November 11, 1945, at a ranch near New Braunfels, Texas.
He was rated a Command Pilot and Technical Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Private, Corporal, Sergeant Acting, First Sergeant, Mess Sergeant, and Regimental Supply Sergeant, Company B and Supply Company, 26th Infantry, August 15, 1912, to July 10, 1917; Second Lieutenant, Infantry (temporary), June 30, 1917; accepted July 11, 1917; First Lieutenant, Signal Corps (temporary), December 21, 1917; accepted December 22, 1917; vacated November 27, 1920; First Lieutenant, Air Service, July 1, 1920; accepted November 27, 1920; Captain, July 1, 1920; Major (temporary), March 2, 1935, to July 31, 1935; Major, August 1, 1935; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), August 26, 1936, to July 13, 1940; Lieutenant Colonel, July 13, 1940; Colonel (temporary), October 16, 1940; accepted November 16, 1940; Colonel, A.U.S., December 24, 1941; Brigadier General, A.U.S., September 15, 1943.
DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Mexican Border Service Medal, World War I Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, French Croix de Guerre.