Berger, Samuel D. (Samuel David), 1911-

Samuel David Berger was born in Gloversville, N.Y., in 1911, the son of Harry I. and Bess (Cohen) Berger. In 1937 he married Margaret Fowler. Following graduate studies in economics at the University of Wisconsin and the London School of Economics, Berger entered government service in 1940 as a labor and manpower specialist. In 1942 he joined the Lend-Lease Mission to Great Britain where he worked under Avereill Harriman. His Foreign Service career began when he was recruited from the army, in which he had served as a captain during 1944-1945, to fill the newly created position of Labor Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in London. He served in London until 1950. From that time until 1961 Berger served in various positions in Washington, Tokyo, Wellington, and Athens, building a reputation for valuable service to the State Department. In 1961 Berger's diligence was rewarded with his appointment as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea. The following year, he was named Career Minister. On the completion of his assignment in Korea in 1964, Berger became Deputy Commandant of the National War College. From 1965 to 1968 Berger was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs. In 1968 Berger was sent to Saigon as Deputy Ambassador under Ellsworth Bunker and helped coordinate the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam. Returning to the U.S in 1972, Berger spent his last two years with the Foreign Service as coordinator of the Senior Seminar program and finally retired, after 34 years of service, in 1974.