Charles Berry saw actions throughout the Pacific, including New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, Bougainville, Empress Augusta Bay and Guadalcanal. As part of the 5th Marine Division, Berry landed on Iwo Jima island on February 19, 1945. Charles Berry served with a machine gun crew on the front lines in the battle for Iwo Jima. During a surprise attack by the Japanese, Corporal Charles Berry jumped on a hand grenade that landed in their foxhole and died to save his fellow Marines.