Berkeley Jerome “Berk” Wood grew up in Columbus, GA. He accepted the challenge of West Point and showed up on R-Day with the Class of 1993 on June 28, 1989. Assigned to Company G-3, Berkeley was known for his humor, quiet demeanor and no quit attitude.

We remember his determination to pass Plebe Boxing on his third try, after blowing out his shoulder in his first two attempts. He fought with one hand to protect the shoulder. We recall his enthusiasm as he held the record for pushups during Army-Navy Week. When it came to plebe duties like delivering laundry, filling in for calling minutes, hauling the Sunday New York Times up to 4th floor Pershing, Berk could be counted on.

Following the scramble, Berkeley was assigned to G-4, home of the Fighting Guppies. As a Guppy, Berkeley was a member of the Bad Crowd, a bastion of camaraderie and fun.

He was a great friend, roommate, and brother—one of the most laid-back guys, always ready for a good time. Almost all of our great memories somehow involve Berk, whether it was something as mundane as wasting time playing “PGA Golf” on our wretched computers or something crazy like stumbling back to a hotel in Montreal with our arms around each other singing. Many will remember the great times like the “Magic Bus,” and we will never forget some of the little things like playing foosball in the day room, procrastinating with our papers and gathering quarters to go to the Firstie Club on Sunday night in order to buy a beer from the vending machine. (Also, we are sorry if we gave Nicole a hard time as company commander that last semester.)

We spent so much time just hanging out, playing basketball, and listening to music. Berk loved his Van Morrison box set, specifically the song “Dweller on the Threshold”:

I’m a dweller on the threshold
And I’m waiting at the door
And I’m standing in the darkness
I don’t want to wait no more
I will walk out of the darkness
And I’ll walk into the light
And I’ll sing the song of ages
And the dawn will end the night

Berkeley branched Infantry, only to spend time with his sick mother at Fort Benning, GA. Several friends attended his wedding, but then Berkeley went missing in action, hard to fathom in a time of social media and technology meant to connect us over long distances. Years later, a classmate discovered Berkeley’s class ring listed on an online auction site. Attempts to locate Berkeley bore no fruit. He passed away in Knoxville, TN on November 27, 2016 from a chronic illness. One small blessing was that his ring was presented to his daughter shortly after his passing, personally delivered by several classmates. 

When we heard the news, devastated is probably the best descriptor of that afternoon. We have not seen him in over 10 years, but just knowing we will never see him again hurts. 

A classmate wrote: “It is not just his early passing that troubles us but the way it seems like Berk was ‘alone’ in so many ways in the years leading up to his death. That gives me great pain on the inside. I hate that such a good friend of all of ours, such a stand-up guy in so many ways, drifted away and none of us could find him and keep in touch with him. All of us, our lives are so busy, there was really none of us that could hit the pause button and go on a cross-country trip to find someone who it appeared just didn’t want to be found, but the end result of that reality is painful for all of us, no doubt.” 

People often ask, “What is it about West Point that makes such an impact on the people that go there?” The answer comprises three parts: 1) the rigors of the experience makes cadets believe they can get through anything, 2) the values instilled during the 47-month experience and solidified during service in the Army just make West Pointers different, make then more than they were, and, the most important, 3) the amazing people—people of amazing character and honor that one lives with, learns with, bunks with, runs, lifts, eats, rucks, parties with and is prepared to go off and die with if necessary. Berk’s classmates are better people because of every minute spent with Berk. 

Berk was the true definition of friend. He never was one to boast, never wanted to be the center of attention, but always wanted to “be there” and be a friend. He always had a smile and a reassuring word for you, and he always took care of you and never dumped on anyone else. 

Berk was a great friend to everyone who knew him. Whatever his circumstances at the end, we hope he knew that all of us felt the same about him. 

— Classmates