Herbert A. Gilbert, 88, of Berlin, passed away on Wednesday July 1, 2015 at the Coos County Nursing Home. He was born in Berlin on May 9, 1927 the son of Henry and Lillian (Cropley) Gilbert and was raised in Vermont. He served with the US Marine Corps during World War II. He re-enlisted in the US Army and was stationed in Japan. In June of 1950, when the Korean War started, he was one of the first to be sent to Korea. He was awarded the Purple Heart. After recovering, he was sent back to the front lines where he was awarded several other medals including the Korean Service Medal with 5 Bronze Stars. He was very proud of this because he said not many survived 5 major battles. He moved to Berlin when he left the service and had been employed by James River, retiring in 1989. Herbert was a member of St. Anne Church, the Marine Corps League, the American Legion and the VFW Post #2520 in Berlin.
Family includes his wife Esther (Smith) Gilbert of Berlin, NH; daughter Joan Jaworski and husband Jon of Sandown, NH, son Kevin Gilbert and wife Laura of Claremont, NH, and daughter Diane Hoffman and husband David of Litchfield, NH; grandchildren Frank Fidelibus and wife Bessie, Christopher Fidelibus, Nolan Gilbert and Kate, Alison Collette and husband Ryan and Kristen Hoffman; 6 great-grandchildren; sister Glenna Brooks of Berlin, NH; 5 nephews and 1 niece. He was predeceased by a sister Dorothy Beaulieu.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday July 6, 2015 at 1:00 PM at St. Anne Church of Good Shepherd Parish. Interment will be in the Holy Family Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the Bryant Funeral Home, 180 Hillside Ave., Berlin on Monday from 10 AM to 12:30 PM, prior to the service.