Chief Warrant Officer Four (USAF Ret.) Clarence "Bernie" Bernier, (1914-1987) was born April 7, 1914 to Stephen and Minnie (Hall) Bernier in Chippewa County, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.  He finished school up to the ninth grade and left school to work and help support his family.  Up until the start of WWII he was employed by the local Northwestern Leather Company as a leather buffer. Clarence and his brother, Howard got their pilots license and flew and maintained their own airplane for the National Weather Service.  They made daily weather observations as a private contractor for the National Weather Service.  In search of better work and pay, Clarence went to work for the Michigan Central Railroad in Detroit, Michigan.

 His 30 year military career began as selectee private on June 24, 1941. He rose to the rank of Master Sergeant and eventually to Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO-4). He started Basic training at Gowen Field Idaho. Then he went to technical school for flight engineer training on B-24 and B-17 Bombers. In 1942, Staff Sergeant Bernier was in the 406th Bombardment Group (M) of the 28th Composite Group stationed at Elmendorf Alaska.  He worked as a Crew and Flight Chief on B-25's flying anti-submarine operations around the Gulf of Alaska and from the islands of Adak and Amchitka.  Master Sergeant. Bernier was then sent to the Pacific with the 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron from March 1944 to September 1945 where he became a Crew and Flight Chief on 0A-10�s.  

After the war he reenlisted and went back to Alaska and was assigned to the 10th Emergency Rescue Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base.  (From April, 1946 to November 1947) Bernie enjoyed his tour there. He said, "The hunting and fishing was great" and always wanted to go back. He was also a Line Chief on 0A-10's in Elmendorf.  In December 1948, he went to the east coast to the 16th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron McGuire AFB. He was a Line Chief on RB-29A's. In September 1949, he was assigned to the west coast at Fairfield-Suisun (Travis) AFB, California as a Flight Chief on B-29's with the 99th Bombardment Squadron (M). From October 1952 to December 1953, he was assigned to the 51st Air Rescue Squadron at Narsarssuak Air Base, Greenland. Bernie was Chief Aircraft Inspector there. In 1954, he was brought back to the continental United States to the 1401st operations squadron at Andrews Air Force Base. It was here he began his involvement with helicopters. M.Sgt. Bernier was promoted to CWO-1 in April 1955 working as Line Chief and Maintenance Chief on CH-21 and Sikorsky H-19. The 1401st was reorganized to become the 1001st helicopter squadron and transferred to Bolling AFB in 1961.

October 13, 1962 was a big day in Bernie's life as he married the former Mary Jane Weldon from Hessville Indiana. The two met at Andrews Base when she was stationed there in the Air Force. His first child was born July 1963, a boy; Steve. Two other boys would follow; Dave and Frank.  In 1966, Chief Warrant Officer Bernier was sent back overseas to the 20th Helicopter Squadron Nha Trang AB Vietnam. After a year tour he was back in the 1001th Helicopter Squadron at Bolling AFB. The 1001th was transferred back to Andrews AFB and during July 1969, the 1001th Helicopter Squadron became the 1st Helicopter Squadron. CWO-4 Bernier retired September 1, 1971 with over 30 years of service and with his last assignment at Andrews Air Force Base.    

After retiring he moved back to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He and his wife purchased 80 acres of land and maintained a small campground that was on their property.  There they raised their three sons and participated in many community activities such as boy scouts, 4-H and the local historical society.   Clarence Bernier was 71 years of age when he passed on August 1987.     

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