Daniel Alan Bernath traces his family back to pre American Revolutionary New Jersey. His ancestor relatives fought and died in the United States Civil War for the North in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Attorney Bernath's father served as an artillery sergeant and was hit by debris from enemy fire when his gun crew was surrounded by German soldiers.
Bernath was born and raised in
Michigan and traveled extensively.
A Vietnam War veteran
and Petty Officer
2nd Class he has been awarded the
Vietnam Service Medal with two battle stars, twice awarded the United States Navy Unit Commendation Medal,
the Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Korea Defense Medal and Cold War Certificate "in recognition of your service
the people of this nation are forever grateful."
He
earned his high school diploma, taught by a US Navy officer in the combat zone,
squeezed between Bernath's flight deck and helicopter flight
duties on the USS Kearsarge. For his work in military intelligence on the
USS Yorktown, Petty Officer Bernath was granted a clearance by the US Navy to
work on missions classified as "Secret." (He earned his
Bachelors Degree while working as a journalist and using his GI Bill benefits)
He participated in
the recovery of the Apollo 8 astronauts;
the first men to travel to the Moon.
Bernath was
awarded the NASA Group Achievement Award for
"professional precision and
exactitude" and a
medal that
traveled around the moon. The Captain of the
Yorktown commended "your
untiring efforts and unswerving devotion to duty."
He is editor and writer for the patriot veterans magazine ussyorktown.com Bernath was given an award by the USS Yorktown Association, a veterans group of wartime aviators and seamen, recognizing him "For Exemplary Service in War Aboard the "Fighting Lady" and unselfish Devotion in Peace."
The Commanding Officer of the USS Yorktown, Captain William L. Bennett, regarding the USS Yorktown's last combat deployment stated,
"Petty Officer Daniel Bernath
frequently
volunteered
to be the combat photographer on day or night helicopter missions over enemy
territory and waters and as the rescue aircrewman on these dangerous flights for
which he had been trained.
He taught many of the new recruits to the photography field the fine art of taking an outstanding picture and was an idol for them.
Dan Bernath is the kind of sailor, petty officer and shipmate that every commanding officer hopes to have in his organization, especially in the combat zone."
In
2006, Daniel A. Bernath was named "Photographer's
Mate Chief Petty Officer"
(Honorary) by the US Naval Photography Association for his contribution to
United States Navy Photography through the years. US Naval
Photography Association