Fred Berman was born June 28, 1933 in Birmingham, Alabama, the son of Russian émigré father Isadore Berman and German émigré mother Jeanne.  Growing up with his younger brothers Knight and Bob, Fred attended mostly military schools until graduating from high school.  In 1950, the strapping 6’ 3” youth entered Georgia Tech with a Track scholarship where he also obtained his amateur license and call-sign W4SET at age 17.   In September of 1952 rather than returning to Georgia Tech as a junior,  Fred enlisted in the Marine Corps and became a "boot" at  Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. 

After completing boot camp and infantry training the Marines sent Fred to the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes for Electronics School.  While attending the schools Fred learned of the All-Marine Track and Field competitions and tried out for the NTC team.  Attending schools and training in his field events kept Fred busy until the July of 1953 and paid off in his winning a spot to compete on the NTC team for the 6^th Annual All-Marine Track and Field Championships being held at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. 

Fred was a standout in two events in 1953.  Starting off with a bang by setting an new All-Marine Corps record in the Shot Put with a distance of 49'-3-¾".  He then placed second in the Discus Throw behind All-Marine record holder First Lieutenant Robert Morse.  The All-Marines were just a temporary stop for the transient  PFC Berman.  He proceeded to the west coast reporting to the Communications School at MCRD San Diego, CA to finish his training. 

After finishing Schools in San Diego, Fred was temporarily assigned Chief Operator (CHOP) of W6YDK the Marine Amateur Radio Station at MCRD San Diego.  While working for Warrant Officer Pierce he also played tackle on the Depot football team for the 1953 season.  Fred says he “Can vividly remember "standing" on the top of one of the station's 100 foot towers while trying to insert a 50 pound rotary beam shaft into place!”.  After several requests for transfer Fred said in March of 1954 he finally "wangled a spot on the Air Wing's 40th draft to Far East” on board the transport ship General C.C. Ballou (AP-157).  Disembarking the Ballou at Kobe a few weeks later, the Marines were trucked to Itami AFB for further orders.  Being in possession of his class “A” amateur ticket, Fred came to the attention of Marine Gunner (CWO-4) Stanley B. Clarke who was running the base ham station KA4MA.  

To quote Fred, “KA4MA was amateur, but the layout would have impressed Voice of America! Somewhere around 2 or 3 kw linear driven by CentraLab SSB exciter, Collins 51J-3(R-388) receiver, 4 element wide spaced beam cut to exactly 14295. The primary raison d'etre was phone patches (from an elaborate sound proofed booth). Written traffic was next. These two went full steam whenever the band was open stateside - usually with W6IAB at Pendleton 90% of the time, W6FCS at El Toro about 10% and, every now and then, W6YDK at MCRD San Diego!  Once I even hooked up with W4USA in my present backyard at Fort McPherson, near Atlanta!  These were "near-commercial" contacts in that we were handling traffic every waking moment - no real "hamming"!  As stateside band openings dictated, we at times had dozens of people in the shack all night waiting to make patches!”   

Fred hung around a few days before being shipped to K3 in Korea with the Marine Air Wing Headquarters Squadron (HEDRON - 1) near Pusan.   Gunner Clarke declared that he’d have Fred back running the station but Fred was doubtful.  Fred served at K3 for a month or so and sure enough, orders came for him to return to Itami to run the station for Gunner Clarke.  Even though just a PFC at the time, the prominence of the station's utility made Fred a local hero!  He had a private room in the station (which was housed at a considerable distance from the main areas, and in a small stand alone building), carried his own Liberty Card and, in general, was left alone completely as long as he kept the station running 5 days a week.  

Fred ran KA4MA from April 1954 thru December 1954 at Itami.  Gunner Clarke was replaced by Captain Jerry Harness “a crusty young Mustang” in August of 1954.   Sergeant Atlee B “Blackie” Snodgrass, a radio operator with VMR-152 started hanging around the station and Fred gave both Snodgrass and Harness their Class C exams.

In November of 1954 Marine Wing Service Group -17 the station sponsor, began its move from Itami AFB to the then Naval Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.  The station was rebuilt into almost a commercial looking station: 5Kw, 4-element wide spaced beam (strictly 20 meters) sound proof phone patch booth, etc., and went back on the air as KA5MA.  Captain Harness passed the reins to MSgt Lon Curtis.  Even though now only a Corporal, these radio responsibilities acquainted Fred with a pretty influential group on base and he had a most comfortable tour because of this! 

KA4MA (KA5MA) was part of the then Marine Corps Net.  They and other area stations comprised of KA3MD at Camp Gifu near Nagoya, KA2MC at Kyoto, KA2?? at Atsugi, communicated with KH6AJF, Barber’s Point, HI, W6IAB at Pendleton, W6FCS at El Toro and W6YDK at MCRD San Diego.    Passing traffic with MSgt Harry Talbert, MSgt Fenton Martin and others on a daily basis.   

Fred Berman returned to A-9 Korea in February 1955 assigned to VMO-6.  There he helped ready the redeployment of 1st MARDIV and 1st MAW back to California.  The entire squadron was loaded on LSTs, Fred aboard LST-1090.  She cleared Inchon 29 March 1955, and returned to San Diego 25 April 1955. On 1 July 1955 she was named Russell County.  Fred said he had “a lot of fun bootlegging on the ham bands from the LST's radio!”  On arrival at Camp Pendleton, Fred went on immediate leave, returning home to Alabama. 

While on leave he requested and was granted a transfer to Naval Air Station Atlanta to complete the final 5 months of his 3 year tour of duty.  Assigned as an MP, Fred also set his eye on participating in the  1955 All-Marine Track and Field Championships at Quantico, VA.  Hard practice paid off with Fred winning 2 Gold medals and 1 Bronze medal.  He set a new All-Marine record in the shot put of 51’-11”, placed first in the Hammer Throw with a distance of 129’-10-¾” and placed third in the Discus competition. 

Discharged from active duty in September, 1955 as a Sergeant, Berman was reinstated at Georgia Tech.  Majoring in Electrical Engineering, he once again participated in Field and Track winning the Southeast Conference Shot Put title in 1956 with a SEC record setting throw of 53’-11-½” and earning a tryout for the 1956 Olympic team.  1956 Olympic Shot Putting however was dominated by Parry O'Brien who set the then Olympic Record with a toss of 60'-11-¼". 

1957 found Fred studying hard to complete his senior year and graduate with a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering and practicing hard to repeat as an SEC Individual Champion.  He did both, repeating as SEC Outdoor Shot Put Champion breaking his previous record with a distance of 54’ 0-½” .  He then set the SEC Indoor Shot Put record at 54’ 3-½”  and won the Hammer Throw with a toss of 129’ 10-¾”.  

Fred Berman Class of 1957, erstwhile Sergeant of Marines, was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame, Track & Field, in 1979. 

Fred received his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering in June of 1957 and stayed at Georgia Tech to complete the requirements for his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1960.   He was then employed in oil exploration in Kuwait and Venezuela for about 10 years.  Marrying his first wife Susan, they had two daughters before divorcing.  Wanting to do something more with his life Fred worked in the executive search field, eventually forming the Berman Consulting Group.  Still looking for something more satisfying he turned to teaching.  He returned to school and in 1975 earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration from Georgia State University .  

Returning to his Alma Mater in 1981 he taught in the College of Managements at Georgia Tech.  Teaching and consulting part-time Fred enjoyed life and people and began taking trips to Russia to explore his heritage when time allowed.   In 1991 Fred met Tanya Ostrovsky while she was playing piano in an Atlanta hotel bar where he had gone to meet with clients.  Tanya a talented composer, musician and performer was 1990 Russian émigré.  Fred eventually broke through the ice when he told her he would soon be taking a trip to Russia.  It turned out that both Tanya's and Fred's grandparents were born in the same village.  They began to date and after three dates Fred proposed marriage and they were wed in 1991.  Fred remained teaching at Georgia Tech until retiring in 2001.  Tanya had also joined the faculty at Tech.  After Fred retired from Georgia Tech he taught part-time at American Intercontinental University as a professor of International Business.  He also attempted to put together a DX plan as a piggy-back to a trip his good friend General Ray Davis, (USMC Ret. MOH) was putting together to North Korea.  Unfortunately North Korea would not  approve the broadcast.

Throughout his life Fred maintained friendships with his early college, ham radio and Marine Corps mates.  His participation in the early days of the World Wide Marine Corps Traffic Net during the Korean War makes him one of the early pioneers of the system.

Sgt Fred Berman, W4SET became a Silent Key joining fellow Marines assigned to Heaven's Gates on 9 July 2006.

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