Meyer Berger was an American writer, journalist and columnist. He was also known for "About New York", a long-running column in The New York Times, and for his centennial history of that paper.
Background
Meyer Berger was born on September 1, 1898 in New York City, United States. Son of Ignace and Sarah (maiden name: Waldman) Berger. Sometime after his birth the family moved from the Lower East Side to the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.
Education
Berger educated at the public schools of Brooklyn. He dropped out of school for financial reasons and sold newspapers at the age of eight and became a messenger for a newspaper "The New York World" at the age of eleven.
Career
After being a night messenger at the "New York World" (newspaper) at the age of eleven, he became a police reporter from 1919 till 1928. He worked at "New York Times" as a reporter, columnist, and rewriter from 1928 till 1959. He was also a staff writer at "New Yorker" in 1937-1938. He served for U.S. Army, 106th Infantry, 27th Division in 1917-1919, served in World War I, attained rank of sergeant.
Meyer won the Pulitzer prize for local reporting in 1950 for his article about Unruh, a veteran of World War II who suddenly went berserk and started shooting people in New Jersey. Berger sent the one thousand dollar honorarium which accompanied the prize to Unruh’s mother.
Meyer won the Pulitzer prize for local reporting in 1950 for his article about Unruh, a veteran of World War II who suddenly went berserk and started shooting people in New Jersey. Berger sent the one thousand dollar honorarium which accompanied the prize to Unruh’s mother.
Purple Heart,
United States
Silver Star,
United States
For carrying some of his wounded fellow soldiers to safety in the face of heavy fire.
For carrying some of his wounded fellow soldiers to safety in the face of heavy fire.