David Berger
(1944 - 1972)
David Mark Berger (June 24, 1944 – September 6, 1972) was an American-born Jewish weightlifter for the Israeli Olympic team in 1972. A lawyer by profession, Berger was one of eleven members of Israel’s Olympic team who were taken hostage and subsequently murdered by Arab extremists at the Munich Olympic Games.
Berger was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio to wealthy parents. An excellent student, Berger eventually received a Master’s degree from Columbia University’s law school. Despite the intensive work that a law degree entails, Berger was able to find time to devote to weightlifting, competing as a light-heavyweight. His father, Benjamin, was once quoted as saying “I used to tell him ‘You may not be the best weightlifter in the world, but you’re certainly the smartest!’”
After competing in the 1970 Maccabiah Games, Berger emigrated to Israel, intending to open a law office in Tel Aviv after completing his compulsory military service. He had even met and become engaged to an Israeli student. Continuing his weightlifting competitions, he won a silver medal at the 1971 Asian Games, and easily made the 1972 Israeli Olympic team. In late August of that year, Berger flew to Munich with his teammates. On September 2, 1972, Berger competed, but was eliminated in an early round.
Early on the morning of September 5, 1972, Arab terrorists took Berger and his five house-mates hostage, after having earlier seized six officials in another apartment and wounding wrestling coach Moshe Weinberg in the face. While the athletes were being moved to the first apartment, Weinberg grappled with the intruders, allowing flyweight wrestler Gad Tsobari to escape but resulting in Weinberg’s death by gunfire. As the remaining hostages and terrorists entered the officials’ apartment, weightlifter Yossef Romano also attempted to overpower the intruders. Romano was cut down by automatic fire (his corpse was left all day at the feet of the hostages, who were tied to beds), and Berger was wounded in his left shoulder, a wound seen by German officials later in the day. It is believed that Berger, being physically one of the largest of the hostages, was also beaten in order to intimidate the other hostages.
After all-day negotiations, the terrorists and their tied-up hostages were transferred from the Olympic Village via helicopter to Fürstenfeldbruck airbase outside of Munich, where the terrorists believed they would be flown to a friendly Arab nation. Instead, the German border guards and Munich police attempted to ambush the terrorists and free the hostages. After a 2-hour gunfight, one of the terrorists turned on the helicopter in which Berger was sitting and sprayed it with machine-gun fire. The other three hostages in the helicopter were killed instantly, but somehow Berger only received two non-lethal wounds in his legs. However, the terrorist then detonated a grenade inside the helicopter, causing a huge explosion and fire. An autopsy found that Berger had died of smoke inhalation. The five hostages in the other helicopter were all shot to death by another terrorist.
While the ten other Israeli Olympians were flown to and buried in Israel, David Berger’s body was returned to the United States on an Air Force jet personally ordered by President Richard Nixon. Berger is buried in Shaker Heights, Ohio. A memorial statue for Berger and his fallen teammates stands at Mayfield Jewish Community Center in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
Courtesy of:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Berger
DAVID BERGER, of blessed memory
He was 38 when he died. He left behind parents, a brother, and a sister. He was born in Cleveland, USA. He completed his studies at Columbia University. He held degrees in law, economics, and psychology and was an attorney by profession.
He began to engage in sports at a young age and was the US youth weightlifting champion (medium weight). He took part in the 1969 Maccabiah Games and then immigrated to Israel.
He joined the ranks of Maccabi Tel Aviv. He won the Israeli weightlifting championship (semi heavyweight up to 82.5 kg), and, in the 1971 Asian championship in Manila, he reached second place.
His life's aspiration was to represent Israel at the Olympic Games. He was about to get married and raise a family in Israel.
At his family's request, he was buried in his hometown - Cleveland, USA.
Courtesy of: