United States Army Military Police Corps, U.S. Government
End of Watch Tuesday, July 28, 1953
Add to My HeroesBernard Geller
First Lieutenant Bernard Geller was shot and killed after arriving at the scene of shots fired call near Naha Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.
A United States airman argued with a local Okinawan and shot the man before stealing his M1 carbine rifle. When First Lieutenant Geller ordered the airman to halt, he was shot and killed. The airman stole Lieutenant Geller's service pistol and wounded another military policeman before escaping. Other military policemen wounded the airman before placing him into custody.
The airman was found guilty of homicide on October 5th and sentenced to death pending review by the United States Air Force and the President of the United States. On December 3, 1954, the death sentence was upheld by the court of military appeals in Washington, DC, pending final review by President Eisenhower. The airman was confined to Fort Leavenworth on June 3, 1955. President Dwight D. Eisenhower commuted the death sentence to 55 years in prison on September 24, 1957.
First Lieutenant Geller was a United States World War II Army veteran and was on his second tour as a commissioned officer, assigned to the 98th Military Police Battalion Headquarters. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, mother, three sisters, and brother, who was a police officer in New York.
Bio
- Age 29
- Tour 10 years, 9 months
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Location Overseas
- Weapon Rifle; M-1
- Offender Sentenced to 55 years in prison
Most Recent Reflection
View all 1 Reflections“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9
Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service
July 28, 2022
Recent LODD Deaths

Patrolman Joseph Barlow
McAlester Police Department, OK
EOW: March 20, 2023

Deputy Sheriff Jeremy McCain
Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office, OK
EOW: March 20, 2023

Detective Sergeant Mason Griffith
Hermann Police Department, MO
EOW: March 12, 2023

Master Trooper James R. Bailey
Indiana State Police, IN
EOW: March 3, 2023

Police Officer Andres M. Vasquez Lasso
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: March 1, 2023

Correctional Officer Jay Miller
Washington State Department of Corrections, WA
EOW: February 11, 2023

Detention Officer Kenneth Fowler
Pontotoc County Sheriff's Office, OK
EOW: February 19, 2023

Sergeant Christopher D. Fitzgerald
Temple University Police Department, PA
EOW: February 18, 2023

Police Officer Geoffrey Redd
Memphis Police Department, TN
EOW: February 18, 2023