Missoula Rural Fire Fighters Local 2457 Capt. Cooper Berry will soon watch his son leave the mountains of western Montana for the world stage. In the coming weeks, Jack Berry will travel to Milan to represent Team USA in Nordic skiing at the Paralympic Games.
Jack was just 10 years old when a broken leg led to a diagnosis of osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer. Treatment required rotationplasty, a complex surgery that resulted in the loss of part of his right leg.
“He’s an amputee, but it didn’t slow him down,” said Berry. “And this surgery allows him to remain active, and so he just kind of went right back to life.”
A true Montana kid, Jack returned to the outdoors as soon as he could, enjoying mountain biking and skiing. But the road was anything but smooth. In 2020, and again in 2021, Jack faced cancer recurrences in his lungs, requiring additional rounds of treatment.
Today, he is cancer free.
“He’s definitely very strong,” said Berry.
Along the way, inspiration came from an unexpected place. Jack met Dan Cnossen, a former Navy SEAL who lost his legs while serving in Afghanistan and later became a decorated Paralympic Nordic skier.
“So, he kind of planted the seed for Jack, and it’s pretty amazing that he’s actually going to be on the team that will move forward together now,” said Berry.
Jack graduated high school last year and took a year off to train full time. “He had hopes of going to the Paralympics, which he’s now going to,” said Berry. “He’s been in Europe for the last three weeks, and he’ll be home for a few weeks, and then he’ll go to Milan to compete.”
For Berry, his son’s story reshaped how he sees emergencies.
In our job, we see people on the worst days of their lives. But it’s different when it’s your emergency.
local 2457 capt. Cooper berry
“In our job, we see people on the worst days of their lives,” he said. “But it’s different when it’s your emergency.”
During Jack’s treatment, Berry took time off from work to care for his son, and his brothers and sisters with Local 2457 covered shifts, donated sick leave, and supported the Berry family.
“Getting through cancer treatment with a child is a full-time job,” said Berry. “My wife, our family, our village, and the people I work with really carried us through that.”
This is what our brotherhood and sisterhood is all about. It has been incredible to witness Jack’s journey and his resiliency to adversity. Without a doubt, we will all be cheering him on as he competes at the Paralympic Games.
Local 2457 president max kottwitz
Local 2457 President Max Kottwitz said Jack’s journey reflects the values of the union.
“This is what our brotherhood and sisterhood is all about,” said Kottwitz. “It has been incredible to witness Jack’s journey and his resiliency to adversity. Without a doubt, we will all be cheering him on as he competes at the Paralympic Games.”
Jack is one of 12 athletes who will compete at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, which begins March 6. After Milan, Jack plans to begin his next chapter at Boston College.
The Berry family is supporting a nonprofit dedicated to osteosarcoma research. The foundation was started by a friend of Jack’s, who recently lost his battle with the disease. To learn more or to donate, visit the link here.
Feature photo taken by Gretchen Powers.
