Lt. Col. Bertram W. McCauley: A legacy

KELLOGG — American entrepreneur Jim Rohn once said, “All good men and women must take responsibility to create legacies that will take the next generation to a level we could only imagine.”

Lt. Col. U.S. Marine Corps, Ret. Bertram “Bert” William McCauley leaves a legacy in the hearts of many students who pass through Kellogg High School in the Marine Corps JROTC. McCauley was the Senior Marine Instructor, forming the Marine Corps JROTC unit at Kellogg High School in August 1971, and served in that capacity until 1979.

He passed away peacefully at his home in Coeur d’Alene on Sept. 20, 2022.

McCauley enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating from New Albany High School in 1946 at 17 years old. He served at various Navy and Marine bases on the East Coast, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant in 1951. Shortly after, in 1952, he received his Naval Aviator Wings and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. This was the same year he married Elizabeth Jean Todd in Florida, and they had two sons, William Louis and Thomas Todd.

During his time in the military, McCauley earned many awards, including the Navy Cross, Silver Star Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, 32 awards of the Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with combat “V," Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation with two stars, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm, and numerous theater and campaign medals. In June 1983, he was inducted into the Marine Corps Hall of Helicopter Heroes at MCAS, Tustin, Calif.

Two of his awards are recorded in detail online, including the Navy Cross in the 1st Marine Division Aircraft Wing as a Major in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force.

During a medical evacuation mission in the vicinity of Phu Tay, Quang Nam Province, the Republic of Vietnam, on Sept. 5, 1966, Major McCauley successfully evacuated the critically wounded on two occasions. However, his aircraft was so severely damaged by an enemy hand grenade that it could not be used for the return trip. He wanted to be able to continue his mission, so he obtained another helicopter. During this attempt to rescue more disabled Marines, this aircraft was also damaged by an enemy hand grenade in the landing zone. He waited until the Viet Cong fire could be neutralized until he was advised to lift off and depart.

Major McCauley resolutely remained until the most critically wounded were loaded in his majorly damaged helicopter and flew to the nearest medical facility. The approaching darkness would preclude a return trip before morning, and his aircraft was too badly damaged for the return trip, he volunteered to lead an additional section of aircraft to the rescue position. Through his direction, the remainder of the casualties were removed to safety. “By his outstanding courage, superb leadership and selfless efforts in behalf of wounded men, Major McCauley upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”

The Silver Star is the United States Armed Forces’ third-highest military decoration for valor in combat in the Vietnam War, given to Major McCauley on Sept. 17, 1966. Major McCauley led a flight of four helicopters on an emergency re-supply mission supporting elements of the First Battalion, Fourth Marines. Two companies of the First Battalion were surrounded by an estimated battalion of North Vietnamese Army forces in the vicinity of Cam Lo in Quang Tri Province. On the same day, seven helicopters had been badly damaged in attempts to re-supply units. Briefed on the situation and aware of the danger involved, Major McCauley immediately had his aircraft loaded with ammunition, water and rations, and began his flight to the trapped Marines.

When he arrived in the area, he found that the two companies were under heavy enemy fire from all directions and in critical need of ammunition. Major McCauley assessed the situation, assumed control of supporting arms in the area, and coolly and efficiently coordinated artillery fire and close air support to clear an approach lane to the drop zone for the helicopter. He seemed to realize that continued supporting fire would not improve the situation, and he began approaching the landing zone, aware of the necessity of the re-supply. Major McCauley immediately became the focus of intense enemy automatic weapons fire. Still, he landed in the zone under a heavy volume of enemy fire, successfully unloaded the cargo, picked up six medical evacuees, and left.

Later, Major McCauley obtained a replacement aircraft and led the second flight of two aircraft loaded with critical supplies for the besieged Marine units. He planned to make a low pass over the zone, and drop the supplies to the Marine units, as landing would have been hazardous. However, he was advised by the Forward Air Controller that there were three critically wounded Marines who required immediate evacuation. Despite the many dangers involved, he landed and retrieved the wounded Marines and the two crew members of the downed aircraft and departed. Although repeated hits heavily damaged his helicopter, Major McCauley successfully piloted his aircraft through the intense fire and returned to the medical facility at Dong Ha.

After his time in the military, he worked in real estate sales in Coeur d’Alene for 10 years before retiring to his beloved tree farm in Kingston. He also belonged to the Spokane Chapter MOAA and the USMC Combat Helicopter Association and was a member of the Silver Valley Kiwanis for more than 30 years.

The brave legacy of Lt. Col. McCauley continues throughout the halls of Kellogg High School as the JROTC Program is celebrating its 51st year.

“It’s mainly a leadership program,” explained Sgt. Maj Jeff Smith, who runs the program with Maj. Craig Petersen, “There’s a misconception that it’s a military recruitment program. We get a lot of parents who don’t want their kids to join because they are not going into the military.”

Smith explained that they never push the military on the students but instead, “We want to make them better leaders and citizens. We have students who leave who go to college or go into the workforce. And we believe that the things they learn in this class can really help them prepare, and make them successful in whatever path they choose.”

JROTC instills leadership and citizenship by assisting with community service projects like Toys for Tots or the color guard.

“The students usually have between 800 to 1,000 community service hours combined. It’s a pretty long list of the community service events that we do.”

JROTC competes in around five to seven rifle competitions every year that they call postal competitions, “Kids will shoot a competition and we will mail the results to whoever is hosting it somewhere else. And so they are able to compete with schools throughout the country.”

It’s a common misconception that JROTC is a boot camp or recruitment for the military but both Sgt. Maj Smith and Maj. Craig Petersen want parents and students to be aware that this isn’t a boot camp, or a classroom to send kids for disciplinary issues, “It’s to make good citizens, to make community-minded leaders, and they can take those skills anywhere.”

Information on awards can be found at https://valor.militarytimes.com/