Lt. Col. Bertram William McCauley, 93

Bertram “Bert” William McCauley, Lt. Col. U.S. Marine Corps, Ret. passed away Sept. 20, 2022, peacefully at his home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was born Dec. 15, 1928, in New Albany, Ind., the son of Charlotta Wolf McCauley and Zola William McCauley.

In 1944, he became an Eagle Scout and was a member of the Order of the Arrow. After graduating from New Albany High School in 1946 at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. Serving at various Navy and Marine bases on the East Coast, he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant before being selected for naval flight training in 1951. He received his Naval Aviator Wings and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1952. The same year, he married Elizabeth Jean Todd in Pensacola, Fla. They had two sons, William Louis and Thomas Todd.

Colonel McCauley served 14 months in Korea as a dive bomber pilot and transitioned to jet aircraft in 1955. In 1961-62, he flew A-4 Skyhawks from four aircraft carriers in the Far East and, in 1966-67, he served in Vietnam as a medivac and resupply helicopter pilot, completing more than 650 combat missions. Upon returning to the U.S., Colonel McCauley assumed command of the 2nd Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company at Camp LeJeune, N.C., where he qualified as a Navy-Marine Corps parachutist. In 1968, he was transferred to Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps in Washington, D.C. He served there in the Policy Analysis Division until his retirement in July 1971. As the Senior Marine Instructor, he formed the Marine Corps JROTC unit at Kellogg High School in August 1971 and served in that capacity until 1979.

His military awards include 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.

Bert worked in real estate sales with Century-21 in Coeur d’Alene for 10 years prior to retiring to his beloved tree farm in Kingston, Idaho. He and his wife, Jean, moved to Coeur d’Alene in 2002. He was a life member of the Legion of Valor and the DAV and was a member of Depauw Lodge No. 338 F&AM for more than 50 years. 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.

Bert is survived by his son, William L. McCauley; granddaughter Elizabeth A. Wienholz and grandson William Mark McCauley. He was preceded in death by his parents; son Thomas Todd McCauley; sister Jane Jordan and wife Jean Todd McCauley.

Services were held and the inurnment was done at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, Wash.

Yates Funeral Home was entrusted with final arrangements. Please visit Bert’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.