Lt. Col. Bertram William McCauley

Bertram “Bert” William McCauley, Lt. Col. U.S. Marine Corps, Ret. passed away September 20, 2022 peacefully at his home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was born December 15, 1928 in New Albany, Indiana, 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, Florida. 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 over 650 combat missions. Upon returning to the U.S., Colonel McCauley assumed command of the 2nd Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, 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 of 1983, he was inducted into the Marine Corps Hall of Helicopter Heroes at MCAS, Tustin, Ca.

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. 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 #338 F&AM for over 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 over 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.

Memorial Services will be at 2:00 PM, Friday, October 7, 2022 at St. Lukes Episcopal Church, 501 E. Wallace Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Inurnment will be at Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, Washington at a later date