1. Early career

2. World War II

3. Postwar career

4. Retirement

5. Military decorations

6. References

• Battle of the Komandorski Islands
• Operation Dragoon
• Battle of Iwo Jima
• Battle of Okinawa

Bertram Joseph Rodgers (March 19, 1894 – November 30, 1983) was a highly decorated Vice Admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. He received his Navy Cross as a Captain of USS Salt Lake City in the battle of the Komandorski islands, during the Aleutian Islands Campaign.

Rodgers later served as Commander, Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, Commandant, 12th Naval District in San Francisco or Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Germany. He completed his career as President, Permanent General Court Martial in 1956.^[1]

Early career

Bertram Joseph Rodgers was born on March 19, 1894 in Knoxville, Pennsylvania as the son of Lynn J. and Clara E. Rodgers. Following the South Pittsburgh High School, Rodgers received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and graduated in June 1916 with Bachelor's degree. During his time at the Academy, he was a member of Baseball team, which he later captained and also was active in Hop Committee.^[2]

Some of his classmates had distinguished careers and became general officers later: Frank E. Beatty Jr., Russell S. Berkey, Ralph E. Davison, Calvin T. Durgin, C. Turner Joy, Gerald F. Bogan, Osborne B. Hardison, George F. Hussey Jr., Robert Carney, Oscar R. Cauldwell, William Fechteler, Don P. Moon, Denis L. Ryan, Samuel P. Ginder, Charles P. Cecil, Willard A. Kitts III, Henry M. Mullinnix, Maurice G. Holmes, Gilbert C. Hoover, Arnold W. Jacobsen or Arthur W. Radford.^[2]

Upon his graduation, Rodgers was commissioned Ensign and attached to the crew of battleship USS South Carolina. He participated in the patrol cruises in the Atlantic Ocean during World War I, before he was ordered to the Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut in June 1919. Rodgers completed the submarine training and spent next three months aboard the USS H-4. He subsequently commanded the submarines USS H-8 and USS R-8 during the patrols off the coast of Santa Catalina Island.^[1][3]

Rodgers was ordered to Coco Solo submarine base in the Panama Canal Zone in 1925 and served next two years as Engineer and Repair Officer. He then served as an Executive officer of submarine USS Bonita in the Caribbean until May 1927, when he was sent to the Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey for naval aviation training.^[3]

He completed the training and was designated a Naval aviator, with a lighter-than-air classification. Rodgers then served succesively aboard the airships Los Angeles, Akron & Macon until June 1934, when he was appointed Commanding officer of destroyer, USS Blakeley. He succeeded lieutenant commander Glenn B. Davis and commanded that vessel within the Scouting Fleet in the Pacific Ocean.^[1][3][3][4]

In mid 1936, Rodgers was ordered to back to the Panama Canal Zone for service as Port Captain, Balboa Naval Facility and remained in that capacity until June 1938, when he assumed command of destroyer, USS Selfridge.^[1][3]

Rodgers commanded his destroyer during the Fleet Problem XXI in April 1940, which focused on the defense of the Hawaiian area. He was succeeded by Leland P. Lovette on May 17, 1940 and ordered to Washington, D.C., where he served at War Plans Division, Navy Department until the end of 1942.^[3][5]

World War II

Rodgers was promoted to Captain on January 2, 1943 and appointed Commanding officer of the heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City. He commanded his vessel during the battle of the Komandorski islands in the Aleutian Islands and distinguished himself on March 26, 1943. During a 3 and 1/2-hour engagement with an enemy force of far greater strength, Rodgers handled his cruiser with such excellent judgment and skill that she was able to inflict severe damage on one heavy cruiser and lesser damage on another heavy, and a light cruiser. He was decorated with the Navy Cross, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.^{[15][1][3][6]}

He commanded Salt Lake City until the beginning of September of that year, when he was promoted to Commodore and appointed United States Senior Planning officer on the Joint Planning Staff, South East Asia Command and Senior United States Naval Officer in South East Asia. Rodgers served under Admiral Louis Mountbatten until April 1944 and received Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for his service.^[7]

Rodgers was subsequently promoted to Rear admiral and ordered to the Mediterranean, where he assumed command of 8th Amphibious Force, which he commanded during the Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of the Southern France. During that operation in August-September 1944, he led Task Force 85 "Delta Force" and distinguished himself during the landing of assault troops, supplies and mechanized equipment of the 7th Army. His efficient direction of unloading operations of convoys were contributing factors in sustaining the rapid advance of our ground forces into enemy-held territory. Rodgers was subsequently decorated with Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his service during the Operation Dragoon.^[15][8]

He was subsequently ordered to Pacific theater and appointed Commander, Amphibious Group 11 (ComPhibGrp 11), which he commanded during the Iwo Jima Campaign in February-March 1945 and Battle of Okinawa in May-June of that year. In both campaigns, troops under his command were responsible for the support of the landings. Despite repeated attempts by hostile suicide boats to strike his ships and incessant attacks by enemy aircraft, Rodgers directed the units under his command in supporting minesweeping and underwater demolition operations in preparation for the main assaults on objectives; supported landings and subsequent advances of our troops; and provided scheduled bombardments in support of our daily attacks against each Japanese stronghold in turn. He was decorated with second Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his service.^[15][9]

Postwar career

Following the war, Rodgers remained in Pacific and participated in the Occupation of Japan as Commander, Amphibian Group 3, which he commanded until April 1948. He was subsequently appointed Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet and held that command until February 1952.^[1]

Rodgers was appointed Commandant, 12th Naval District with headquarters in San Francisco, California and administered all Navy units in the following geographic areas Colorado; Utah; Nevada except Clark County; the northern part of California, including counties of San Luis Obispo, Kings, Tulare, Inyo, and all counties north thereof.

He was ordered to Europe in March 1954 and commanded U.S. Naval Forces Germany until November 1955, when he was ordered to the United States and attached back to the 12th Naval District. Rodgers then served as President, Permanent General Court Martial until his retirement on April 1, 1956. He was advanced to the rank of Vice admiral on the retired list for having been specially commended in combat.^[1][10]

Retirement

Following his retirement from the Navy, Rodgers settled in Coronado, California, where he was active in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Holy Name Society and the Navy League of the United States. He died of heart attack at Coronado Hospital on November 30, 1983 and was buried at sea in accordance with his wishes.^[11]

Admiral Rodgers was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Fischer Rodgers, in 1981 and is survived by three sons: Bertram Joseph Jr., San Francisco; Paul Stephen, Santa Clara; and James Richard, Coronado; a daughter, Mrs. Marie E. Rodgers Casey, Alexandria, Va.; 13 grandchildren and a brother and sister.

Military decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Vice admiral Bertram J. Rodgers:^[12]

References

• 3rd Light Armoured Brigade (France)
• 3rd Light Dragoons
• 3rd Light Mechanized Division
• 3rd Light Mechanized Division (France)
• 3rd Lok Sabha
• 3rd-Love Paradise-
• 3rd love paradise
• 3rd-LOVE Paradise-
• 3rd -Love Paradise-
• 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion
• 3rd Macedonian War
• 3rd Madras European Infantry
• 3rd Madras (European) Regiment
• 3rd Madras European Regiment
• 3rd Madras Regiment
• 3rd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
• 3rd Mainland Bridge
• 3rd man
• 3rd March 2007 lunar eclipse
• 3rdMarDiv
• 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
• 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band
• 3rd Marine Air Wing
• 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (United States)
• 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force