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Home Town Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Last Address Burial At Sea Ceremony for Vice Admiral Bertram Joseph Rodgers. January 4th, 1984 on board the USS JUNEAU (LPD 10) Station Ship's company, firing detail, pall/flag bearers and honor platoon. Officer's Call-"All hands bury the dead."
Vice Admiral Bertram Joseph Rodgers 40 years, U.S.N. Retired Buried At Sea
January 4th, 1984, USS JUNEAU (LPD 10)
Bertram Joseph Rodgers was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on March 19, 1894. His long and distinguished naval service began with his appointment to the U. S. Naval Academy in 1912. He was commissioned Ensign in June 1916. From there he went to serve aboard the battleship USS SOUTH CAROLINA in the Atlantic Fleet during WW1. He then served aboard the submarine H-4 and commanded the USS H-8 and the R-8. Next, he served as Engineer and repair Officer at the submarine base, Coco Solo in the Canal Zone. He served as the Executive Officer aboard the USS V-3 which was later named the USS BONITA. In 1927, after instruction in Lighter-than-air craft, he was designated Naval Aviator [LTA] and served on the airships LOS ANGELES, AKRON and MACON.
In 1934 he assumed command of the destroyer USS BLAKELY followed by duty as Port Captain, Balboa, Panama Canal Zone; Commanding Officer of the destroyer leader USS SELFRIDGE: as assignment to the War Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, DC; and duty at Headquarters, Commander in Chief, US Fleet, Washington, DC.
On January, 1943 he assumed command of the cruiser USS SALT LAKE CITY where he was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces. In the Fall of 1943 he was assigned duty as Senior United States Planning Officer of the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Southeast Asia, as a Commodore. For his service in this assignment he was awarded the Army Legion of Merit.
He assumed duty in April, 1944 as Commander of Task Group Two, Eighth Amphibious Force assisting in the planning for and invasion of Southern France. Task Group Two was later re-designated Amphibious Group ELEVEN, EIGHTH Fleet which was soon after transferred to the Pacific Theater and under his command participated in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations.
In February, 1946, he assumed command of Amphibious Group THREE of the SEVENTH Fleet. As commander of Amphibious Group ONE, Pacific Fleet he participated in the first full scale peace time amphibious training exercises conducted off the coast of Southern California.
On April 2, 1948, he reported as Commander Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet. In February, 1950, he became Commandant of the Twelfth Naval district, with additional duty as Commander Naval Base, San Francisco, California. In March, 1954, he was assigned as Commander naval Forces, Germany and in November, 1955, he became President of the Permanent General Court Martial, Twelfth Naval district. On April 1, 1956, 40 years and two months after his commissioning as ensign in the United States navy, he was transferred to the retired list of the US Navy as a Vice Admiral.
Among his many decorations, Vice Admiral Rodgers was awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star, Army Legion of Merit, and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon with Star.
Other Comments:
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during the Second World War.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Bertram Joseph Rodgers, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Heavy Cruiser U.S.S. SALT LAKE CITY (CA-25), during operations in the Aleutian Islands on 26 March 1943. During a 3 1/2-hour engagement with an enemy force of far greater strength, Captain 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. His outstanding achievement contributed to the withdrawal of the Japanese force and frustrated their desperate attempt to reinforce troops in the Aleutian Islands. Captain Rodgers' conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 319 (October 1943) Action Date: March 26, 1943
Service: Navy Rank: Captain Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Salt Lake City (CA-25)
Eighth Fleet, established 15 March 1943 from Northwest African Force, operated in the Mediterranean Sea during World War II with a main mission of amphibious warfare. At the outset of the War the forces that eventually evolved into US Eighth Fleet were designated Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet, and later United States Forces North-West African Waters. Under the command of Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, the Fleet supported landings in Sicily and at Salerno, the first sustained land assault and invasion of the European mainland in World War II. Eighth Fleet supported the August 1944 landing of Allied troops on the coast of southern France with heavy naval gunfire and aircraft attack. With the reorganization of the Navy after World War II in December 1945, Eighth Fleet was reactivated on 01 March 1946 under the command of Admiral Marc A. Mitscher. Under the overall command of Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Eighth Fleet was the heavy striking arm of the Atlantic Fleet. It consisted of the preponderance of Atlantic Fleet aircraft carrier assets, initially including the new fast carriers Midway and Franklin D. Roosevelt, their escorts and support ships. These latter did not include the fast battleship division made up of the Wisconsin and the Missouri, retained under direct command of Atlantic Fleet. In February 1950, the US Eighth Fleet was redesignated to US Second Fleet, a part of US Atlantic Command.
Chain of Command He assumed duty in April, 1944 as Commander of Task Group Two, Eighth Amphibious Force assisting in the planning for and invasion of Southern France. Task Group Two was later re-designated Amphibious Group ELEVEN, EIGHT Fleet which was soon after transferred to the Pacific Theater and under his command participated in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations.
