BERTRAM-ELIZABETH

WORLD  WAR  ONE  WOMAN  MARINE

In mid-1918 the Marine Corps found itself with a shortage of qualified men who could be sent to Europe.  When the Secretary of the Navy learned that the reference to enlistments referred only to “persons,” he authorized the recruitment of women.  The Marine Corps quickly abandoned the gender barrier and commenced recruiting women into the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve on August 13, 1918, in accordance with the authorization “to enroll women in the Marine Corps Reserve for clerical duty at Headquarters Marine Corps and at other Marine Corps offices in the United States where their services might be utilized to replace men who may be qualified for active field service.”

Historical records record that Elizabeth Bertram of Denver, Colorado, who was working as a legal secretary, was one of the women enlistees.  Upon her enlistment she was assigned to the Marine Corps Recruiting Office in Denver.  Within a month of her enlistment she learned her fellow marines were required to qualify on the rifle range.  The following are excerpts from a July 1972 interview in which Bertram spoke of her discovery.

“I grew up in a small town and in my younger days had done some hunting and a great deal of target practice.  I considered myself a better than average shot, so when I learned that qualifying added dollars to pay checks, I asked for a tryout.  The major turned to a corporal and said, ‘Day after tomorrow you will take her to the Denver Police practice range just outside the city limits for a one-person regulation full course tryout.’  The day was a cold, windy, overcast day with squalls of icy rain.  The rifle range was a vast expanse of clayish mud with a few outcroppings of rock.  I was equipped with blank target sheets, ammunition, and an Enfield Army rifle.  There were several policemen waiting under the shelter to see what was going on.  The rifle was too long in the stock to hold a firm pressure against my shoulder.”

“With almost 20/20 vision I did all right on the standing positions and thought I even made a bullseye.  I did fairly well on kneeling and sitting and managed a few good shots prone.  But, every time I tried rapid fire the result was disaster.  I stuck it out for the full course, but my shoulder was pounded almost into jelly and my right arm was a painful something that didn’t seem to belong to me.  We returned to the office sopping wet.  My hair was stringing down from under my dripping cap, my clothes were plastered with mud, and even my face was dirty.  The major sent me home in a closed car without comment.  The next day, again spic-and-span but with the grandfather of all bruises spreading over my shoulder arm and even on my chest, I was summoned by the major.  ‘You seem to have qualified unofficially,’ the major acknowledged, ‘and you will be included in the next class to the official range.’  Then he arose and approached me saying, “In the meantime you may wear this,’ and he pinned his own engraved marksman medal on my blouse.  I intended to execute a smart salute but when I tried to raise my right arm I involuntarily yelled, ‘Ouch,’ and ran to my desk in an agony of fear and shame.  The major glanced at the astonished and apprehensive faces around him and saved the day with a burst of hearty laughter.”

Unfortunately, Private Bertram was never able to go to the official firing range as on November 11, 1918, the Armistice was signed and she along with the rest of the women Marine Reservists was transferred to inactive duty.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)