Page 54 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021- Online Magazine
P. 54
Bert McWilliams
Born to Lead
by Jane Bromley
been chosen.” In other 60mm mortars, but because of
words, “You're a leader, some misinformation, he reported
and you need to step to the 81mm unit. Because his
up.” After that, Bert was commanding officer couldn't find
captain of every team him, his parents were notified
he was on, including that he was “missing in action”.
helping Dunbar win They grieved for two weeks
state championships in before it was discovered that Bert
basketball and track in was just on the wrong side of the
1962. base. However, instead of being
returned, the officer in charge
Bert earned a football “said he was keeping me. My first
scholarship to Cisco job was as a ‘humper’ – carrying
Junior College and ammo.”
later the University of
Corpus Christi. Upon At that time, white and black
graduation, he went Marines were segregated. “We
to work for American were rehearsing with the 81, and
Oil Company. He the colonel was watching us. We
was drafted at the were supposed to disassemble
age of 24 but failed and reassemble the 81 in 45
the physical because seconds. He asked the black
of knee injuries. Two Marines if we could do that. I did
weeks later, however, it in 10 seconds. That’s when the
his status changed from lieutenant said, ‘You're different.
4F to 1A. He had just You're not a humper. You're a
gotten married and had gunner.’ He made me a section
he small town of Mexia, qualified to join the leader in charge of all the guns in
Texas, 1945, was the Peace Corps. Instead, he joined that area.” Just like in high school
Tbackdrop for the arrival of the Marine Corps. He was sent and college, “Every team I've ever
Bert McWilliams. Vernice and to San Diego for basic, then to been on, I've been the captain.”
Mary Ann McWilliams moved Camp Lejeune, where he trained Bert led his unit for the rest of
their family to Lubbock in 1956, on 81mm mortar artillery. When his tour in Vietnam. “Everyone
and Bert and his siblings attended he got his orders for Vietnam,
a private Seventh Day Adventist he boarded a
elementary school. It may not commercial flight,
have been immediately obvious landed at Phu
that young Bert was a leader, but Bai, and was
it became evident by the time transferred to the
he got to seventh grade. The USMC combat
athletic young man participated in base of Con Thien,
basketball, track, and football. located near
the DMZ, only two
When Bert was asked by his coach miles from North
to be captain of the football team, Vietnam.
he wasn't sure he wanted the
responsibility. The coach told him, Upon arrival, Bert
“You don't get to choose; you've was assigned to
54 Lubbock Senior Link
