Bert Charles Crum LCpl U.S. Marine Corp, Retired

Bert Charles Crum, LCpl United States Marine Corps (Retired)

Bert was born March 7, 1947, in Omaha, Nebraska to Irene and Charles Crum. Bert's older brother Mickey died several years ago. Bert is survived by his younger brothers Fred (wife Kim) and Joe, and sister Janet.

Bert attended Tech High School in Omaha from September 1962 to June 1966. While at Tech he played center on the Trojan's football team.

From March 1966 to November 1966, Bert worked at a manufacturing company and a body shop in Omaha. He left his last job to join the United States Marine Corps (USMC). Bert married Elsie Maie Evans on June 8, 1966. They had no children and divorced after Bert returned from Vietnam.

Bert celebrated his 19th birthday as a U.S. Marine, having earned that honor on November 17, 1966. A little more than six months later, on September 25, 1967, Bert suffered a traumatic brain injury in combat in Vietnam. He was honorably retired on March 31, 1968, as a Lance Corporal, since the Marine Corps gave him a promotion after he was wounded.

Although Bert carried the scars of his service, he has a ready smile, remembered the names of those who helped him at the Norfolk Veterans Home, and was quick with a cheery "Hello." He had the grit and persistence to, as he said "get over the rough times." That must have come from being a Marine.

Bert enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on August 29, 1966. On November 20, 1966, Bert was in San Diego California as a recruit for the United States Marine Corp. He arrived at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego on November 19, 1966. He successfully completed basic training at Camp Pendleton in California. He earned the title of basic infantry man and mortar man as of March 17, 1967. On April 16, 1967, he was promoted to the rank of Private First Class. On May 10, 1967, Bert and his fellow Marines flew from El Toro, California, to Kadena, Okinawa. On May 31, 1967, they flew from Kadena to Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam. The next day, June 1, 1967, Bert flew from Da Nang to Hue-Phu Bai in the Republic of Vietnam, where he immediately saw combat. Bert participated in a number of operations while in Vietnam.

On September 23, 1967, Bert suffered a fragmentation wound to his right hand in Quang Tri Province, but he requested that his next-of-kin not be notified of that injury. That earned him the Purple Heart. On September 25, 1967, Bert was wounded in action and suffered fragmentation wounds to his entire body, including a severe head injury that permanently changed his life. That earned him a Gold Star on his Purple Heart. Due to these injuries, Bert was forced to retire from the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged March 31, 1968, with the rank of Lance Corporal. He was barely 21 years old.

Bert's life over the last 58 years was marked by his determination to cope with his physical limitations, enjoy family and friends, and do things for others who have been involved in his life.. After he was hurt, Bert came back to the Omaha VA Hospital, where Fred would often skip school to go sit with Bert. He later was placed in the VA Facility in Topeka, KS where he learned to walk, talk, feed himself and read again. He spent 7 years in Topeka.

After returning from Topeka, for many years Bert was able to walk with the assistance of a cane, but in his later years he requires a wheelchair due to his increased left side paralysis. Bert lived at the Norfolk Veterans Home for over 30 years and was known for being able to recall the names of the people who help him and who he has contact with every day. He had a cheery smile and always says hello. Bert has truly made the best of a bad situation.

Bert funded a perpetual scholarship to the Omaha Home for Boys, from which every year one young man and one young woman receive tuition to help them earn post-high school education, with an emphasis on those who have an interest in auto body work, since that's what Bert liked to do. The grant language specifically provides that "The scholarship will be given annually to the young men and women who graduate from an Omaha Home for Boys' Program. The recipient(s) will attend a two- or four-year college or vocational/technical school. Bert enjoyed working on cars in his younger days, so preference is given to a recipient in the field of auto body or auto mechanics. However, if there are no qualified candidates in either of those fields, a recipient will be chosen from any field of study.")

A granite bench engraved with Bert's name and bearing his high school photo was installed on Inspiration Hill at the Omaha Home for Boys' campus at 52nd and Ames Streets in honor of Bert's donation for this perpetual scholarship. Bert donated to the Norfolk Veterans Home Foundation to help support the Vietnam War Memorial at the Home. In recognition of that contribution, there is a bench inscribed with Bert's name and his years of service. Bert's contribution helped buy the American flag and flagpole located in Heroes Park pavilion, south of the Norfolk Veterans Home. Bert donated to the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation for the memorial in Papillion, Nebraska. In recognition of that contribution, there is a plaque at the base of the flagpole that flies the Marine Corps' flag. Bert picked out what he wanted inscribed on his placard at the Memorial, which came from his heart: "For those who served and suffered in the Vietnam War."

Bert enjoyed a "road trip to Papillion" on June 6, 2024, to see the dedication of the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He heard the speakers and saw the memorial and the plaque at the base of the Marine Corps' flag. He was proud to have helped make that financial contribution, which recognizes the physical, mental and emotional contributions of all American veterans, especially those like him who served in Vietnam. Bert's other gifts were to the following organizations: The Dunham House, which will support combat wounded veterans who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. Wounded Warrior Family Support, which supports families of veterans who have been wounded in combat. American Legion Auxiliary's Poppy Fund, which supports veterans through Nebraska. Veterans of Foreign Wars ("VFW") Post 1644 in Norfolk, Nebraska, which has been supportive of the veterans at the Norfolk Veterans Home and whose members regularly visit and participate in events such as Bingo and make small monetary gives to the accounts of members. The Hope Fund administered by Faith Regional Hospital Foundation, which helps patients undergoing cancer treatment. Bert experienced cancer during his life.

Bert always loved his family. He tried to help them whenever they asked. He respected his Mom and Dad and always asked about them long after they were gone. All Bert wanted was for people to come visit. Whenever Fred or any of his other siblings would walk into the room, Bert would get the biggest smile on his face. You knew what made him happy. He loved to pick on his brothers and it would always make him giggle, sometimes he would almost fall out of his chair. He loved his Godfather's Pepperoni Pizza, which is all he ever wanted when you would visit.

Bert was thankful for his opportunity to have served his country as a United States Marine and hoped America would continue to be, as the Star Spangled Banner says, the "land of the free and the home of the brave." The fortunate ones came through unscathed; others gave the ultimate sacrifice, and others, like Bert, are causalities of war who suffered wounds that changed their lives forever.

Mike Kelly, a long-time reporter for the Omaha World Herald (now retired), interviewed Bert in 2017 and found an article that was published on April 30, 1975, the day that Saigon fell. The article noted that Bert was "one of 361,354 wounded in the war [and] said: 'If I was able, I'd volunteer again.'"

Bert served our country and made one of the ultimate sacrifices a soldier can make – his family and his physical wellbeing. He showed the grit instilled in every Marine and enjoyed helping others. Warriors like Bert deserve our utmost respect and continued recognition. Bert is a Hero, he gave his life for our Country and did his duty as an American.

Visitation: Wednesday, October 22, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Bellevue Memorial Chapel. Committal Service: Wednesday, October 22, 12:30 p.m., Omaha National Cemetery, 14250 Schram Road, Omaha, NE 68138. To view a live broadcast of the service, visit the website below and click the link on the Crum obituary.

Bellevue Memorial Funeral Chapel

Heafey Hoffmann Dworak Cutler,

2202 Hancock St., Bellevue

402-291-5000 | www.bellevuefuneralchapel.com