Bertling returns from deployment in Iraq

By Nancy Spencer, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Monday, March 3, 2008 (2 months, 1 week ago)
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U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Cory Bertling, left, presents a U.S. flag that flew over Iraq on a Black Hawk helicopter to St. John’s High School Principal Don Huysman Thursday prior to the start of classes. Bertling is a 2004 graduate of St. John’s and joined the Marines right after high school. He returned this month from a 363-day deployment to Iraq.DELPHOS — It was a long year for U.S. Marine Corp Corporal Cory Bertling. Well, 363 days to be exact. That’s how long the Delphos native was recently stationed in Iraq.
“I was in Camp Korean Village and my job was to coordinate flights in and out of the air base,” Bertling said. “I really can’t go into any further detail because of the nature of what I did.”
Bertling said he sometimes gets upset at the negative media attention given to the situation in Iraq.
“We really are making progress and the people are learning how to better take control of parts of running their country,” he said. “The media sensationalizes everything and sometimes overlooks what’s really going on and the good that is happening.”
Conditions for soldiers in Iraq are not always ideal.
“You can’t use the water to brush your teeth, there’s no indoor plumbing and the mode of transportation is often by foot,” Bertling said.
While he was there, he had the opportunity to purchase U.S. flags and have them flown on a Black Hawk helicopter as keepsakes for friends and family. One of those flags was presented to his alma mater, St. John’s High School, on Thursday.
“When the pilots told us what they were doing a lot of us got flags for them to fly so we could bring them home and give them to people,” Bertling said. “I knew one would go to St. John’s.”
High School Principal Don Huysman accepted the gift and told Bertling he would find a place for the special momento alongside the active-duty military display in the school’s main lobby.
After the presentation, Bertling visited several classrooms in the high school and junior high. The most prevalent question — “What was it like to be a Marine?”
“I told them it was hard. It’s not something you just say, ‘Hey, I want to be a Marine.’ Once you are a Marine, it changes you,” Bertling said. “I don’t know that I helped anyone make any life decisions, but it was good to see my former teachers.”
Many high school graduates walk across the stage with no clue about their future and what they want to be when they grow up. Bertling was among that group in May 2004. He wasn’t sure college was the right path and after meeting a Marine recruiter, his mind was more clear. He signed up and then took on the task of telling his parents.
“At first they really didn’t want me to join,” Bertling said. “They were worried with everything going on in Iraq.”
Jack Bertling, his father, agreed.
“I was absolutely worried about him going to Iraq. After he took the aptitude test and qualified for a job that took him out of the infantry, I felt a lot better,” he said.
Bertling followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, James “Bud” Bertling, who was a World War II Marine veteran, and his uncles, George and Chuck Bertling were also in the Marines and uncle Buddy Bertling is a career Air Force officer.
“I was really inspired by my grandpa and my other family members,” Cory Bertling said. “It felt right.”
The recruiter who talked to his family put his mother’s mind as ease.
“I was shocked at first,” Cindy Bertling said. “I know the recruiters come to school and talk to them but he came home with his mind made up he was going to join. Then we talked to his recruiter. We trusted him. He and Cory talked about helicopter mechanics and everything the recruiter promised, that’s the way it happened.”
Basic training in the Marines is the most intense of all military branches. After the 13 weeks, Bertling saw changes in himself.
“I had a lot more self-confidence. It was definitely hard. At first, I didn’t think that I could do it. It was an amazing experience,” he said. “Not many people can say they have done what I have just in basic.”
The Marine’s next stop is Jacksonville, N.C., where he will learn more about the Osprey helicopter and teach others.
“This helicopter is so new that we are still figuring out what all it can do. I worked on them some in Iraq and I’m looking forward to learning more about it,” he said.
Bertling’s enlistment in the Marines will end in 2009 and he will head off to college.
“I am definitely going to take advantage of the G.I. Bill while I’m still young. After working on Osprey helicopters, I now know I want to be an automotive technician when I get out of the service,” the 22-year-old said.
The new confidence and career goals for his life after the service is a blessing for his parents.
“When Cory graduated he really didn’t know what he wanted to do and it wasn’t a good feeling for him,” his mother said. “Now he is so much more sure of himself and has direction. He matured a lot while he was away from us. He knows what he has to do and he does it. I’m thankful the Marines gave him that. I also see his pride when people come up and shake his hand. He is enjoying the respect he gets from people. He earned it.”

1 Reader Response to “Bertling returns from deployment in Iraq”

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  1. #1 — Added 2 weeks, 5 days ago

    Just wanting to say what an awesome young man this is. Congratulations to Jack (my St. John classmate) and Cindy in raising such a wonderful and responsible young man. Be blessed and safe as you serve. Good luck with your future plans!

    Posted on April 22, 2008 at 2:19 pm by Sandra Kohorst Dennis