Career
Bertram Joseph Rodgers was born on March 19, 1894 in Knoxville, Pennsylvania. He attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and graduated in 1916 with the rank of Ensign. His first service assignment was on the board of battleship United States Ship South Carolina.
During the World War I, Rodgers served with this ship within Atlantic Fleet.
He subsequently commanded the submarines United States Ship H-8 and United States Ship R-8 and also served as Engineer and repair Officer at the submarine base, Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone.
