Malcolm V. Fortier

Born in Spokane, Washington on June 23, 1890, Malcolm Vaugh Fortier graduated from South Central High School, later Lewis and Clark High School, in 1909. He began his university career at Whitman College, where he played basketball, baseball, tennis, and served as captain of the football reserves. His athletic career was cut short due to a surgical operation, and he then transferred to Washington State College (WSC) in 1911. While at WSC, he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, the Dramatic club, and Masque and Dagger, a student-based organization providing theatre-based opportunities. During his college career, Fortier achieved the rank of Cadet Colonel in the Washington State college cadets. He graduated from WSC with a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture in 1914. He married Miss Verda Davidson on April 15, 1916. He enlisted in the United States Army in July 1917, entering officers' training school at Fort Leavenworth, and received a commission as Second Lieutenant upon graduation. Following the end of World War I, Fortier received an assignment to join the Army of Occupation in Niedermendig, Germany. As a career Army officer, he received his commission as a Major in 1934, and in 1936 transferred to Fort George Wright in Spokane. In April 1941, Fortier, assigned to the 42nd Infantry Regiment, 41st Division as a Senior American Instructor at Fort McKinley in Manila, received a temporary promotion to Colonel. Fortier was taken prisoner by the Japanese following the end of the Battle of Bataan in April 1942, and was among those who survived the Bataan Death March. He was liberated by Red Army troops from the Soviet Union in August 1945, and returned to the United States in October 1945. He died at the age of sixty-seven on October 30, 1957 in Seattle, where is is buried in the Sanctuary of Truth Mausoleum in Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park. Fortier is included among the Fallen Cougars because one could say he was among the Fallen, but came back against impossible odds to finish his life.