HOME
S.E. Michigan
Vets List
Library of Congress
Vets Web Site
| Richard Howard Bruning
|
|
War: World War II
Branch: U.S. Air Force
Unit: 397th Bombardment Division
Highest Rank: Corporal
D.O.B. June 30, 1926
Place of Birth: Moltke Township, Michigan
SEE VIDEO BELOW
|
| Richard Howard Bruning was born in Rogers City, Michigan on June 20th, 1926. While still in his senior year of high school, Richard signed up for the enlisted reserve corps. On December 20, 1944, he was commissioned into the Army Air Corps. Richard received basic training for two weeks at Keesler Air Force Base near Biloxi, Mississippi. After basic, Richard received special training in the mechanics of aircraft engines. Classes were held from 12;00 am to 8:00 am and are remembered as being very uncomfortable. He took a boat from New Orleans, Louisiana to Panama.
Richard was stationed at the airbase at Rio Hato, Panama. He inspected safety materials such as fire extinquishers and seatbelts on the B-17s at the base. The work day began at 8:00 am and ended at 4:00 pm. Recreation included occasional weekend trips to Panama City, trips to the beach, writing letters, and listening to the radio. Richard coped with homesickness by keeping a correspondence with his mother. Sometimes the men on the base would be given tours of the poverty in the area. Richard missed the end of the war celebrations. He was discharged at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on November 24, 1946.
|
Press the "spacebar" or "enter" on your computer, or click on the "arrow" at the bottom left of the screen, to activate the above screen. Then click on the arrow at the bottom left of the screen to start the video.
| 