Gordon E. Bruns

The final rites for Lieut. Gordon E. Bruns, who was killed in the 
Pacific area during World War II, were held, along with those for 
the crew members of the B-24 radar plane of which he was pilot-
commander, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. 
Louis, Missouri, on Friday afternoon, March 10.  Rites for Lieut. 
Bruns were catholic.

Attending the services were his wife, Mrs. Cleo Bruns; his 
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Bruns and his brother Lloyd 
Bruns of Sigourney.

Lieut. Bruns, a son of Frances and Emma Hartley Bruns, was 
born October 8, 1923 on a farm five miles southwest of Sigourney. 
He attended the Newkirk school and later the Sigourney High 
School from which he was graduated in 1941. He was active in 
the Future Farmers of America chapter, serving as treasurer and 
reporter, and also received a plaque for being the most outstanding 
boy of his class.

Following his graduation he attended a short course at Iowa State 
College in Ames taking instruction as a dairy herd improvement 
association supervisor.

On October 24, 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air corps at Des Moines. 
He returned home and was called into the service on January 13, 1943.  
After receiving his basic training at the Kansas State College in 
Manhattan, he was sent to San Antonio, Texas where he was classified 
as a pilot.  He received his preflight training at San Antonio, his primary 
pilot training at Sikeston, Missouri, and his basic pilot training at Winfield, 
Kansas.  From there he went to Waco, Texas for his advanced training 
and was graduated from the Blackland Army Air Field February 8, 1943 , 
when he received his pilot wings and commission as a lieutenant. His 
serial number was C709764.

Lieut. Bruns was transferred to Ft. Worth, Texas for nine weeks of
pilot training on B-24s after which he went to Lincoln, Nebraska to 
receive his crew.

While at Lincoln, he was married to Cleo M. Shannon of Sigourney 
on May 13, 1944.  On May 15 he left for Tucson, Arizona to train his 
crew. He reported to Topeka, Kansas for overseas duty, but was sent 
to Langley Field, Virginia to train with his radar man.  From there, he
 went to Hamilton Field, California and was sent overseas on December 
4, 1944.

He was stationed on Morotia Island and was shot down while 
bombing the Sanga-Sanga oil field on January 12, 1945.  His plane 
is imbedded in the mud and water on a delta of the Mahacan river 
in southeastern Borneo.

He was pilot commander of a B-24 Liberator radar plane.  His duties 
has been to sink the Jap ships in the Celebes Sea.  He had written 
home about sinking a large Japanese transport on January 6, 1945.  
At the last they could find no more ships so were bombing the oil fields.

Lieut. Bruns was taken into the Holy Catholic church while at San 
Antonio and remained a faithful member until his death.

Now, after five years, he, along with his crew members, has been
 laid to rest in Jefferson National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.

Decorations awarded include the Purple Heart for having made the 
supreme sacrifice in defense of his country; the Purple Heart 
certificate which accompanied the posthumous award of the Purple 
Heart medal and the accolade, a testimonial of the nations gratitude 
to those who die for their country, which is signed by the President.

He also received the American campaign ribbon with three bronze 
stars for participation in the air offensive of Japan, New Guinea and 
Western Pacific campaign; The World War II Victory Medal; Good 
Conduct medal and the Sharpshooter and Pilot badge.

Lieut. Bruns is survived by his wife, his parents and brother Lloyd.

Keokuk County News March 16, 1950
Handwritten by Regina Shannon Smith, typed by Lyman Morrison, 1995.