America lost a hero. My dear Uncle Bryce passed from this world to that of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ this past Thursday evening. He was a hero of the old order. Uncle Bryce answered his country's call to service during WW2. He was assigned to a B-24 in the Army Air Corps; at 24 he was the oldest member of the crew. His job was manning a waist gun and arming the bombs on their craft. Their first mission proved to be their last, as they were shot down. Uncle Bryce was the last out of the plane; he stayed to help a fellow crew member with his chute. His chute opened just moments before he hit the ground; his right arm and leg were broken. His first awareness was of having his head jerked back by a peasant who then held a knife to his throat. A German patrol stumbled upon the scene and saved his life. Uncle Bryce survived near starvation and numerous diseases whilst imprisoned. He also survived the death march.Death March and Research of WWII B-24 POW Stalag Lufts of WW2.

Upon liberation, Uncle Bryce came home, started a family, and moved on with his life. He didn't expect anything for his service. Nor did he wear his sacrifices on his sleeve. He came to forgive those who held he and fellow POWs captive, including those who mistreated them. In fact, one of their favorite guards was invited to and attended some of the reunions. Uncle Bryce was the second to the last of his crew.

His passing won't be mentioned or even noticed by the president or any national news figures. But to me, he was bigger than life, and I'm proud to call him my uncle.

Godspeed, Uncle Bryce. Thank you for your service.

 

1952henry, Thank you for telling us about your uncle, a very real American Hero! I'm sorry for your loss, but he is truly at rest, completely healed and basking in the Glory of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The ranks of WW2 veterans is thinning more every day, sad to see them go.

 

He sounds like a remarkable men, sorry for your loss but happy he enriched your life. Thanks for sharing ..

 

Condolences to you and yours. Your uncle was an amazing man


Bobby

 

Henry, thanks for sharing about your uncle. There is a reason they call his generation the greatest. I am very fortunate to volunteer with a group called Honor Flight Kentucky. Our sole mission is to honor WWII, Korean, and Vietnam soldiers for their sacrifice and heroism by flying them to Washington D.C. to see THEIR memorials for free. I certainly hope that your uncle was able to go on one of those flights. If not, I am sorry. I certainly would have loved to meet him. They are all special in their own way.If you have any more relatives that were in those wars, or anyone you know fought for our freedoms, please contact me. I will do my best to get them on a flight. We are losing these heroes way to fast.

 

Well said.

 

Amazing what our "Greatest Generation" went through and sacrificed for us. These guys are the real heroes, not sports stars or Hollywood stars and definitely not Bruce Jenner!

Sorry to see your uncle go. Prayers are with you and for you.

 

Add my condolences, Owen. He and others of his generation saved this world, but he now enters a far better world. Still, I'm sorry for your loss. Stu

 

I get emotional when I learn about the passing of war heroes; especially those that come home and are so humble they ask for nothing yet they were willing to risk everything. My condolences to you and your family.

 

Sorry for your loss. Your uncle was a hero and we will miss him and the all of his kind.

 

Your Uncle Bryce truly should be remembered just as you described him. His generation
saw some of the worst and some of the best years in American and World History. He surely went above and beyond and deserves to remembered as a Great American. Your story relates that he made an impression in your life.
God Bless You and Your family.

 

This is a loss we see to often these days. That generation was special. My dad use to joke about the metal they received for being the most shot at squadron in the Navy! They never left Pearl Harbor but pulled targets for all of the ships heading out into the pacific for practice. He use to say you could tell the crews that saw a lot of Zeros as they would shoot at the tow line instead of the 50 foot long sock they towed a few hundred feet behind the plane. They actually got hit twice and had to make emergency landings. I still think he was a member of that generation and should be called a hero. Sorry for the ramble but your story brought back memories. Your uncle will never be forgotten. I am sorry for your loss dls

 

Im so sorry to here of your uncles passing, sounds like he was an extraordinary man. I don't think your uncles generation get the recognition they deserve. Most were just kids when they answered the call to save the world, which they did. The horrors experienced by so many of them would prove to haunt them for the rest of there lives, which they usually kept to themselves and came home to raise there family's like nothing had ever happened. May God bless and keep your uncle in his warm embrace always. Im sure He has a seat at the table.

 

One of the many heroes that may have gone forgotten were it not for their family and friends. Thanks for sharing his and your story and thanks for remembering the service of a true American hero. BZ

 

I read Unbroken last month. It is about the Olympic track runner (Louis Zamperini). Awesome story about brutal beatings at the hand of the Japanese. And he then forgave his captors after he accepted Christ at a Billy Graham tent meeting.