29 October 2002
    Ray Bruntmyer wrote:

    "I am attempting to research my brother Lloyd Ralph Bruntmyer's military record on my own.   I have tried to do so through the military itself, however, they tell me that his official records were destroyed in a fire that destroyed the repository in St. Louis, MO.

    Lloyd went into the Army Air Corps October (1939) and supposedly served, as Tec 4 in the 7 MAT Sq, 5th Air Base Group and his service number was 19048974.   He was sent overseas September 27 1941.

    Lloyd became Japanese prisoner of war while working at Clark Field on the island of Luzon in the Philippine Islands.   He died of malaria in Japanese concentration camp Cabanatuan Camp, Philippine Islands during WWII.   We were also provided photographs of the memorial located in a Military Cemetery near Manilia in which Lloyd's name, rank and service unit is carved in one of the marble panels.   Information furnished in 1987 by a historian at Clark Field indicated the unit Lloyd was officially assigned to was stationed to the South, on the Island of Mindanao, and what he was doing at Clark Field at this time is not clear.

    Following is the text of one of the notification letters my folks received:



      HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES ARMY
      FORCES WESTERN PACIFIC
      APO 707
      30 April 1946

      Mr. Henry L. Bruntmyer,
      2341 Des Moines Street,
      Des Moines, Iowa.

      Dear Mr. Bruntmyer:

      Permit me to extend to you my heartfelt sympathy for the loss of your son, Private First Class Lloyd R. Bruntmyer, 19048974, Air Corps, who died on the 1st of November, 1942, from inanition at Cabanatuan Camp, Philippine Islands, while a prisoner of war of the Japanese.

      The casualty reports received contain few details.   They were of necessity meager, due to the inability of the persons confined by the Japanese to prepare and keep the necessary records.

      Anything I can say is scant consolation to you in your grief.   It is my fervent hope that later, the knowledge that his courage and sacrifices contributed to the final victory may be of sustaining comfort to you.

      Very truly yours,
      signed
      ELMER R. MOOK
      1st Lt, Inf.
      Actg. Asst. Adj. Gen.



    My folks also received a billfold supposedly having belonged to Lloyd.   There were two places on the identification card for the last name of the owner of the billfold.   However, one of the names was spelled correctly and the other was spelled incorrectly.   From this one can only presume that someone apparently sent a bogus billfold to my folks.

    I can remember my folks received two telegrams.   One was from the Japanese Government and the other was from the Red Cross.   Of course each had a differing story as to Lloyd's death.

    My question is can you shed any light on the unit in which Lloyd served?   Can you shed any light on the reason Lloyd and others from his unit were at Clark Field at the time of its attack?   My elder sisters at one time had a picture from Time of another magazine of an individual they were very sure was Lloyd, but the photo was taken at an oblique angel from his left backside.   Evidently the magazine story, which the photo accompanied, indicated the group was in the process of constructing a hospital there at Clark Field.

    I worked as a civilian employee of the Air Force and had the privilege of spending two weeks at Clark Field in 1990 doing planning work associated with development of facilities and infrastructure prior to the decision to close the base.

    I hope this is not too lengthy and that you can shed even the slightest bit of light on this subject.   If not perhaps you can bump me in the right direction to accomplish my purpose.

    Thank you for what ever time you might have to give this effort."

    Ray Bruntmyer
    5900 Dangerfield Ct
    Arlington, TX 76017-1082
    817-561-7584

    E-Mail:   Sandyamr@aol.com