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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Nov '94
James Eugene Bruce, No. 15573, Class Of 1946 Died 24
February 1952, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio,
Aged 29 Years. Interment Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery,
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
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James Eugene Bruce, known to family and friends as "Gene,"
was born on 11 September 1922 in Kansas City, Kansas; graduated
from Wyandotte High School; and attended Kansas City Junior College
for two years before receiving his appointment to West Point.
He joined the Class of '46 on 1 July 1943.
It was at the first evening formation that the new plebes
were required to wear their dress coats that Gene Bruce became
"Deacon" Bruce to his classmates. Classmate and companymate
Joe Jansen recalls that formation. Of course, it was misplaced
collar clips resulting in too much white collar showing that
earned the nickname, and it stuck - even though he preferred
Gene. Another companymate, Jack Grady, recalls a different version
of how he got his nickname. Jack remembered that Deacon was reserved
and had a peculiar gait resembling a preacher with a Bible in
his hand.
Classmate Bob Supplee recalled: "My memory of Deacon
is of someone who went through West Point without fuss or trouble.
He had a wry sense of humor and was well liked. Like myself,
he was a typical first class buck private."
His Yearling Year roommate, Ray Thayer, recalled: "Deacon
was a very mature and unflappable guy. He put up with two immature
roommates and that should say a great deal. He was proficient
in German and was a great help to many of his classmates. He
was an excellent and patient teacher and. I believe, strongly
motivated by desire to help others in an altruistic sense. I
don't believe anyone ever said a bad word about him: he was friendly
and helpful to everyone and nothing upset him. He had his peculiarities,
as we all did, but the only one I particularly remember was that
he 'bounced' when he marched. He was a gentleman in every sense
of the word. I've always remembered him with a great deal of
affection."
Another classmate, Stan Blum, recalled an incident First Class
Year when the Class was able to purchase cars. "My version
has it that Mr. Avery of Avery Ford in Highland Falls didn't
have a clue that he could request a quota for the graduating
cadets (cars were still in short supply after World War II).
Deke apparently was able to fan a dim spark into bright flames,
for Avery talked Ford into allocating 35 cars for the soon-to-graduate
Class of 1946. The big point is that Deke acted alone, took the
initiative and really brought home the bacon. His reserve and
aloofness were just the exteriors of a fine, independent mind."
Deacon became an air cadet and graduated as a second lieutenant
in the Army Air Corps. His first stop after graduation was at
Enid, Oklahoma for transition training into multi-engined aircraft.
Following that, he was assigned to the 341st Bomb Squadron, 97th
Bomb Group at Salina, Kansas as a B-29 pilot. In September 1947,
he was assigned to the 342d Bomb Squadron, still in the 97th
Group. In October of that year he was sent to Alaska with his
unit on temporary duty for seven months. In 1948, the 342d moved
to Biggs Air Force Base, El Paso, Texas. En route to the new
station, Deacon attended the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project
course at Sandia Base, New Mexico. In 1949, Deacon was assigned
back to the 341st Squadron, also at Biggs. In 1950, he attended
the Radiological Defense Course at the US Navy Training Center,
San Francisco, California. Upon completion, he was made Radiological
Defense Officer for the 97th Bomb Group in addition to his duties
with the 341st. By then, he was flying B-50s.
One of his Air Force classmates, Dick Burgess, was with Deacon
at Enid, Salina and Biggs. Deacon got him started in the stock
market. They both were bachelors and Deacon really showed him
the ropes; extensive lessons using the Wall Street Journal, brokers,
etc. When Dick retired, he became a broker.
In January 1952, Deacon was selected by the Air Force Institute
of Technology (AFIT) to attend North Carolina State University
to pursue graduate studies in Nuclear Engineering. In February
of that year, Deacon made a trip back to AFIT and on 24 February
1952 died at the base hospital from injuries resulting from being
struck by a train. He was survived by his parents, two sisters,
Roberta and Dorothy and three brothers, John, Ralph and Robert.
His classmates memories of Deacon Bruce all recall a man very
reserved yet warm and friendly once one got to know him. He set
himself very high, strict ethical and moral standards. He enjoyed
seeing others having a good time but was never really able to
participate himself. His friends and classmates all were shocked
to learn of his untimely death. No one will ever know what he
might have accomplished had he not been taken so early in his
career. His family, friends and classmates are glad to have had
the privilege of sharing his short time on earth and are sincere
in their statement: "Rest in peace, Deacon!"
'46 Memorial Article Project
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