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Sgt David A. Stutesman
to remember
Marine LCpl Edward Bruno.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Long Beach
Last Address Long Beach
Casualty Date Aug 07, 1969
Cause KIA-Died of Wounds
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Quang Tri (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Locustwood Memorial Park - Cherry Hill, New Jersey
ENGAGEMENT ON RIDGE 8 KM N-NE OF THON KHE (THE ROCKPILE) 19690807
UTM grid reference is XD996632
"A Cherry Hill, NJ Marine who shipped out for Vietnam on his birthday was killed last Thursday in a rocket attack.
Julius Goodstein, 412 Kingston Rd. said he was notified Tuesday that his stepson, Lance Corporal Edward Bruno, had died after being wounded in an attack.
LCPL Bruno lived in the New York City area until his family moved to Cherry Hill in 1966. He graduated from Long Beach, NY, High School in June 1966, and enlisted the following September.
He trained at Camp Lejeune, NC and served several tours of duty in the Mediterranean. He was home for a month's leave in November and was then sent to California.
On Christmas he called home and said he was being sent to Vietnam on January 2, his birthday.
Surviving with his stepfather are his mother, Marie; a sister, Vikki; a half-sister, Jodi, and two step-sisters, Mrs. Albert Fulvi and Mrs. Kenneth Allen."
Comments/Citation:
Service number 2243160/072381541
Tour start date 12/31/1968
Silver Star
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lance Corporal Edward Bruno (MCSN: 72381541), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company F, Second Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam.
On 6 August 1969, during Operation IDAHO CANYON, Company F was approximately eight miles north of the Vandegrift Combat Base when Lance Corporal Bruno led a fire team up a steep hill to plot his unit's position on the map.
As the Marines approached the summit of the hill, they came under intense fire from a numerically superior hostile force employing grenades, small arms and automatic weapons. Despite being wounded by the initial burst of fire, Lance Corporal Bruno skillfully deployed his men into more advantageous fighting positions utilizing the jungle growth for concealment, and then requested reinforcements.
With the arrival of assistance, he and the other Marines forced the enemy to withdraw. The following morning, he led a squad up the same hill and came under fire from a well-entrenched, company-sized hostile unit. Rapidly assessing the situation, he quickly directed his men in an assault on the enemy position, ignoring the heavy volume of small arms fire and grenades directed at the Marines by the hostile soldiers.
During the fire fight, Lance Corporal Bruno observed that one of his men had sustained a serious wound. With complete disregard for his own safety, he fearlessly crawled across the fire-swept terrain to reach his comrade, returned to a covered position with the casualty, and then rejoined his men and continued to lead the attack.
Subsequently, he moved forward of the point element with a light anti-tank assault weapon and boldly destroyed one of the enemy's key positions and the machine gun. Following this aggressive action, Lance Corporal Bruno was mortally wounded by fragments from a hostile grenade.
His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit's mission. By his courage, fearless leadership and unwavering devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Bruno upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
