Edward Alan Brudno (1940 - 1973)

Captain Alan Brudno was a Prisoner of War for 2675 days during the Vietnam War.

Biography

Captain Alan Brudno served in the United States Air Force in the Vietnam War
Service started: 1963
Unit(s): 68th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Service ended: 1973

Birth

Capt Edward Alan Brudno, known as Alan was born on 4 June 1940 in Quincy, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA. His father Dr. James C. Brudno was an internist in Quincy, Massachusetts and his mother's name was Ruth. ^[1]

Known Sibling

1. Robert Joseph Brudno born 10 February 1945 in Quincy, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA.^[2]

Education

He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts majoring in Aeronautics and Astronautics graduating with a Degree in Aeronautical Engineering because he wanted to be an astronaut once he got enough flying hours to qualify.

Marriage

Alan married Deborah C. Gitenstein (24 December 1943-7 July 2010) in 1965 three months before he went to Vietnam. During his incarceration she returned to school. She was a teacher in Harrison, New York when Alan returned. After his death, she married David Lloyd Bernstein (1929-2011).

Military Service

While he was at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1963 he joined the United States Air Force Reserve. He received his commission through that program on 5 February 1963 and by 21 April 1963 he was on active duty status. He qualified for Undergraduate Pilot Training and received his pilot wings at Craig Air Force Base in Dallas County, Alabama in May 1964. From there he went to train in the F-4C Phantom II Combat Crew and Pilot Systems Operator schools in November 1964.

His first assignment was to the 68th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at George Air Force Base, Victorville, San Bernardino, California. They deployed to Southeast Asia on 27 August 1965. They were assigned to the 6234th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat Royal Thai Air Base.

Lieutenant Brudno, copilot, and Major Thomas E. Collins, pilot, were on a mission in an F-4C Phantom II to take out a bridge near Ha Tinh, North Vietnam. This was along the conduit for supplies called the Ho Chi Minh Trail. As Collins got into position to deliver his weapons, his aircraft was hit by antiaircraft fire and became uncontrollable. They both ejected successfully and were immediately captured. This was the only F-4C the 68th lost during its deployment.

Prisoner of War from 18 October 1965 to 12 February 1973. ^[3]

His family did not know that he was alive until 10 February 1966. He was held 89 months.

The Vietnamese paraded him along with 51 other handcuffed American Prisoner of War in downtown Hanoi in July 1966 with bayoneted guards so that the crowds could batter them for a two mile gauntlet. It was called the "Hanoi March" in the international media the next day. This prompted discussion about the mistreatment of the prisoners.

By August 1966 the Vietnamese started another type of torture that the prisoners later called the "rope tricks". Alan went through all of the abuse and held his head high and kept his honor, but they broke him along with most of the men and he wrote a coerced confession when the handcuffs were ratcheted into both wrist bones. This started his depression. His fellow inmates recall vividly that Alan had a way of outwitting his captors and managed to communicate with others in spite of it being a violation carrying heavy physical penalties like the month he spent in an underground pit. He even invented a new way of using the tap code with knots in a length of string he tore from a blanket and then sneaked to others. In spite of all of this, his depression deepened and by 1969 he would go for days without speaking or eating. His fellow inmates realized even then that something was terribly wrong and they couldn't seem to help him. Then he would come out of it for awhile and teach math and physics to his fellows. They all taught each other new skills, languages, literature, music, math, bridge, anything they knew. Fellow POWs praised his intelligence. For instance, Paul E. Galanti said that his longterm cellmate, Al Brudno was one of the smartest men he'd ever known.

Alan was at the camp called Son Tay which President Nixon approved for a secret rescue mission in November 1970, but they had all been moved about five months previously.

In 1972 Brudno had been taken to a camp the Americans named Dogpatch, Bo Giuong, near the Chinese border. He stole a razor blade on shaving day and told Lt. Col. Elmo Baker that he planned to slit his wrist. Baker stayed close to him and tried to get him over the depression. When he wrote home, his family noticed mood swings. He already had so many signs of Post Traumatic Stress, but even when he arrived home, no one knew to help. Besides, if there was any sign of mental instability he would never fly again.^[4]

He was flown out on C-141 Tail number 50243 from Gia Lam Airport, Hanoi, North Vietnam at 1405 hours and arrived at Clark Air Base, Philippines at 1655 hours.

He was returned home to family and friends during Operation Homecoming to Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts. After the initial return, his despondency quickly returned. He felt that he had let them all down and that he hadn't been strong enough. There was a Pentagon medical officer who warned them on 2 June that POWs were in worse condition than everyone thought. He took an overdose alone in a hotel room in Boston to end his existence. The medical doctor, Robert Hain, who studied Brudno's case and hundreds of other POWs told the Defense Department that the death was the direct result of the physical and psychological wounds suffered in the prison camps. His death resulted in returned prisoners of war now routinely getting both medical and psychological support to help them readjust to life. When his brother asked this could happen when Alan had struggled so hard to survive all those terrible years, the military psychiatrist explained that ...He just used up everything he had over those long years in captivity. There was no strength left with which to survive. Unfortunately they returned to a world that had changed so much that many of them didn't recognize their own country or countrymen. They were despised by many of their countrymen along with the despised war.

The following is the formal Department of Defense press release which attributes Captain Brudno's death to what he endured:

Brudno endured long-term, severe physical and psychological abuse and torture-related wounds inflicted by the enemy in the defined combat zone - and from the devastating effects of these wounds he succumbed within a short time after his release from captivity.

Military Honors

His 1st (of 2) Silver Star Citation

First Lieutenant Edward A. Brudno distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as Pilot of an F-4C Fighter-Bomber over Southeast Asia on 18 October 1965. On that date, Lieutenant Brudno was assigned the mission of destroying an important highway bridge complex located deep in hostile territory. The objective was known to be heavily defended and the weather conditions in the area were minimal. By the time Lieutenant Brudno had arrived over the target, the opposing forces had been alerted and were directing murderous fire at his aircraft. Although his aircraft sustained a direct hit, Lieutenant Brudno continued to press the attack until battle damage rendered his aircraft completely uncontrollable. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Brudno has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

1. 2 Silver Star Medals.
2. Legion of Merit.
3. Distinguished Flying Cross with V Device.
4. Bronze Star Medal with V Device and 1 Oak Leaf Cluster.
5. 2 Purple Hearts.
6. Air Medal.

The full ribbon set is available here.

Death and Burial

Alan came home a psychological mess after his many years as a Prisoner of War. He was one of the longest held and endured almost eight years of torture and solitary confinement. He got no help because no help was offered or available then. He was according to family and friends overwhelmed by severe depression. All of the POWs, especially the pilots, knew that there were stigmas attached to mental problems of any kind no matter what they had endured. If they mentioned one word about mental pain, they would never fly again. Alan took his own life to relieve his pain. He died in the home of his in-laws in Harrison, Westchester, New York on the day before his 33rd birthday. His death put the armed forces on notice that there was definitely a problem and they realized they had better do something to help before they lost more. The POWs needed a lifeline to people who could help keep them willing to live during the dark times. Captain Brudno was definitely a Vietnam casualty. His brother had to fight for years to have his name put on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. The Air Force approved it but the person, Jan Scruggs, who was in charge of the Wall refused saying that it was preposterous. The criteria for being on the wall is Died as a result of wounds sustained in the combat zone. His fellow inmates, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Airforce and multiple physicians testified that this criteria was definitely met by Captain Brudno. After many years of pushing for the addition of his name, it was finally added at the Memorial Day services in 2004. He was reburied on 1 June 2005 with full military honors.^[5] He was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington, Virginia. Plot:Section 64 Site 3790. ^[6] Find A Grave: Memorial #137509945

Sources

• Massachusetts Birth Index.
• U.S. Vietnam War Military Casualties, 1956-1998.
• Associated Press, Name Card Index to AP Stories, 1905-1990.
• JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry (JOWBR).
• The Boston Jewish Advocate Index to Obituary Notices, 1905-2007.
• The Philadelphia Jewish Exponent Obituary Index, 1887-2006.
• U.S. Veterans Gravesites.
• Vietnam War, Casualties Returned Alive, 1962-1979.
• Reel, Monte. The Washington Post, Eleven Letters Honor POW's Hidden Wound. 22 May 2004, page A01.
• Statements from his brother Robert and many fellow POWs in many articles. Most of them are available on-line if his name is Googled as it was so highly publicized.
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 5 June 1973
• U.S. Social Security Death Index for Deborah C. Brudno.
• U.S Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection for Deborah Brudno.
• Ruston Daily Leader, Ruston, Louisiana on 23 December 1970, page 8 entitled: List of U.S. Prisoners in North Vietnam. They are broken down by state of record (not birth). Alan (under Edward A.) is in the New York section in Harrison.

Footnotes

1. ↑ MA Birth Rec
2. ↑ Robert made a beautiful memorial for his brother, Alan. It's from Beau Geste and goes thus: The love of a man for a woman waxes and wanes like the moon...But the love for a brother is steadfast as the stars...
3. ↑ NAM POW list
4. ↑ The reason for including all of this narrative on Captain Brudno is that his case was thoroughly investigated and studied and it led directly to the military providing real care for people returning from war.
5. ↑ The Department of Defense ruled that he died in the service of his country and was Killed in Action and should be placed on the Wall.
6. ↑ He was first buried in Mount Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy, Norfolk, Massachusetts.

Acknowledgements