Capt. Bruni was one of five children. After graduating from High School, he moved to Janesville, Wisconsin. On November 15, 1927 he became the husband of Hazel Buss. They had one son who died as an infant. He joined The National Guard where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant. In 1941 he was promoted to Captain and given charge of Headquarters Company, the 192nd Tank Battalion. Company A of this unit was made up of 99 men from Janesville. The unit was deployed to the Philippine Islands and Clark Field. The men were attacked by the Japanese after December 7, 1941 and held out until April of 1942 when they surrendered. They participated in the Bataan Death March and were held as Prisoners of War. Capt. Bruni was killed by the Japanese in the Palawan Massacre. He ashes were returned to the United States and buried in a mass grave with other victims of the massacre in 1952. There is a memorial marker to Capt. Bruni in his home state of Wisconsin which is alongside that of the burial place of his wife and their son.
Capt. Bruni was one of five children. After graduating from High School, he moved to Janesville, Wisconsin. On November 15, 1927 he became the husband of Hazel Buss. They had one son who died as an infant. He joined The National Guard where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant. In 1941 he was promoted to Captain and given charge of Headquarters Company, the 192nd Tank Battalion. Company A of this unit was made up of 99 men from Janesville. The unit was deployed to the Philippine Islands and Clark Field. The men were attacked by the Japanese after December 7, 1941 and held out until April of 1942 when they surrendered. They participated in the Bataan Death March and were held as Prisoners of War. Capt. Bruni was killed by the Japanese in the Palawan Massacre. He ashes were returned to the United States and buried in a mass grave with other victims of the massacre in 1952. There is a memorial marker to Capt. Bruni in his home state of Wisconsin which is alongside that of the burial place of his wife and their son.
Inscription
CAPT, US ARMY WORLD WAR II
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