Tag Archives: WWII

WWII Veteran Charles ‘Chick’ Bruns dies at 98

Charles ‘Chick’ Bruns who kept this WWII diary, took all the photographs, collected post cards and shared loving letters with his parents died today at the age of 98. Chick was a lifelong resident of Champaign and graduated from Champaign … Continue reading

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Local news paper features ‘Chick’

The News Gazette is a main stay in the local press for central Illinois. Today on the front page they featured one of their own, Charles ‘Chick’ Bruns.  Chick worked at the News Gazette for 39 years after his service … Continue reading

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Then and Now, Saint-Hippolyte School

As a result of this WWII diary, dad and I have developed some new friendships.    One such friend, Alban Bagy whose home town is Saint-Hippolyte in Alsace, eastern France. The post on December 25, 1944 showed Chick and fellow soldiers … Continue reading

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January 24, 1945 – Wednesday

Boy, I haven’t heard anything like this artillery fire that’s going on before. It has been going steady since last night at 9:30 pm and old Germany is throwing it back just as fast. Received a little mail and I … Continue reading

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Charles Bruns recipient of French Legion of Honor

WWII Veteran Charles ‘Chick’ Bruns of Champaign IL was selected and appointed to the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest distinction. Through this award, the French government pays tribute to the soldiers who did so much … Continue reading

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Jan 28, 1943 – Thursday

This is getting old stuff witting the same thing over and over again. But not much is happening to write about. We played cribbage again tonight and I lost some more. I now owe $14.60. I sure hope our luck … Continue reading

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Letter Home – January 27, 1943

Your Mother and Dad Well we finally won a ball game. We played another engineer outfit Sunday and won 5 to 4. I thought we were going to get beat though as we were behind 421 until the first of … Continue reading

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