Robert Francis Brulte, Jr

The database page for Robert Francis Brulte, Jr

17 Nov 2004 I remember you riding the old "29" trolley to my house to play football on my "Tasker" team. My Mom would feed us breakfast. I had hoped that you would marry my sister. I remember you as probably the nicest guy at Bishop Neumann High School. I remember so vividly reading your name on the Casualty List. I remember seeing them preparing the fallen for their final trip home at the Tan Son Nhut Mortuary and wondering if you were one of them. Losing you hurt me deeply ... it brought the war "home" to me. I was angry - very angry - and in pain for a long time, but the sadness or sense of loss has never gone away. I wore a Vietnam Memorial bracelet with your name for a long, long time. It was no mistake that I was directed to park in front of your grave at my sister-in-law Mary Jane's burial, and it was you who brought Peter and I together here in Florida. Peter was with you that day when God took you home. It was comforting to know that you did not suffer and that you were your typical self that day - a special person, a born leader, a true patriot, a selfless hero. I can still see you carrying that football - a bull on the field, an Angel off. I tried to comfort your poor Mom but your sister knew best. My life has been anything but perfect and I have failed in so many ways ... why I made it back and you didn't I don't understand. I just feel that you would have made a better contribution to this world then I have, my friend ... I now know, however, that you have been there to help me and guided me through some of my most difficult moments ... thank you. Please keep praying for me. I hope to see you again ... where you are now. Joe Skalamera jskalame@kissimmee.org

This photo and article appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on February 22, 1968: A 21-year-old Army lieutenant from South Philadelphia who had been in almost constant combat since his arrival in South Vietnam last December was killed last Thursday during the fierce fighting at Hue. The victim was Robert F. Brulte, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Brulte of 1431 S. Carlisle st. 'PROUD TO SERVE' In his last letter home Lt. Brulte told his parents that his unit, the 501st Airborne Infantry Co. of the 101st Airborne Division, was attempting to halt Communist efforts to bring reinforcements into Hue. "This war is hell," he wrote. "But I think we're doing the right thing by being here. I'm proud to serve my country." A 1964 graduate of Bishop Neumann High School, Lt. Brulte attended Temple University for a year and was drafted in October 1966. SISTER IS NUN He took basic training at Fort Gordon, Ga., and went to Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. Lt. Brulte who was engaged to marry Kathy Gibbons, 21, of 6342 Greenway Ave. in West Philadelphia, graduated from OCS last August. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister, Sister Miriam Robert, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who serves at St. Bartolomew's Convent, 5600 Jackson St. From a native Philadelphian and Marine, Jim McIlhenney christianamacks@comcast.net

A Note from The Virtual Wall D Company, 2/501st Infantry, lost five men on 15 Feb 1968: 2LT Robert F. Brulte, Philadelphia, PA (Silver Star) CPL Emanuel F. Burroughs, Mc Bean, GA CPL Wade E. Thackrey, Lubbock, TX PFC Earnest P. Holmes, Talladega, AL PFC Henry M. Tabet, Compton, CA The photo at the top of this page is taken from The Philadelphia Daily News, special supplement entitled 'SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY,' October 26, 1987.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is a high school friend and classmate, Joe Skalamera jskalame@kissimmee.org  17 Nov 2004

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 11/17/2004