𝐋𝐔𝐙𝐎𝐍, 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌 𝟐 𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇

Victory sweeps on in the Philippines, but even in victory men die in battle--and among them two more from Grand Rapids on the island of Luzon. Two others have been killed by the foe in Europe.

To these are added, in new casualty reports, four soldiers missing in Europe--three of them bomber crewmen who have been unceasingly blasting the reich from the sky.

Four more have been wounded.

The one glad note came to the family of a soldier whose family knew only that he was missing. They know now he is alive, though a prisoner.

NOTRE DAME STUDENT

Presumably on his twelfth mission as a B24 gunner, 𝐒𝐠𝐭. 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐃. 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫, 22, has been reported missing in action since Feb. 7 over Austria. He had been overseas since October and was awarded the air medal recently.

A graduate of Catholic Central High school, St. Brogger attended Notre Dame university before entering the service two years ago. Two brothers are in service, 1st Lt. George J., in charge of a motor pool with the 9th army in Germany, and Ens. Charles C. at San Diego, Calif.

THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Mon., Feb. 26, 1945, Pg. 7, Cols. 4-5, Art. 1 (Luzon, West Wall Claim 2 Each)

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: The above is an excerpt of a much longer article covering many more local men.

*****

𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

ARMY.

Brogger, S/Sgt. James D., 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. F.J. Brogger, 149 Youell-av., S.E.; over Austria.

THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Wed., May 30, 1945, Pg. 3, Col. 8, Item 2. (HONOR ROLL: Grand Rapids Casualties in the Second World War - Missing in Action - Army.)

*****

𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐃

Reported lost in a flight over Austria last Feb. 7, presumable on his twelfth mission, Sgt. James D. Brogger now has been officially declared dead as of that date. He had been overseas four months when he was reported missing.

His parents, Mr. and Mrs. F.J. Brogger, 149 Youell-av., S.E., were informed by a war department telegram that evidence confirming their son's death had been found and that a detailed letter was being sent.

Sgt. Brogger, 22 at the time he was lost, was a B24 gunner, based in Italy. He was a student at the University of Notre Dame when he entered service in February, 1943.

Surviving in addition to his parents are three sisters, Sister Helen Louise, OP, Muskegon; Mrs. James McDermott of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Robert Powell of Muskegon, and four brothers, Lt. George, with the army engineers in Paris, Lt. (jg) Charles in naval service in Norfolk and John and Robert of Grand Rapids.

A memorial mass will be held in St. Thomas' church when the parents, who left Saturday for Florida, return to the city.

THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Mon., Jan. 28, 1946, Pg. 8, Col. 2, Art. 1 (Missing Airman Listed as Dead)

************************~ooOoo~************************

Staff Sergeant and Aerial Gunner, 15th Air

Force, 719th Bomb Squadron, 449th Bomb

Group (Heavy), World War II.

Shot down by direct flak hit over Austria

aboard B-24H Liberator #42-95271 while on

mission to strike the oil refinery at

Moosbierbaum, Germany.

Killed In Action were:

Capt. Edwin M. Thrailkill, Pilot

1st Lt. George C. Antonakos

2nd Lt. John E. Holohan

𝐒𝐒𝐠𝐭. 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐃. 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫

SSgt. Joseph Carchia

SSgt. Paul P. Chernak, Jr.

SSgt. Harry Hayslett

SSgt. Paul E. Maiewski

SSgt. Melvin R. Strom

SSgt. Chester Weinstein

~~Information generously contributed by 'Find A Grave' member, Tim Cook (#46481904)

************************~ooOoo~************************

𝐔.𝐒. 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐖𝐀𝐑 𝐈𝐈 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐄𝐍, 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟎-𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟕

Name: 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫

Gender: Male

Race: White

Age: 19

Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)

Birth Date: 25 Nov 1922

Birth Place: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Residence Place: R#2, Spring Lake, Ottawa, Michigan, USA

Registration Date: 30 June 1942

Registration Place: Spring Lake, Ottawa, Michigan, USA

Race: White

Height: 6'

Weight: 190 lbs.

Complexion: Ruddy

Hair Color: Brown

Eye Color: Blue

Next of Kin: Fred J Brogger

*****

𝐔.𝐒. 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐕𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒, 𝟏𝟗𝟐𝟓-𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟎

Name: 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐃. 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫

Birth Date: 25 Nov 1922

Service Number: 36453437

Unit: 719th Bombardment Squadron 449th Bombardment Group AIR CORPS

Enlistment Date: 20 Feb 1943

Discharge Date: 7 Feb 1945

Death Date: 7 Feb 1945

Cemetery: MT Calvary Cemetery

Cemetery Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Crash place : Trasdorf, Niederösterreich, AUSTRIA

Death Place : Trasdorf, AUSTRIA

Missing in Action Failed to Return

Memorial book

Nicole-Melanie Goll and Georg Hoffmann

www.bundesheer.at

ISBN : 978-3-9504258-0-2