Bryant, Sr., Lt. Col. James W. U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
10/21/1921 - 04/18/2015
Bryant, Elly E.
01/27/1916 - 08/23/2014
Jim and Elly, though born and raised on different continents, found each other and enjoyed nearly 67 years together, the last 46 in Citrus Heights, California. They were inseparable.
Jim, 93, was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Great Depression of the 1930's shaped his strong work ethic. To help his family make ends meet, Jim delivered newspapers twice a day throughout his middle and high school years earning one penny for each paper delivered. Jim left college to enter the Army Air Force in 1942. He trained as a bomber pilot and flew numerous missions over Germany during WWII, piloting a B-26 at age 23. After each bombing run, Jim would inspect his plane to identify and patch dozens of shrapnel hits.
Elly, 98, was born and raised in Pfaffendorf, Germany during WWI. She remembered a blissful childhood until WWII wreaked havoc on her life. Her first husband was killed on the Eastern front. Elly's home was bombed and her family lost everything. As the number of available German men dwindled during the last years of the war, Elly, along with other single young women, were conscripted to serve in the war. Elly served in the German Luftwaffe (Air Force), and was sent to Paris where she supervised a group of women tracking Allied movements. Elly and her group escaped France by train amid the chaos of the Allied invasion in 1944. The train was strafed by Allied air forces several times. Each time, Elly's group had to flee the train and run for cover.
During the occupation after Germany surrendered, Elly and Jim met in Schleissheim, where Elly served meals in the U.S. Military dining hall. Even though neither spoke the other's language, their courtship flourished.
Jim hunted deer during his time off, supplying meat to Elly's starving family. They thought him a hero! Elly and Jim were married in 1947 in Roth, Germany.
Jim left active duty but remained in the Army Air Force reserves. He took Elly back to Oklahoma City where they began a new life together. Two sons were born, but Jim was soon recalled to active duty during the Korean War. Jim's military service took the family across the U.S. and Europe: Waco and Laredo, Texas; Andrews AFB, Maryland; Wiesbaden, Germany (two tours); and finally Mather AFB. Jim retired from the Air Force in 1968.
Survivors include two sons, James W. Bryant Jr., and Richard A. Bryant, their wives, eight grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren.
Elly and Jim are interred at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California. PRICE FUNERAL CHAPEL (725-2109), directors.
The Sacramento Bee, Sunday, May 31, 2015
10/21/1921 - 04/18/2015
Bryant, Elly E.
01/27/1916 - 08/23/2014
Jim and Elly, though born and raised on different continents, found each other and enjoyed nearly 67 years together, the last 46 in Citrus Heights, California. They were inseparable.
Jim, 93, was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Great Depression of the 1930's shaped his strong work ethic. To help his family make ends meet, Jim delivered newspapers twice a day throughout his middle and high school years earning one penny for each paper delivered. Jim left college to enter the Army Air Force in 1942. He trained as a bomber pilot and flew numerous missions over Germany during WWII, piloting a B-26 at age 23. After each bombing run, Jim would inspect his plane to identify and patch dozens of shrapnel hits.
Elly, 98, was born and raised in Pfaffendorf, Germany during WWI. She remembered a blissful childhood until WWII wreaked havoc on her life. Her first husband was killed on the Eastern front. Elly's home was bombed and her family lost everything. As the number of available German men dwindled during the last years of the war, Elly, along with other single young women, were conscripted to serve in the war. Elly served in the German Luftwaffe (Air Force), and was sent to Paris where she supervised a group of women tracking Allied movements. Elly and her group escaped France by train amid the chaos of the Allied invasion in 1944. The train was strafed by Allied air forces several times. Each time, Elly's group had to flee the train and run for cover.
During the occupation after Germany surrendered, Elly and Jim met in Schleissheim, where Elly served meals in the U.S. Military dining hall. Even though neither spoke the other's language, their courtship flourished.
Jim hunted deer during his time off, supplying meat to Elly's starving family. They thought him a hero! Elly and Jim were married in 1947 in Roth, Germany.
Jim left active duty but remained in the Army Air Force reserves. He took Elly back to Oklahoma City where they began a new life together. Two sons were born, but Jim was soon recalled to active duty during the Korean War. Jim's military service took the family across the U.S. and Europe: Waco and Laredo, Texas; Andrews AFB, Maryland; Wiesbaden, Germany (two tours); and finally Mather AFB. Jim retired from the Air Force in 1968.
Survivors include two sons, James W. Bryant Jr., and Richard A. Bryant, their wives, eight grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren.
Elly and Jim are interred at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California. PRICE FUNERAL CHAPEL (725-2109), directors.
The Sacramento Bee, Sunday, May 31, 2015
Bryant, Sr., Lt. Col. James W. U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
10/21/1921 - 04/18/2015
Bryant, Elly E.
01/27/1916 - 08/23/2014
Jim and Elly, though born and raised on different continents, found each other and enjoyed nearly 67 years together, the last 46 in Citrus Heights, California. They were inseparable.
Jim, 93, was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Great Depression of the 1930's shaped his strong work ethic. To help his family make ends meet, Jim delivered newspapers twice a day throughout his middle and high school years earning one penny for each paper delivered. Jim left college to enter the Army Air Force in 1942. He trained as a bomber pilot and flew numerous missions over Germany during WWII, piloting a B-26 at age 23. After each bombing run, Jim would inspect his plane to identify and patch dozens of shrapnel hits.
Elly, 98, was born and raised in Pfaffendorf, Germany during WWI. She remembered a blissful childhood until WWII wreaked havoc on her life. Her first husband was killed on the Eastern front. Elly's home was bombed and her family lost everything. As the number of available German men dwindled during the last years of the war, Elly, along with other single young women, were conscripted to serve in the war. Elly served in the German Luftwaffe (Air Force), and was sent to Paris where she supervised a group of women tracking Allied movements. Elly and her group escaped France by train amid the chaos of the Allied invasion in 1944. The train was strafed by Allied air forces several times. Each time, Elly's group had to flee the train and run for cover.
During the occupation after Germany surrendered, Elly and Jim met in Schleissheim, where Elly served meals in the U.S. Military dining hall. Even though neither spoke the other's language, their courtship flourished.
Jim hunted deer during his time off, supplying meat to Elly's starving family. They thought him a hero! Elly and Jim were married in 1947 in Roth, Germany.
Jim left active duty but remained in the Army Air Force reserves. He took Elly back to Oklahoma City where they began a new life together. Two sons were born, but Jim was soon recalled to active duty during the Korean War. Jim's military service took the family across the U.S. and Europe: Waco and Laredo, Texas; Andrews AFB, Maryland; Wiesbaden, Germany (two tours); and finally Mather AFB. Jim retired from the Air Force in 1968.
Survivors include two sons, James W. Bryant Jr., and Richard A. Bryant, their wives, eight grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren.
Elly and Jim are interred at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California. PRICE FUNERAL CHAPEL (725-2109), directors.
The Sacramento Bee, Sunday, May 31, 2015
10/21/1921 - 04/18/2015
Bryant, Elly E.
01/27/1916 - 08/23/2014
Jim and Elly, though born and raised on different continents, found each other and enjoyed nearly 67 years together, the last 46 in Citrus Heights, California. They were inseparable.
Jim, 93, was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Great Depression of the 1930's shaped his strong work ethic. To help his family make ends meet, Jim delivered newspapers twice a day throughout his middle and high school years earning one penny for each paper delivered. Jim left college to enter the Army Air Force in 1942. He trained as a bomber pilot and flew numerous missions over Germany during WWII, piloting a B-26 at age 23. After each bombing run, Jim would inspect his plane to identify and patch dozens of shrapnel hits.
Elly, 98, was born and raised in Pfaffendorf, Germany during WWI. She remembered a blissful childhood until WWII wreaked havoc on her life. Her first husband was killed on the Eastern front. Elly's home was bombed and her family lost everything. As the number of available German men dwindled during the last years of the war, Elly, along with other single young women, were conscripted to serve in the war. Elly served in the German Luftwaffe (Air Force), and was sent to Paris where she supervised a group of women tracking Allied movements. Elly and her group escaped France by train amid the chaos of the Allied invasion in 1944. The train was strafed by Allied air forces several times. Each time, Elly's group had to flee the train and run for cover.
During the occupation after Germany surrendered, Elly and Jim met in Schleissheim, where Elly served meals in the U.S. Military dining hall. Even though neither spoke the other's language, their courtship flourished.
Jim hunted deer during his time off, supplying meat to Elly's starving family. They thought him a hero! Elly and Jim were married in 1947 in Roth, Germany.
Jim left active duty but remained in the Army Air Force reserves. He took Elly back to Oklahoma City where they began a new life together. Two sons were born, but Jim was soon recalled to active duty during the Korean War. Jim's military service took the family across the U.S. and Europe: Waco and Laredo, Texas; Andrews AFB, Maryland; Wiesbaden, Germany (two tours); and finally Mather AFB. Jim retired from the Air Force in 1968.
Survivors include two sons, James W. Bryant Jr., and Richard A. Bryant, their wives, eight grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren.
Elly and Jim are interred at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California. PRICE FUNERAL CHAPEL (725-2109), directors.
The Sacramento Bee, Sunday, May 31, 2015
Inscription
JAMES
WINSTON
BRYANT
LT COL
US AIR FORCE
WWII KO VN AFCM
OCT 21 1921
APR 18 2015
B26 PILOT 344TH
BOMBARDIER
GROUP
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
