Ashes scattered at Memorial Park in Omaha, Nebraska. 41°15'45.7"N 96°00'05.5"W
Pat was a WWII Veteran. He joined the military on February 4th, 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was in the Army, 37th Infantry "Buckeye" Division, 145th Infantry, Headquarters Detachment, 3rd Battalion, Company K under Captain James W. Casey.
Benjamin "Pat" Brann fought in the South Pacific.
Pat trained at Camp Shelby, in Mississippi where a short film was produced about the 37th called, "Ohio Soldiers".
Pat did maneuvers training at west-central Louisiana, an area bounded by the Sabine River to the west, the Calcasieu River to the east, and by the city of Shreveport to the north. The area included Fort Polk, Camp Claiborne and Camp Livingston. The exercises, which involved some 400,000 troops, were designed to evaluate U.S. training, logistics, doctrine, and commanders. They went back to Shelby where they were on December 7th, 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
The 37th was originally meant to go to Europe and were therefor sent to Fort Indiantown Gap in February of 1942 as the New York Point of Embarkation was overcrowded at the time. While the Buckeyes were stationed at Indiantown Gap, they saw the USO's RAZZLE-DAZZLE REVUE featuring Universal Pictures' star thrush DEANNA DURBIN on FEBRUARY 20 AND 21 (Deanna would later become involved in the Hollywood Canteen where she danced with the troops).
Because of Japan's rapid advance in the South Pacific, and the fact that one of their main transport ships (the USS Lafeytte [SS Normandie]) capsized in New York Harbor on February 10th at 02:45 AM from a fire that broke out the previous afternoon, the Buckeyes were instead given orders to head to the South Pacific theater of war.
They took trains out west.
Pat, in the 145th Infantry, ended up assembled at Crocker Amazon Staging Area before heading up to the San Francisco Point of Embarkation where he boarded the USAT James Parker (SS Panama) and eventually sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge out to the South Pacific...
Pat, a Pollywog, participated in a Line Crossing Ceremony when the USAT James Parker crossed the Equator and was initiated into the court of King Neptune. While on the USAT James Parker, soldiers on deck read about the Russian attacks at Kharkov, the Battle at Midway, and the death of John Barrymore. A viscous rumor started by the Japanese that Deanna Durbin had died in childbirth somehow spread on the James Parker as well.
Pat, with the 145th, arrived in Aukland, New Zealand. He eventually sailed to Suva Harbor, Fiji.
Pat's first war-torn island was Guadalcanal in April of 1943.
Pat's regiment first saw combat against the Japanese during the invasion of the New Georgia islands, codenamed Operation Toenails under Admiral Halsey. There, the 145th Infantry's 3rd Battalion was tasked as part of the Northern Landing Group of the Munda-Bairoko Occupation Force, along with the Marines' 1st Raider Battalion, and the 3rd Battalion from its sister regiment, the 148th Infantry, all under the command of U.S. Marine Colonel Harry B. Liversedge. The Northern Landing Group's mission was to invade New Georgia north of Munda in order to interdict Japanese supply lines and prevent the reinforcement of Munda. On 5 July 1943 the Northern Landing Group went ashore at Rice Anchorage. Progress for Liversedge and other elements invading New Georgia was agonizingly difficult and slow due in greater part to hostile jungle terrain and weather than Japanese resistance.
While returning to Guadalcanal in September of 1943, First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt visited the island. Later that month, the 145th were treated to a USO show featuring The Wizard of Oz's Ray Bolger.
Next, Pat saw action in Bougainville, arriving on November 8th, 1943 at Torokina Beach. He participated in the Japanese's counterattack on Bougainville, which began on March 8th, 1944 after many months of preparation, and was repulsed by United States Army forces in fighting which lasted until March 25th. During this counter-offensive, Pat's battalion was involved in the, "Battle for Hill 700".
Bob Hope performed for Pat's troops on Bougainville over the summer of 1944, which was broadcast later on August 12, 1944 as special titled, "Somewhere In The South Pacific".
Finally, Pat was involved in the Luzon Campaign in early 1945 and participated in the invasion of the island of and the approach march to the Philippine capital of Manila. The assault on Luzon commenced on the morning of 9 January 1945. In the first few days, over 175,000 troops landed on the twenty-mile beachhead. On February 17th, the 145th Infantry relieved the 129th Infantry Regiment on the eighth day of the 129th Infantry's siege of the New Police Station. By February 20th, the police station was taken, and the 145th Infantry and armored support conducted repeated grueling combined arms assaults of Japanese strong points until February 23rd when allied forces converged on the Japanese walled, old-city stronghold of Intramuros.
By March 3rd, the 37th Infantry Division had secured Manila.
The pace of operations slowed while the 37th Infantry Division was temporarily reassigned directly to Sixth U.S. Army for stability and support operations within Manila. The 145th Infantry remained in Manila while the division moved to northwest Luzon and did not rejoin it until June 2nd. Taking Bagabag on June 9th, the regiment continued to participate in mop-up operations through the end of the Luzon Campaign on June 30th.
After the war, Pat returned to Los Angeles and was officially "inactivated" at Camp Anza in Riverside. He went out east where he "separated" from service at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri in October of 1945.
He was discharged 6 Oct 1945, one day before the birth of his son Billy Lynn Brann.
Once back in the US he served as a Police Officer for 26 years on the Kansas City, MO police force, retiring in 1974. He was very proud that in that entire time that he never had to draw his gun, let alone fire it. He was known for helping the homeless on his beat with money for food and coffee. He worked as a security guard at the Kansas City Star after retiring from the police force.
Pat was a WWII Veteran. He joined the military on February 4th, 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was in the Army, 37th Infantry "Buckeye" Division, 145th Infantry, Headquarters Detachment, 3rd Battalion, Company K under Captain James W. Casey.
Benjamin "Pat" Brann fought in the South Pacific.
Pat trained at Camp Shelby, in Mississippi where a short film was produced about the 37th called, "Ohio Soldiers".
Pat did maneuvers training at west-central Louisiana, an area bounded by the Sabine River to the west, the Calcasieu River to the east, and by the city of Shreveport to the north. The area included Fort Polk, Camp Claiborne and Camp Livingston. The exercises, which involved some 400,000 troops, were designed to evaluate U.S. training, logistics, doctrine, and commanders. They went back to Shelby where they were on December 7th, 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
The 37th was originally meant to go to Europe and were therefor sent to Fort Indiantown Gap in February of 1942 as the New York Point of Embarkation was overcrowded at the time. While the Buckeyes were stationed at Indiantown Gap, they saw the USO's RAZZLE-DAZZLE REVUE featuring Universal Pictures' star thrush DEANNA DURBIN on FEBRUARY 20 AND 21 (Deanna would later become involved in the Hollywood Canteen where she danced with the troops).
Because of Japan's rapid advance in the South Pacific, and the fact that one of their main transport ships (the USS Lafeytte [SS Normandie]) capsized in New York Harbor on February 10th at 02:45 AM from a fire that broke out the previous afternoon, the Buckeyes were instead given orders to head to the South Pacific theater of war.
They took trains out west.
Pat, in the 145th Infantry, ended up assembled at Crocker Amazon Staging Area before heading up to the San Francisco Point of Embarkation where he boarded the USAT James Parker (SS Panama) and eventually sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge out to the South Pacific...
Pat, a Pollywog, participated in a Line Crossing Ceremony when the USAT James Parker crossed the Equator and was initiated into the court of King Neptune. While on the USAT James Parker, soldiers on deck read about the Russian attacks at Kharkov, the Battle at Midway, and the death of John Barrymore. A viscous rumor started by the Japanese that Deanna Durbin had died in childbirth somehow spread on the James Parker as well.
Pat, with the 145th, arrived in Aukland, New Zealand. He eventually sailed to Suva Harbor, Fiji.
Pat's first war-torn island was Guadalcanal in April of 1943.
Pat's regiment first saw combat against the Japanese during the invasion of the New Georgia islands, codenamed Operation Toenails under Admiral Halsey. There, the 145th Infantry's 3rd Battalion was tasked as part of the Northern Landing Group of the Munda-Bairoko Occupation Force, along with the Marines' 1st Raider Battalion, and the 3rd Battalion from its sister regiment, the 148th Infantry, all under the command of U.S. Marine Colonel Harry B. Liversedge. The Northern Landing Group's mission was to invade New Georgia north of Munda in order to interdict Japanese supply lines and prevent the reinforcement of Munda. On 5 July 1943 the Northern Landing Group went ashore at Rice Anchorage. Progress for Liversedge and other elements invading New Georgia was agonizingly difficult and slow due in greater part to hostile jungle terrain and weather than Japanese resistance.
While returning to Guadalcanal in September of 1943, First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt visited the island. Later that month, the 145th were treated to a USO show featuring The Wizard of Oz's Ray Bolger.
Next, Pat saw action in Bougainville, arriving on November 8th, 1943 at Torokina Beach. He participated in the Japanese's counterattack on Bougainville, which began on March 8th, 1944 after many months of preparation, and was repulsed by United States Army forces in fighting which lasted until March 25th. During this counter-offensive, Pat's battalion was involved in the, "Battle for Hill 700".
Bob Hope performed for Pat's troops on Bougainville over the summer of 1944, which was broadcast later on August 12, 1944 as special titled, "Somewhere In The South Pacific".
Finally, Pat was involved in the Luzon Campaign in early 1945 and participated in the invasion of the island of and the approach march to the Philippine capital of Manila. The assault on Luzon commenced on the morning of 9 January 1945. In the first few days, over 175,000 troops landed on the twenty-mile beachhead. On February 17th, the 145th Infantry relieved the 129th Infantry Regiment on the eighth day of the 129th Infantry's siege of the New Police Station. By February 20th, the police station was taken, and the 145th Infantry and armored support conducted repeated grueling combined arms assaults of Japanese strong points until February 23rd when allied forces converged on the Japanese walled, old-city stronghold of Intramuros.
By March 3rd, the 37th Infantry Division had secured Manila.
The pace of operations slowed while the 37th Infantry Division was temporarily reassigned directly to Sixth U.S. Army for stability and support operations within Manila. The 145th Infantry remained in Manila while the division moved to northwest Luzon and did not rejoin it until June 2nd. Taking Bagabag on June 9th, the regiment continued to participate in mop-up operations through the end of the Luzon Campaign on June 30th.
After the war, Pat returned to Los Angeles and was officially "inactivated" at Camp Anza in Riverside. He went out east where he "separated" from service at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri in October of 1945.
He was discharged 6 Oct 1945, one day before the birth of his son Billy Lynn Brann.
Once back in the US he served as a Police Officer for 26 years on the Kansas City, MO police force, retiring in 1974. He was very proud that in that entire time that he never had to draw his gun, let alone fire it. He was known for helping the homeless on his beat with money for food and coffee. He worked as a security guard at the Kansas City Star after retiring from the police force.
Ashes scattered at Memorial Park in Omaha, Nebraska. 41°15'45.7"N 96°00'05.5"W
Pat was a WWII Veteran. He joined the military on February 4th, 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was in the Army, 37th Infantry "Buckeye" Division, 145th Infantry, Headquarters Detachment, 3rd Battalion, Company K under Captain James W. Casey.
Benjamin "Pat" Brann fought in the South Pacific.
Pat trained at Camp Shelby, in Mississippi where a short film was produced about the 37th called, "Ohio Soldiers".
Pat did maneuvers training at west-central Louisiana, an area bounded by the Sabine River to the west, the Calcasieu River to the east, and by the city of Shreveport to the north. The area included Fort Polk, Camp Claiborne and Camp Livingston. The exercises, which involved some 400,000 troops, were designed to evaluate U.S. training, logistics, doctrine, and commanders. They went back to Shelby where they were on December 7th, 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
The 37th was originally meant to go to Europe and were therefor sent to Fort Indiantown Gap in February of 1942 as the New York Point of Embarkation was overcrowded at the time. While the Buckeyes were stationed at Indiantown Gap, they saw the USO's RAZZLE-DAZZLE REVUE featuring Universal Pictures' star thrush DEANNA DURBIN on FEBRUARY 20 AND 21 (Deanna would later become involved in the Hollywood Canteen where she danced with the troops).
Because of Japan's rapid advance in the South Pacific, and the fact that one of their main transport ships (the USS Lafeytte [SS Normandie]) capsized in New York Harbor on February 10th at 02:45 AM from a fire that broke out the previous afternoon, the Buckeyes were instead given orders to head to the South Pacific theater of war.
They took trains out west.
Pat, in the 145th Infantry, ended up assembled at Crocker Amazon Staging Area before heading up to the San Francisco Point of Embarkation where he boarded the USAT James Parker (SS Panama) and eventually sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge out to the South Pacific...
Pat, a Pollywog, participated in a Line Crossing Ceremony when the USAT James Parker crossed the Equator and was initiated into the court of King Neptune. While on the USAT James Parker, soldiers on deck read about the Russian attacks at Kharkov, the Battle at Midway, and the death of John Barrymore. A viscous rumor started by the Japanese that Deanna Durbin had died in childbirth somehow spread on the James Parker as well.
Pat, with the 145th, arrived in Aukland, New Zealand. He eventually sailed to Suva Harbor, Fiji.
Pat's first war-torn island was Guadalcanal in April of 1943.
Pat's regiment first saw combat against the Japanese during the invasion of the New Georgia islands, codenamed Operation Toenails under Admiral Halsey. There, the 145th Infantry's 3rd Battalion was tasked as part of the Northern Landing Group of the Munda-Bairoko Occupation Force, along with the Marines' 1st Raider Battalion, and the 3rd Battalion from its sister regiment, the 148th Infantry, all under the command of U.S. Marine Colonel Harry B. Liversedge. The Northern Landing Group's mission was to invade New Georgia north of Munda in order to interdict Japanese supply lines and prevent the reinforcement of Munda. On 5 July 1943 the Northern Landing Group went ashore at Rice Anchorage. Progress for Liversedge and other elements invading New Georgia was agonizingly difficult and slow due in greater part to hostile jungle terrain and weather than Japanese resistance.
While returning to Guadalcanal in September of 1943, First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt visited the island. Later that month, the 145th were treated to a USO show featuring The Wizard of Oz's Ray Bolger.
Next, Pat saw action in Bougainville, arriving on November 8th, 1943 at Torokina Beach. He participated in the Japanese's counterattack on Bougainville, which began on March 8th, 1944 after many months of preparation, and was repulsed by United States Army forces in fighting which lasted until March 25th. During this counter-offensive, Pat's battalion was involved in the, "Battle for Hill 700".
Bob Hope performed for Pat's troops on Bougainville over the summer of 1944, which was broadcast later on August 12, 1944 as special titled, "Somewhere In The South Pacific".
Finally, Pat was involved in the Luzon Campaign in early 1945 and participated in the invasion of the island of and the approach march to the Philippine capital of Manila. The assault on Luzon commenced on the morning of 9 January 1945. In the first few days, over 175,000 troops landed on the twenty-mile beachhead. On February 17th, the 145th Infantry relieved the 129th Infantry Regiment on the eighth day of the 129th Infantry's siege of the New Police Station. By February 20th, the police station was taken, and the 145th Infantry and armored support conducted repeated grueling combined arms assaults of Japanese strong points until February 23rd when allied forces converged on the Japanese walled, old-city stronghold of Intramuros.
By March 3rd, the 37th Infantry Division had secured Manila.
The pace of operations slowed while the 37th Infantry Division was temporarily reassigned directly to Sixth U.S. Army for stability and support operations within Manila. The 145th Infantry remained in Manila while the division moved to northwest Luzon and did not rejoin it until June 2nd. Taking Bagabag on June 9th, the regiment continued to participate in mop-up operations through the end of the Luzon Campaign on June 30th.
After the war, Pat returned to Los Angeles and was officially "inactivated" at Camp Anza in Riverside. He went out east where he "separated" from service at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri in October of 1945.
He was discharged 6 Oct 1945, one day before the birth of his son Billy Lynn Brann.
Once back in the US he served as a Police Officer for 26 years on the Kansas City, MO police force, retiring in 1974. He was very proud that in that entire time that he never had to draw his gun, let alone fire it. He was known for helping the homeless on his beat with money for food and coffee. He worked as a security guard at the Kansas City Star after retiring from the police force.
Pat was a WWII Veteran. He joined the military on February 4th, 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was in the Army, 37th Infantry "Buckeye" Division, 145th Infantry, Headquarters Detachment, 3rd Battalion, Company K under Captain James W. Casey.
Benjamin "Pat" Brann fought in the South Pacific.
Pat trained at Camp Shelby, in Mississippi where a short film was produced about the 37th called, "Ohio Soldiers".
Pat did maneuvers training at west-central Louisiana, an area bounded by the Sabine River to the west, the Calcasieu River to the east, and by the city of Shreveport to the north. The area included Fort Polk, Camp Claiborne and Camp Livingston. The exercises, which involved some 400,000 troops, were designed to evaluate U.S. training, logistics, doctrine, and commanders. They went back to Shelby where they were on December 7th, 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
The 37th was originally meant to go to Europe and were therefor sent to Fort Indiantown Gap in February of 1942 as the New York Point of Embarkation was overcrowded at the time. While the Buckeyes were stationed at Indiantown Gap, they saw the USO's RAZZLE-DAZZLE REVUE featuring Universal Pictures' star thrush DEANNA DURBIN on FEBRUARY 20 AND 21 (Deanna would later become involved in the Hollywood Canteen where she danced with the troops).
Because of Japan's rapid advance in the South Pacific, and the fact that one of their main transport ships (the USS Lafeytte [SS Normandie]) capsized in New York Harbor on February 10th at 02:45 AM from a fire that broke out the previous afternoon, the Buckeyes were instead given orders to head to the South Pacific theater of war.
They took trains out west.
Pat, in the 145th Infantry, ended up assembled at Crocker Amazon Staging Area before heading up to the San Francisco Point of Embarkation where he boarded the USAT James Parker (SS Panama) and eventually sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge out to the South Pacific...
Pat, a Pollywog, participated in a Line Crossing Ceremony when the USAT James Parker crossed the Equator and was initiated into the court of King Neptune. While on the USAT James Parker, soldiers on deck read about the Russian attacks at Kharkov, the Battle at Midway, and the death of John Barrymore. A viscous rumor started by the Japanese that Deanna Durbin had died in childbirth somehow spread on the James Parker as well.
Pat, with the 145th, arrived in Aukland, New Zealand. He eventually sailed to Suva Harbor, Fiji.
Pat's first war-torn island was Guadalcanal in April of 1943.
Pat's regiment first saw combat against the Japanese during the invasion of the New Georgia islands, codenamed Operation Toenails under Admiral Halsey. There, the 145th Infantry's 3rd Battalion was tasked as part of the Northern Landing Group of the Munda-Bairoko Occupation Force, along with the Marines' 1st Raider Battalion, and the 3rd Battalion from its sister regiment, the 148th Infantry, all under the command of U.S. Marine Colonel Harry B. Liversedge. The Northern Landing Group's mission was to invade New Georgia north of Munda in order to interdict Japanese supply lines and prevent the reinforcement of Munda. On 5 July 1943 the Northern Landing Group went ashore at Rice Anchorage. Progress for Liversedge and other elements invading New Georgia was agonizingly difficult and slow due in greater part to hostile jungle terrain and weather than Japanese resistance.
While returning to Guadalcanal in September of 1943, First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt visited the island. Later that month, the 145th were treated to a USO show featuring The Wizard of Oz's Ray Bolger.
Next, Pat saw action in Bougainville, arriving on November 8th, 1943 at Torokina Beach. He participated in the Japanese's counterattack on Bougainville, which began on March 8th, 1944 after many months of preparation, and was repulsed by United States Army forces in fighting which lasted until March 25th. During this counter-offensive, Pat's battalion was involved in the, "Battle for Hill 700".
Bob Hope performed for Pat's troops on Bougainville over the summer of 1944, which was broadcast later on August 12, 1944 as special titled, "Somewhere In The South Pacific".
Finally, Pat was involved in the Luzon Campaign in early 1945 and participated in the invasion of the island of and the approach march to the Philippine capital of Manila. The assault on Luzon commenced on the morning of 9 January 1945. In the first few days, over 175,000 troops landed on the twenty-mile beachhead. On February 17th, the 145th Infantry relieved the 129th Infantry Regiment on the eighth day of the 129th Infantry's siege of the New Police Station. By February 20th, the police station was taken, and the 145th Infantry and armored support conducted repeated grueling combined arms assaults of Japanese strong points until February 23rd when allied forces converged on the Japanese walled, old-city stronghold of Intramuros.
By March 3rd, the 37th Infantry Division had secured Manila.
The pace of operations slowed while the 37th Infantry Division was temporarily reassigned directly to Sixth U.S. Army for stability and support operations within Manila. The 145th Infantry remained in Manila while the division moved to northwest Luzon and did not rejoin it until June 2nd. Taking Bagabag on June 9th, the regiment continued to participate in mop-up operations through the end of the Luzon Campaign on June 30th.
After the war, Pat returned to Los Angeles and was officially "inactivated" at Camp Anza in Riverside. He went out east where he "separated" from service at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri in October of 1945.
He was discharged 6 Oct 1945, one day before the birth of his son Billy Lynn Brann.
Once back in the US he served as a Police Officer for 26 years on the Kansas City, MO police force, retiring in 1974. He was very proud that in that entire time that he never had to draw his gun, let alone fire it. He was known for helping the homeless on his beat with money for food and coffee. He worked as a security guard at the Kansas City Star after retiring from the police force.
