Song now playing: America
Honoring a fallen Comrade
Tec 4 Bryce M. Clark
I found out about Bryce through emails from his family. They had found Dads Website and
wrote to tell me that Bryce was the soldier Dad had tried to help when they were both wounded on the hill. My Dad says it wasn't anything anyone else wouldn't have done. But Dad and Bryce were the only two left on the hill. The rest of the platoon had turned and ran when the mortars started falling. Here's what Dad told me had happened on the hill.
"We were climbing up the hill. Where we were, the hill had been cut out into large steps maybe three foot high and taller. When we got to the top we took out an enemy machine gun. As soon as we did that a large gun that was on the adjacent hill started shelling us. Everyone turned and ran. Bryce and I were both wounded by shrapnel. I was knocked down and when I sat up everyone was heading down the hill. I was scared and started to run but heard someone calling for help. I found Bryce with a wound to his forehead and another wound to his leg. He could talk but couldn't move or see. I didn't think he would make it. I told him he would be all right and used the first aid kit we carried and put a bandage on his head. He begged me not to leave him there to die. So I stayed. The enemy was now approaching and I told Bryce if he had any chance of surviving I had to go and get the medics. I made him as comfortable as possible and went for help. I had to go further than I thought. Our troops had fallen back, but as soon as I found a medic I sent them back for Bryce. I didn't know if he had survived or not. But I didn't think he could have made it."
Below is a copy of the letter I received from Bryce's sister Isabel Thompson.
3/28/04
Dear Mrs. Barth & your Father, Charles Staub,
How exciting to hear from you after so many long years.
First let me introduce myself. I am Isabel Clark Thompson, Bryce Clark’s
sister. Jerry Thompson is my husband, that you sent the E-mail to you. My
nephew, Bryce Clark (named for his Uncle) was the first one to find you via
the internet.
It is heart warming to know that your Father still remembers my Brother Bryce
and to know that he could comfort him after the battle. No, he did not survive.
My parents received a letter postmarked January 18, 1945 from Sgt.Wm McGrath,
and he told what happened almost word for word that you had
reported in the information that we got from the Department of
the Army. We had gotten all of Bryce’s records.
After the war was over we had several letters from Russell Bottoms,
James Bell and someone by the name of Mack saying they had word that
he had been released and on his way home. Which turned out to Not be true. We later
found out that there were three bodies in a barn, two Germans and one
American. They were buried in a Civilian Cemetery in Rustroff in one grave.
After the war it was reported that his body was recovered and he is buried
at St Avold, Lorraine Cemetery. My Mother and I and an Aunt visited his
grave in 1952. Then my other Brother, Russell Clark, my Mother and I
returned in 1969 after the cemetery was completed. It is a beautiful
location and well kept place, if that is any comfort.
Keep up the good work, we enjoy hearing from you folks.
Love,
Isabel Thompson
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Honoring Tec 4 Bryce M. Clark
Last up dated April 17, 2004
Web page by Charlotte Barth
