b. 18/05/1950 Michigan City, Indiana. d. 01/03/1969 Quang Nam, Vietnam.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 01/03/1969 Quang Nam, Vietnam.
Daniel D Bruce MOH
Bruce was born May 18, 1950, in Michigan City, Indiana, about an hour east of Chicago. He had three brothers and a sister and was the eldest of the group, which could be why helping others seemed to be in his nature. According to his family, when Bruce was 16, he tried to save a drowning boy during a church outing. Bruce’s sister, Karen, said he tried to stay with the boy for as long as he could, but he eventually got tired and had to give up so they weren’t both pulled under. Despite the teen’s best efforts, the boy didn’t make it.
Two years later — just days after turning 18 and graduating high school — Bruce enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve. The Vietnam War was in full swing, so, on July 17, 1968, he transferred to the active-duty Marines. After months of training, Bruce was promoted to private first class on Jan. 1, 1969, and ordered to Vietnam later that month. Before he left, he married his high school sweetheart, Carol.
Upon arrival to Southeast Asia, Bruce was assigned the role of anti-tank assaultman with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. On March 1, 1969, Bruce and another Marine were on a late-night watch in a set position at Fire Support Base Tomahawk when Bruce heard movement in some nearby woods. A bundle of explosives was then heaved in their direction. Reacting instantly, Bruce caught the bundle and shouted for his partner and two other nearby Marines to take cover. Holding the device close to his chest, the 18-year-old ran from the area to try to get clear. The bomb detonated while he was on the move, killing him. Bruce had only been on deployment for about a month, but he had given his life to save three others.
The following day, Bruce’s wife, Carol, gave birth to their daughter, Stacey. They wouldn’t learn of his death until nearly a week later. Bruce’s body was returned home and buried in Greenwood Cemetery in his hometown.
On February 16, 1971, Bruce’s family received the Medal of Honor on his behalf from President Richard M. Nixon during a White House Ceremony. Eleven other service members who had given their life for the cause also received the nation’s highest honor that day. In the 1980s, a monument to the fallen Marine was erected in Michigan City’s Memorial Plaza. He is also remembered at the town’s Disabled American Veterans Post 23, where another memorial was dedicated to him on March 1, 2019 — the 50th anniversary of his death. His Medal of Honor is on display there.
MOH CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Mortar Man with Headquarters and Service Company, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division, against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Early on the morning of March 1, 1969, Private First Class Bruce was on watch in his night defensive position at Fire Support Base Tomahawk in Quang Nam Province when he heard movements ahead of him. An enemy explosive charge was thrown toward his position and he reacted instantly, catching the device and shouting to alert his companions. Realizing the danger to the adjacent position with its two occupants Private First Class Bruce held the device to his body and attempted to carry it from the vicinity of the entrenched Marines. As he moved away, Private First Class Bruce’s indomitable courage, inspiring valor and selfless devotion to duty saved the lives of three of his fellow Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
BURIAL LOCATION: GREENWOOD CEMETERY, MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA.
VETERANS OF ALL WARS MONUMENT CIRCLE, GRAVE 8
LOCATION OF MEDAL: DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS POST 23, MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA.
