Honoring Service: Veteran John Joseph Brice, WWII
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John Joseph Brice was born on April 14, 1921, in Tannersville, New York, to Mary Ellen Garrety (36) and Oscar Thomas Brice (32). He had two elder sisters named Helen and Margaret. The Brice family resided at 21 Brookdale Place in Rye and was an active member of the Church of the Resurrection.
Date of Birth: 4/14/1921
Died On: 3/26/1965
Street Address: 21 Brookdale Place
Service Number: 32404335
Branch of Service: U.S. Army-WWII
John graduated from Rye High School as part of the Class of 1937. He was a distinguished member of the National Honor Society and actively engaged in various clubs, including the Stage Coach and Self Reliant clubs. During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country.
As a member of the 20th Armored Division, John served in the Army for three and a half years, with six months of his service spent in the European theater. The division embarked from Boston on February 6 and arrived in Le Havre, France, on February 19, 1945. Following assembly, preparation, and additional training in Buchy for a month, the division moved through Belgium and eventually reached Langendernbach, Germany, on April 10.
After considering the option of dispersing the newly formed division to provide replacements for veteran armored divisions within the 12th U.S. Army Group, General Omar N. Bradley decided to attach the unit to the III Corps in Marktbreit on April 20. However, just three days later, it was reassigned to the XV Corps of the Seventh Army, stationed in Würzburg, Germany.
Upon the end of the war in Europe, the division was involved in occupation duties before returning to the United States in August 1945. Originally slated for participation in the planned invasion of Japan, the unit reported to Camp Cooke, CA, for amphibious assault training. However, with the dropping of the atomic bombs and Japan’s surrender, the division was deactivated on April 2, 1946, at Camp Hood in Texas.
On November 14, 1946, John married Earline Kimbrell at The Little Church Around the Corner, and the newlywed couple embarked on a plane for their honeymoon trip to Nassau. John, a graduate of Cooper Union Art school, pursued a career as an industrial designer and was associated with Joseph B Platt. He and his wife established their residence and professional lives in New York City.
John Joseph Brice passed away on March 26, 1965, at the age of 43, in Manhattan, New York. More about Brice.
