PFC Patrick Harold Bruce was born on August 29, 1914, however much of his early life and family is unknown. We do know that Patrick enlisted in the US Army in early 1941 and was assigned to the 1st Battalion of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82 Airborne Division. On December 5, 1942, he married a girl from Pensacola by the name of Beulah Bernard Ferrell (1926-), the daughter of Archie Deese Ferrell (1900-1976). Her father supported the two of them as a laundry "presser" for the Askins Clothing Store at 18 South Palafox Street.
In the meantime, the war came, and Patrick's regiment headed for England to prepare for the upcoming landing at Normandy. On June 6, 1944, his battalion loaded onto their aircraft at RAF Spanhoe Airfield and took off into the dark, foreboding skies. Among several objectives was the French village of Chef-du-Pont, which was close to the crossing point of the Merderet River bridgehead in Cotentin. The fighting was vicious, but the regiment immerged victorious. Afterwards, the German Army stated they were "a pack of jackals and the toughest, most resourceful and bloodthirsty in Europe." The battalion was returned to England in July 1944 to prepare for their next mission. Then came their next jump in September 1944 at Groesbeek, Holland during Operation Market Garden where they captured the bridges over the Maas River. After two months, they moved back into France in November 1944. But they had little time to relax because on December 16th the German Army made a surprise winter attack called the "Battle of the Bulge." In response, the battalion was deployed to the Ardennes area in Belgium where they met the enemy head-on. But first they had to get there. Wintering at Camp Suippes at Suippes Marne, France, they grabbed combat gear and quickly loaded onto semi-trailers and headed for Belgium.
By December 21st, the situation was critical. Defending the town of St. Vith, they were being attacked from every direction with all likelihood they would be surrounded. In fact, only the narrow neck of land from Vielsalm to Salmchateau, connected the the 82nd Division with the remaining forces of the U.S., First Army. Patrick and the 505th regiment was having a rough time defending themselves against with the 1st SS Panzer Division. They had already been driven to the river where it held even though their soldiers were spread one hundred yards apart. By Xmas day, the situation was improving but only slightly. Then during a barrage of enemy artillery, PFC Patrick Harold Bruce was hit by shrapnel from one of the shells. The medics were able to get him to an aide station and rendered what treatment was available. But the next morning Patrick succumbed to his injuries and passed away. His remains were turned over to grave registration and buried in a military cemetery. Patrick was brought home at the request of his wife on December 2, 1947 and reinterred in Barrancas Cemetery in Pensacola. The fate of his wife and 16-month-old son are unknown.
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