[courtesy of  Chuck Schubert]

Grave marker for Bruce B. Van in Meditation Lawn, Westminster Memorial Park, Westminster (Orange county), California.

He enlisted as a Private at Fort Jay, Governors Island, NY despite having a four-year college degree.

On 10 February 1943 he completed OCS and was commissioned a 2nd Lt.

1st Lt. Van was transferred from the 82nd Airborne Division, Leicester, England to Company H, 508th PIR on 24 July 1944.He was subsequently transferred to Company I on 28 November 1944.

On 25 December 1944, Lt Van was evacuated as a non-battle casualty

He was next transferred to the Parachute Replacement Regiment at the Parachute School, Fort Benning GA. on 8 January 1945.

Lt Van married Cecelia Jane McKlenney [1918-1987] in Durham, North Carolina on 6 May 1945.

He was released from duty on 4 January 1946 but re-enlisted on 22 January 1946 and served until 29 August 1946.