12/19/2022
๐บ๐ฒWWII uncovered: 78th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge: Staff Sergeant Neville Brand: 83rd Infantry Division Honored with the Silver Star
According to military records obtained from The US National Archive, Neville Brand entered the Illinois Army National Guard on October 23, 1939 as a Private in Company F, 129th Infantry Regiment. On March 5, 1941, Brand was inducted into the US Army. In December, after infantry training at Fort Carson, Brand departed for the European Theater of Operations on December 9th, 1944. Serving with the 331st Infantry Regiment of the 83rd Infantry Division (Thunderbolt Division) in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central European Campaigns.
Staff Sergeant Brand was honored with the Silver Star while serving in Germany with the 331st Infantry Regiment, 83d Infantry Division, for his actions on March 1, 1945. When his unit came under intense fire from German machine guns located within a hunting lodge, Staff Sergeant Brand disregarding his own safety, worked his way around to the rear of the lodge and single-handedly dispatched the enemy within.
In addition to the Silver Star Medal, Brand was also decorated with the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Battle Stars, one Overseas Service Bar, one Service Stripe and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
On April 7, 1945 Sergeant Brand was seriously wounded during engagement near the Weser River. Pinned down by enemy fire - Neville nearly lost his life. After a long recovery Sergeant Brand was transferred back to the United States on September 17, 1945. He was honorably discharged from Fort Sheridan.
Neville relocated to Los Angeles and attended the Geller Drama School on the GI Bill. His first big break was in the 1950 thriller โD.O.A.โ Neville's acting resume included numerous productions on both screen and television. Some of his most memorable work included roles and such productions as "Stalag 17", "Birdman of Alcatraz", "Halls of Montezuma", "Laredo" and "Riot in Cell Block 11."
Lawrence Neville Brand passed away on April 16, 1992 at the age of 71. He lies in rest at East Lawn Memorial Park in Sacramento California. Lest We Forget.
WWII uncoveredยฉ๏ธ original description and photos sourced by The US National Archive, US Army, Ancestry Database and IMdb (Fair Use Photos) All rights reserved.