World War II Honoree

Bruno Bernard Balest

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Ringertown, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Capt Caren Carbone

Relationship

Granddaughter

SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY FROM JANUARY 1943 TO JANUARY 1946 AS A STAFF SERGEANT IN THE TRANSPORTATION CORPS IN THE 612TH PORT COMPANY OF THE 489TH PORT BATTALION. ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING FROM JANUARY TO JUNE 1943 IN BOTH INDIANTOWN GAP AND IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. HE ARRIVED IN BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA ON JULY 4, 1943. AFTER A FEW DAYS HE THEN BOARDED ANOTHER SHIP AND WAS SENT TO MILNE BAY, NEW GUINEA. SERVED IN MILNE BAY, PAPUA-NEW GUINEA FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS UNTIL JANUARY 1945. NEXT SENT TO THE INVASION OF LUZON ISLAND OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. REMAINED IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR THE NEXT 10 MONTHS. THE WAR ENDED AND HE WAS SENT TO JAPAN TO THE NORTHERNMOST ISLAND WHERE HE SPENT A FEW MONTHS AND WAS THEN SENT BACK TO THE UNITED STATES. DISCHARGED WITH HONOR FROM THE U.S. ARMY IN JANUARY 1946 IN FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY.