FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Leonard C Brostrom ~ 20 July 2020

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Leonard C. Brostrom

Info from here.

           

Leonard Carl Brostrom was born on November 23, 1919 in Preston, Franklin County, Idaho. He was the first child of Carl John Brostrom (Feb. 17, 1894–Mar. 13, 1975) and Louise Adolfina Hillstead (Aug. 17, 1893–Sep. 25, 1961) who were married on August 21, 1918. Leonard was Killed in action on October 28, 1944 near Dagami, Leyte, Philippine Islands, now the Republic of the Philippines. Leonard is buried in the Preston Cemetery, Block 1, lot 18.

Leonard Brostrom grew up in the farming community of Preston, Idaho and attended the then primary and secondary school called the Oneida Stake Academy built by the Oneida Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ezra Taft Benson and Harold B. Lee both of whom later served as presidents of the LDS Church and Medal of Honor recipient Mervyn S. Bennion also attended this school. In 1922, this school was renamed Preston High School even though it was referred to as the Academy for some time there after. Nathan K. Van Noy, another Medal of Honor recipient, attended the newer Preston High School.

Brostrom grew up attending Church at the Oneida Ward in Preston. He grew up during the depression years farming, hunting and fishing while doing odd jobs for both pocket money and LDS Church service. His younger brothers Dean (1921–1999) and Dale (1925–2003) often tagged along until Leonard served a three year LDS mission to California. Leonard was on his Church mission when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. After successfully completing his Church Mission he returned home and soon joined the U.S. Army in March 1942.

Brostrom completed basic training at Fort Ord, California and was assigned to the 7th Motorized Division. Shortly after arriving at Camp San Luis Obispo, the Division began training in the Mojave Desert in preparation for its planned deployment to the African theater.

On January 1, 1943 his Motorized Division was renamed the 7th Infantry Division (light).  Brostrom and the other soldiers began rigorous amphibious assault training under US Marines from the Fleet Marine Force, before being deployed to fight in the Pacific theater instead of Africa.  General Holland Smith oversaw the unit's training.

Private Brostrom was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion of the 17th Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division and participated in the retaking of the Aleutian Islands, Eastern Mandates and Leyte; all of which started with amphibious assaults. Brostrom's campaign ribbons for these contain an arrowhead representing being in the amphibious assault landings.

Pvt. Brostrom first saw combat in the amphibious assault on Attu Island's "red beach", which was the western-most Japanese entrenchment in the Aleutian islands chain. He landed with his Company on May 1, 1943 spearheaded by the 17th Infantry Regiment, and fought an intense battle over the tundra against strong Japanese resistance.

Brostrom and the rest of the soldiers from the 17th Regiment were not trained or equipped for arctic combat on Attu. Soaked boots, cold weather and was neither properly equipped nor clothed for a northern campaign, for in those days the U.S. Army knew practically nothing about waging extensive winter warfare. Nevertheless, Brostrom and his fellow soldiers from the 17th carried on, and for this action they won a Distinguished Unit Citation. During the battle Brostrom with "Company F's attack in the pass between the valleys was magnificent. The GI's used rifles, bayonets, and hand grenades to drive the enemy out of a series of trenches near the vital Cold Mountain." The fight for the island culminated in a battle at Chichagof Harbor, when the division destroyed all Japanese resistance on the island on 29 May, after a suicidal Japanese bayonet charge. The 17th regiment then invaded Kiska expecting another serious fight, but Brostrom and the others found out that the Japenese had evacuated the island prior to the American landing.

The Eastern Mandates are part of the Marshall Islands where Brostrom and the rest of his unit invaded Kwajalein atoll after four months of training in Hawaii. Under their new leader Major General C. H. Corlett the amphibious assaults on the 42 islands of the atoll went "most nearly perfect." It is not certain which specific island(s) Company F and Brostrom captured. The Division returned to Hawaii for rest and recuperation. Then they trained for the next assault.

Leyte, the third largest of the Philippine Islands was invaded by Brostrom and the rest of the 7th Division on October 20, 1944. Brostrom in Company F, 2nd Battalion of the 17th Regiment attacked from the center, driving down the Dulag–Burauen Road. Within 48 hours they had captured San Pablo, Burauen, and Bayug Airfield.

On October 27, 1944 the 17th took the strong points south of the town of Dagami. At 7:30 AM, 0730 hours in military time, Brostrom, "a lead scout" with Company F struck out on the left flank of the attack. Their job with the rest of the 2nd Battalion was to envelope Dagami from the American left to pin and destroy Japanese Army resistance in the town.

Brostrom with the lead assault platoon of Company F encountered "withering fire from pillboxes, trenches, and enemy spider holes.". The enemy were well entrenched and camouflaged. Enemy fields of fire were well calculated with criss-crossing machine gun bunkers supported by infantry in trenches. PFC Brostrom was hit by enemy weapon fire three times as he fought his way through a bamboo thicket that was part of the enemy line. Brostrom dashed to the rear of a large enemy machine gun bunker/pillbox. During his charge from the bamboo thicket he was visible not only to the rest of his company, but to the Japanese riflemen shooting at him as well. As he threw several grenades into the bunker, six Japanese infantrymen charged with bayonets fixed. Brostrom was able to kill one and wound others causing them to retreat. Brostrom was hit a fourth time and fell to the ground. Again, in view of the Americans and Japanese soldiers he rose to his feet and assaulted the bunker with grenades and rifle fire. The enemy ran out of the bunker as Brostrom fell seriously wounded.

"Staff Sergeant Paul Doty and PFC's Howard J. Evans and Eldridge V. Sorenson, who had caught up with Brostrom by this time," killed many of the fleeing enemy and called for a medic. PFC Brostrom was carried to the aid station but sucumbed to his wounds.

During the same combat action and time period, PFC John F. Thorson, from Company G, attacked an enemy trench with his BAR and was within twenty feet when he was seriously wounded. The rest of his platoon rushed forward sweeping the enemy from the trench line. An enemy grenade landed nearby and Thorson rolled on top of it to protect his buddies. He was killed instantly.

Private First Class Brostrom, Company F, is one of the only two members of the 17th Infantry Regiment to have received the Medal of Honor for their actions in combat. The other was PFC John F. Thorson from Company G.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 104 (November 15, 1945) Action Date: 28-Oct-44 Service: Army Rank: Private First Class Company: Company F Regiment: 17th Infantry Regiment Division: 7th Infantry Division

Citation:

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Private First Class Leonard C. Brostrom, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action as a rifleman with an assault platoon of Company F, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, which ran into powerful resistance near Dagami, Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 28 October 1944. From pillboxes, trenches, and spider holes, so well camouflaged that they could be detected at no more than 20 yards, the enemy poured machinegun and rifle fire, causing severe casualties in the platoon. Realizing that a key pillbox in the center of the strong point would have to be knocked out if the company were to advance, Private First Class Brostrom, without orders and completely ignoring his own safety, ran forward to attack the pillbox with grenades. He immediately became the prime target for all the riflemen in the area, as he rushed to the rear of the pillbox and tossed grenades through the entrance. Six enemy soldiers left a trench in a bayonet charge against the heroic American, but he killed one and drove the others off with rifle fire. As he threw more grenades from his completely exposed position he was wounded several times in the abdomen and knocked to the ground. Although suffering intense pain and rapidly weakening from loss of blood, he slowly rose to his feet and once more hurled his deadly missiles at the pillbox. As he collapsed, the enemy began fleeing from the fortification and were killed by riflemen of his platoon. Private First Class Brostrom died while being carried from the battlefield, but his intrepidity and unhesitating willingness to sacrifice himself in a one-man attack against overwhelming odds enabled his company to reorganize against attack, and annihilate the entire enemy position.

A United States Army transport ship, USAT Private Leonard C. Brostrom was named in his honor in 1948. The ship was later transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service of the United States Navy as USNS Private Leonard C. Brostrom (T-AK 255).

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

 

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

July 20

How to Wait

Bible in a Year:

• Psalms 26–28
• Acts 22

Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.

Psalm 27:7

Frustrated and disappointed with church, seventeen-year-old Trevor began a years-long quest for answers. But nothing he explored seemed to satisfy his longings or answer his questions.

His journey did draw him closer to his parents. Still, he had problems with Christianity. During one discussion, he exclaimed bitterly, “The Bible is full of empty promises.”

Another man faced disappointment and hardship that fueled his doubts. But as David fled from enemies who sought to kill him, his response was not to run from God but to praise Him. “Though war break out against me, even then I will be confident,” he sang (Psalm 27:3).

Yet David’s poem still hints at doubt. His cry, “Be merciful to me and answer me” (v. 7), sounds like a man with fears and questions. “Do not hide your face from me,” David pleaded. “Do not reject me or forsake me” (v. 9).

David didn’t let his doubts paralyze him, however. Even in those doubts, he declared, “I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (v. 13). Then he addressed his readers: you, me, and the Trevors of this world. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (v. 14).

We won’t find fast, simple answers to our huge questions. But we will find—when we wait for Him—a God who can be trusted.

By:  Tim Gustafson Reflect & Pray

What do you do with your big questions? Where have you seen answers “in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13), and where are you still waiting for answers?

Father, melt my heart along with my fears and my anger.

[lightman]

Thanks for another inspiring story of America’s heroes.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!
((((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

All rested and ready to take on the new week? May your week go as planned, without any hitches.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, lightman...a very inspiring story. Incredible deeds by our military heroes.

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Leonard C Brostrom ~

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[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[left that other site]

It was even too hot for a motorcycle ride, even though I didn’t even wear a jacket.

And the engine, which is air-cooled, was sending out waves of heat, even at 40 mph, even riding in the shade alongside the ocean.

I mean, it was HOT!

So I gassed up and went home. (only did about 30 miles)

But even a bad day on a Harley is better than a good day at work! LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS)))...did you and Blue have a good day?

Cruising more of MA?

[left that other site]

LOL...see comment #9! :-)

[left that other site]

Just Scituate and Marshfield Today. And a little bit of Duxbury.

Local seaside towns.

[topsail]

Hi Kathy,

Just a reminder that The USNS Brostrom was featured here on 4/29/12. I was happy to respond that I had been a crew member aboard that ship.

Good to see it again. By the way, there were only one other ship like the USNS Brostrom, it was the USNS Marine Fiddler.

The USNS Brostrom assigned to the Pacific and the USNS Marine Fiddler in the East Coast/Atlantic/Med/ They both have been long gone to the bone yard. Sad to see that. I liked that ship

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...hope you stayed cool today.

“They” say rain is coming tonight. I hope “they” are right.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

These Hall of Heroes threads always take my breath away when I read them.

I hope you had a relaxing day.

[radu]

I did stay cool today. I didn’t go outside at all. LOL
Hubby poked his head out and decided it was a good day to forget about the mower or the garage until after sunset.

There’s a whole lotta rain south of y’all. It just needs to crawl over the mountains and give you a good soaking. Looks like it’s trying.

[Kathy in Alaska]

WOW! Too hot even for Blue, but at least you got in a little ride.

Is it too hot for Penny to be on her porch?

[The Mayor]

Thanks Kathy! I hope it does.
Since my truck fire things have been a mess.
Time to get back on track

[luvie]

Leonard Carl Brostrom
B: November 23, 1919
KIA: October 28, 1944
near Dagami, Leyte, Philippine Islands
Medal Of Honor recipient.
RIP Hero!

[luvie]

Howdy, radu! have you had a good weekend?

Smokey was out on the patio tonight. So I fed her and dropped a bit of worm meds...not even a whole doseage...into the food. She didn’t eat it all, but I’ll see if she’s out there later and try again. Probably should have let Ghost finish it. No doubt he could use some worm meds. LOL!