LaFollette Press By: Noah Taylor
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 3:08 pm
Herman Bruce was in his bunker in Korea when he heard what he thought was going to be the last sound he’d ever hear.
It was the haunting whistle of a mortar landing nearby and after the whistling stopped, Bruce waited.
He knew that it would go off and end his life so he nervously started counting the seconds.
Fortunately for Bruce, an 87-year old Campbell County native who goes by the nickname “Carlo,” the shell never exploded.
Instead the whole ordeal was one of many stories he lived to tell his grandson, Andrew Bruce decades later.
“I do remember him telling me several stories growing up,” Andrew Bruce said. “He’s told me several more just here recently. He told me about how cold the weather was and how steep the mountains were where they engaged in several battles. He talked about how they had little to no food, no sleep and no materials to keep their unit warm during the subzero freezing temperatures. He said that you just felt lucky to be alive and see another day.”
Those memories of sitting by wide-eyed as his grandfather vividly painted a picture of the struggles he endured nearly 70 years ago in Korea came back to Andrew Bruce while he was watching a feature on the Korean Ambassador of Peace Medal, presented by the Republic of Korea on WBIR news recently. He knew the perfect candidate.
“I first heard about it through the Vet to Vet Tennessee program,” Bruce said. “He met all the criteria to be eligible for the medal. He was very excited when I first told him about the award. He received his award quicker than expected through the mail. He really considered this medal as his most impressive medal.”
According to Andrew Bruce, Carlo Bruce served in Korea from 1950-53, leaving behind the Melvin community home he was born and raised in to serve in the United States Army in the Korean War, conflict that began in 1950 and ended unofficially in an armistice in July 1953.
After the war, according to Andrew, his “papaw” moved to Cincinnati to work in the automobile manufacturing industry and eventually entered into full-time ministry as a pastor.
He married Hazel in 1955 and the two had three children, raising them in the Cincinnati area before returning to their native Campbell County in 1969.
In a life that has spanned nearly 88 years and has included serving his God, his country and raising a family, the medal he recently received will serve as a tangible reminder of one of his most memorable life accomplishments.
Andrew is thankful that mortar shell in that Korean bunker didn’t go off all those years ago.
“God spared his life, saved him and called him to preach,” Bruce said. “He will be 88 on Christmas Eve and is still preaching the gospel. He really loves this recognition. He considers it one of his greatest achievements.”
