- November 26, 2024
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When Gen. George Patton asked for 10 volunteers, one Palm Coast resident raised his hand.
Herb Brucker was born March 25, 1925, in Cleveland. During his teen years, he was an amateur boxer with the hope to go professional. That was against the wishes of his father. He was drafted into the Army in 1944, at the age of 18. Herb, with the 106th Infantry Division, landed in England for the gathering of forces, which would head to Le Havre, France.
In France, the 106th destroyed the buzz bomb launch sites which were responsible for much of the damage done to England. Brucker was with the reconnaissance forces which had to push back the enemy. One of the things he had to do was locate the booby traps left in their wake, and render them harmless for on coming troops. The 106th then moved to Belgium where they replaced troops that fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
Gen. George Patton asked for 10 volunteers to haul fuel and supplies to Stuttgart. Brucker was one of the 10 drivers. When two of the trucks broke down, Brucker rigged a harness from his truck to the others and hauled them over the bridge. For this, Staff Sgt. Brucker received the Bronze Star Medal for Heroism, to add to his Expert Sharp Shooter, Victory, Good Conduct, Occupation, and Over Seas medals.
Brucker returned home in 1946. He married Helen Kormos in 1949 and they were married for 62 years. In 1979, they moved to Palm Coast, where he worked for the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office as a substation coordinator, under three different sheriffs.
Herb is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Fraternal Order of Police, and VFW Post 8696, where he is the junior vice commander. He is a volunteer with the VFW Bingo Team, provides grounds security, and takes care of the VFW’s lending library. Herb loves to dance and is a true patriot.
