Decorah Man Is Raised to Rear Admiral in Navy
Washington, D.C. –(AP)—The Navy announced Wednesday that President Roosevelt had approved the promotion of 12 naval captains to the grade of rear admiral and of 147 commanders to captain.
Promoted to rear admiral were: Olaf Mandt Hustvedt, 55, of Decorah, Ia., commanding officer of the new 35,000-ton battleship North Carolina. Capt. John Reginald Beardall, 54, Orlando, Fla., the president's chief naval aide.
Bryson Bruce, 55, of Garden Grove, Ia., now administrative officer in the Navy's Bureau of Ships.
Those recommended for promotion from commander to captain, with their home addresses, were:
Benjamin F. Perry, Jefferson, Ia.;
Lisle F. Small, Persia, Ia.;
Arthur T. Moen, Cresco, Ia.;
Edward P. Sauer, Council Bluffs, Ia.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, September 10, 1941
Bryson Bruce was born Mar. 20, 1886 to Bryson and Mary A. Siddel Bruce. He died Apr. 17, 1961 and is buried in United States Naval Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, MD.
Rear Admiral Bruce served with the U.S. Navy in World War I and World War II. He was in charge of construction of the gunboat, Panay (PR-5) which was sunk by the Japanese before the beginning of World War II. Three men were killed and 43 sailors and five civilians were wounded. The Japanese claimed the attack was unintentional.
Daughter, Louise Frances Bruce Sutherland was born Dec. 11, 1911 to Bryson and Louise Downs Bruce. She was married to U.S. Navy Capt. Morton Sunderland who served in World War II aboard the USS Clayton (DD-571). Capt. Sunderland was the son of Major Gen. A. H. Sunderland, chief of Coast Artillery.
Source: ancestry.com
