Bruce Bender

Bruce Bender was born on March 1, 1915. Bruce had three brothers, Charles, Richard, and Merle, and a sister, Terry. He attended Lincoln High School and was part of the football and boxing teams. Bruce graduated from Lincoln in 1932. After graduation, he was employed at Prentiss Webers Products Company, and a drugstore, gaining experience with medicine. He then worked at a Los Angeles hospital.

Bruce decided to join the Navy. He was 27 years old when he was killed in action on January 11, 1943, in Solomon. In 1943, when Guadalcanal was secured, the Solomons were still largely held in Japanese hands or deserted. The Allies held Guadalcanal, with its expanding airfield, and were beginning to grow in strength. The series of engagements in and around the Solomons were intense, and cost both sides large numbers of ships, aircraft, and men. Bruce was buried in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Written by: Ondreea Mercer, East Junior High School