Michigan City in LaPorte County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Private First Class Daniel D. Bruce

United States Marine Corps

Photographed By Duane Hall, August 16, 2014

1. Private First Class Daniel D. Bruce Marker

Inscription.
Rank and Organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Headquarters and Service Company, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and Date: Fire Support Base Tomahawk, Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam. 1 March 1969. Entered Service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 18 May 1950, Michigan City, Ind.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a mortar man with Headquarters and Service Company 3d Battalion, against the enemy. Early in the morning Pfc. Bruce was on watch in his night defensive position at Fire Support Base Tomahawk when he heard movements ahead of him. An enemy explosive charge was thrown toward his position and he reacted instantly, catching the device and shouting to alert his companions. Realizing the danger to the adjacent position with its 2 occupants, Pfc. Bruce held the device to his body and attempted to carry it from the vicinity of the entrenched Marines. As he moved away, the charge detonated and he absorbed the full force of the explosion. Pfc. Bruce’s indomitable courage, inspiring valor and selfless devotion to duty saved the lives of 3 of his fellow Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Posthumously

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awarded the Medal of Honor by the President of the United States; Richard M. Nixon on February 16, 1971.

Interred in Greenwood Cemetery Michigan City, Indiana

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #37 Richard M. Nixon, and the Medal of Honor Recipients series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1812.

Location. 41° 43.407′ N, 86° 54.436′ W. Marker is in Michigan City, Indiana, in LaPorte County. Memorial can be reached from Lake Shore Drive, 0.1 miles west of Franklin Street, on the left when traveling west. Marker is located near the U.S. Coast Guard station. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Michigan City IN 46360, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Michigan City Memorial Plaza (here, next to this marker); Michigan City GAR Memorial (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Michigan City Spanish War Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away); Michigan City Lighthouse (about 400 feet away); S. S. Eastland Disaster (about 400 feet away); Hoosier Slide (about 400 feet away); Great Lakes' First Submarine (about 500 feet away); Roger J. McKee Memorial Fountain (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Michigan City.

Regarding Private First Class Daniel D. Bruce.

Private First Class Daniel D. Bruce Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, August 16, 2014

2. Private First Class Daniel D. Bruce Memorial

In May 2014 local citizens including Tom Bruce, cousin of Pfc. Daniel D. Bruce, spearheaded efforts to correct errors in the memorial. Modifications to the memorial were funded by the Michigan City Common Council and included adding plaques to the concrete pedestal, replacing the bronze plaque, adding landscaping, and installing new flag poles. The additions to the concrete pedestal placed plaques of the Medal of Honor and the Marine Corps emblem to the pedestal. The original bronze plaque included a relief display of the Medal of Honor awarded to Army personnel, and the bronze plaque now displays the Medal of Honor awarded to Marine Corps personnel and the full citation of the award and is now painted with the Marine Corps red color.

A website linked in the "Also See ..." section includes photographs of the memorial before the 2014 changes.

Also see . . . 'He Gave His Life for His Country' - Michigan City's Medal of Honor Recipient. A forum webpage with a 1971 Michigan City newspaper article on Pfc Daniel D. Bruce and photographs of the memorial before the modifications made in 2014. (Submitted on October 20, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.)

Michigan City Memorial Plaza image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, August 16, 2014

3. Michigan City Memorial Plaza

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 553 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 22, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.