Gustav Braun Jr. served during the First World War and was recognized for his fearless service:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Gustav J. Braun, Captain, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Sergy, France, July 29-30, 1918.
No medical officer or first-aid man being present, Captain Braun, then first lieutenant and battalion liaison officer, established a first-aid station and worked throughout the day and night dressing the wounded. On both days he repeatedly went out himself in the most intense shell fire and carried wounded men to shelter. When the water supply was exhausted, he made several trips through neaby machine-gun fire and filled canteens at water holes and a creek in front of the line.
He remained in the military through World War II. General Gustav J. Braun Jr. was the Assistant Division Commander of the 34th Division at the time of his death in 1945 in combat in Italy. The 34th Division was a National Guard unit from Iowa. Braun had served in various staff positions within the 34th, including chief of staff and commander of the 133rd Regiment, a subordinate unit. The 34th Division had fought some of the fiercest battles in all of the war and at war’s end the division’s losses included 3,737 killed, 14,165 wounded and 3,450 missing in action.
The 34th Division had fought its way up the Italian peninsula and was in the the shadows of Monte Be Monte and its will entrenched German defenders. Elements of the 34th Division attacked the defenders, with limited success. The arrival of deep winter led to both sides digging in to wait for spring thaws. It was during this stalemate when Braun was killed. He was flying in a light aircraft on reconnaissance when it was shot down by enemy gunfire.
We honor you Gustav Braun Jr.
