DeBruin, Eugene Henry

1933 - Abt 1964  (30 years)    Has 52 ancestors but no descendants in this family tree.

• Name	DeBruin, Eugene Henry
  Born	1 Apr 1933	Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  Gender	Male
  URL	Aft 1933
  Link to Wikipedia
  1940 Census	1940	Buchanan, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  Joseph De Bruin26 Margaret De Bruin25 Gerald De Bruin8 Eugene De Bruin7 Donald De Bruin5 Marie De Bruin3 Joseph De Bruin2 John Dompe27
  Education - High School	1951	Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
  Kaukauna High School Class of 1951
  Education - High School	1951	Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA   [1]
  Kaukauna High School Class of 1951
  Military Service	Between 1952 and 1956
  US Air Force
  Occupation	Bef 1963
  Parachute Delivery Officer. Air America. Became a POW when he parachuted to safety from a C-46 that had been shot down over Laos. He is known to have been a POW at a Pathet Lao prison camp in Laos. He and other prisoners attempted to escape twice from the camp. He was recaptured on his 1st escape attempt and he is listed as MIA as a result of his second escape attempt in 1966. Served in USAF as an Aviation Mechanic from 1952-1956. Served in Bureau of Land Management as a Smoke Jumper for 3 years in Alaska and Montana. Eugene DeBruin was portrayed by Jeremy Davies in Werner Herzog's 2007 film Rescue Dawn.
  News Mention	13 Sep 1963
  Kaukauna Times
  In September of 1963, Eugene DeBruin of Kaukauna was shot down and taken prisoner in Laos. At the end of the Vietnam War no negotiations were made for the prisoners held in Laos. Over the past 50 years our government has never made a formal request for him of any of the other estimated 600 people that were left behind in that country. Please say a prayer for these poor people that were left behind.
  	DeBruin, Eugene Kaukauna Times News September 13, 1963
  News Mention	23 Oct 1963
  Kaukauna Times
  Eugene DeBruin of Kaukauna, whose plane was shot down by communist in Laos several weeks ago, has been reported by Air America to be alive but a prisoner. DeBruin, 30, was a crew member of the Air America plane which was shot down by the Pathet Lao on September 5 in northern Laos. He was one of three Americans abroad the plane. The Pathet Lao mentioned Eugene's name last Saturday as the only survivor. Senator Nelson (Dem) Wisconsin later contacted the DeBruin's and told them the state department was negotiating for the release of Eugene. No information was available as to whether he was injured.
  	DeBruin, Eugene News
  	DeBruin, Eugene POW Kaukauna Times October 23, 1963
  Died	Abt 1964	MIA Laos
  News Mention	20 May 1964
  Kaukauna Times
  Mr. and Mrs. Joseph DeBruin received word that their son, Eugene DeBruin, 30, presently a prisoner of the pro-communist Pathet Lao troops, will be released soon. DeBruin's plane was shot down over Laos on Sept 5 while dropping supplies. He was one of five that survived the crash. The announcement was made by Prince Souphanouvong, Pathet Lao leader, according to AP press dispatches. Information received stated he was being treated well by his captures. Air America, the concern which DeBruin was affiliated, has suspended its operations in Laos. Update January 2010 - Information released through the U.S. freedom of information act confirms that Air America was operated by the C.I.A. during the Vietnam War. The U.S. would not negotiate with Laos for the release of POW's. Eugene and over 300 other prisoners were never released.
  Media	2007
  Portrayed by Jeremy Davies in the film Rescue Dawn Parachute Delivery Officer. Air America. Became a POW when he parachuted to safety from a C-46 that had been shot down over Laos. He is known to have been a POW at a Pathet Lao prison camp in Laos. He and other prisoners attempted to escape twice from the camp. He was recaptured on his 1st escape attempt and he is listed as MIA as a result of his second escape attempt in 1966. Served in USAF as an Aviation Mechanic from 1952-1956. Served in Bureau of Land Management as a Smoke Jumper for 3 years in Alaska and Montana. Eugene DeBruin was portrayed by Jeremy Davies in Werner Herzog's 2007 film Rescue Dawn.
  Buried	St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, USA
  	DeBruin, Eugene Henry St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, USA
  Person ID	I167126	1FamilyTree | JocelynThyssen170579
  Last Modified	22 Dec 2017

  
  

  Father	DeBruin, Joseph H.,   b. 22 Jul 1913, Holland, Brown, Wisconsin, USA ,   d. 29 Jun 1991, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA  (Age 77 years)
  Mother	Hughes, Margaret M.,   b. 9 Aug 1915, Grand Chute, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA ,   d. 21 Aug 1998  (Age 83 years)
  Family ID	F44346	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map	Load the map	Born - 1 Apr 1933 - Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA 1940 Census - 1940 - Buchanan, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA Education - High School - 1951 - Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA Education - High School - 1951 - Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA Died - Abt 1964 - MIA Laos Buried - - St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  
  

• Sources

  [S1242] Kaukauna High School 1951 Papyrus Yearbook, Kaukauna High School, (Kaukauna High School 1951 Papyrus Yearbook (see 1951 Senior Class list )). 167126 - - Kaukauna High School Class of 1951