Private Harry Bryant

Today we honor and remember Private Harry Bryant, HQ & Service Battery, 377th PFAB, 101st Airborne Division.

102 years ago, Private Harry Bryant of HQ HQ & Service Battery, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (PFAB) was born in Banks County, Georgia, on July 27, 1924. He later moved with his family to West Gastonia, Gaston County, North Carolina. He was killed in action on October 23, 1944.

Before entering the service on April 14, 1943, he was employed by Firestone Mills in West Gastonia as a “cloth baler.” After completing basic training at Fort Bragg, he traveled overseas to England, where he was assigned from the 10th Replacement Depot to the HQ & Service Battery of the 377th at Newbury, Berkshire, England, on November 30, 1944.

Private Bryant died in his foxhole either by a grenade or an artillery or mortar shell, west of the town of Zetten, the Netherlands (Source: Dutch historian Piet Pulles). He may have been dug in near the Hemmen area, firing batteries, when German counter-battery fire (artillery) originated from the vicinity of Opheusden, killing him. (Source: Mark Bando).

He was first buried at the temporary American Military Cemetery Molenhoek #1 in the Netherlands on October 24, 1944. On Sunday afternoon, January 23, 1949, he was reburied with full military services in the Long Creek Memorial Baptist Cemetery at Dallas, Gaston County, North Carolina.

Besides his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Bryant, he left behind two brothers and six sisters.

PVT Bryant was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal.

May he rest in peace.