517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team Captain Joseph Broudy A Company November 26, 1914 - ???, 1981

Joseph Broudy was born on November 26, 1914 in Atlanta, Ga. to parents Ben Broudy and Ida (Mosvitz) Broudy. His parents were immigrants from Bessarabia, then a part of Romania. We believe they were fleeing from anti-Semitic programs. Joe graduated from Tech High School in 1933 with a letter in basketball. He served in the National guard from 1930 to 1933. He managed a factory producing ladies' and children's apparel.

In Nov. 1941 Joe joined the Army; the 50th infantry, 6th Armored Division. He rose to the rank of technical sergeant. In Aug. 1942 he attended officer candidate school and became 2nd Lt. in the 87th Reconnaisse, 7th Armored Division. He went to Parachute School in Feb. 1943 because it paid an extra $50 per month. He joined the 517th PRCT as 1st Lt. and became Captain of A Co. in France in Sept. 1944 when Don Fraser was promoted to Major. Joe was awarded the Bronze Star while fighting in the Bulge along the Soy-Hotton line on Christmas day. He received the Purple Heart with 2 oak leaf clusters.

Our Dad virtually never spoke about WWII and he died in 1981 long before we were aware of the history of the 517th. He and our mother Trudy did attend reunions in San Diego and Fort Bragg. Trudy and her sister used to sing at USO events and it is our understanding that is how they met after the war.

Our mother received letters from some of Joe's comrades after his death. Ralph Harmon wrote that Joe "was a square shooter and liked by all of A Co." Bill Price made a trip to NYC with Joe before going overseas and said he had "never seen one man that knew so many people. Just walking down Broadway and he would meet people he knew." Phil DiStanislao wrote that Joe "represented authority with a sense of humor, fairness, and a keen awareness of the ridiculous." He also wrote that Joe (being an older soldier) "contributed to that growing up period to all of us whose eyes had not focused yet on that difference between callow youth and manhood."

from Dr. Bruce Broudy and on behalf of my brother Ron Broudy and sister Eileen Shaw

May 2019