Harry E. 'Sarge' Brunelle

MCALLEN, Texas - Another Veteran has said goodbye to this world for a better place in Heaven. Harry E. "Sarge" Brunelle, of Alamo, died Sept. 12, 2016, at McAllen Medical Center.

Harry was born April 5, 1927, at home in Gile, Wis., to Harry and Josephine (Valle) Brunelle.

Harry "Sarge" was a very proud veteran of the U.S. Army for 26 and a half years. He served in three wars. He was drafted in 1945 and sent to Austria and Germany with the U.S. Government Forces. In 1947, he was discharged and started attending college, but in 1950 he was called back when the Korean War broke out.

Sarge was captured by the Chinese on April 23, 1951, and held for two and a half years as a prisoner of war in North Korea.

After coming home, he decided to stay in the Army and spent the next two years as instructor with the Luther L. Wright High School Junior ROTC program in Ironwood, Mich.

He was then sent to many countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran and Germany. In 1968, he was sent to Vietnam as an advisor and while there he became ill with cancer from Agent Orange. In 1969, he came back to the U.S. and was an instructor with the University of Kansas ROTC Unit. When he finished that assignment, he decided to retire from the Army on July 31, 1971. He retired with 22 medals, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and many more.

In late 1971, he went to work for the Kmart Corp. in a distribution center in Lawrence, Kan., where he ended up in middle management for 17 and a half years until his retirement in 1989 at age 62. He also met and married his wife, Louise, during this time in Lawrence. In 1992, they decided to make Texas their home.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, E. Louise James Williams Brunelle; four stepchildren, Gary S. (Sheri) Williams of Topeka, Kan., Patrick J. (Mary Jo) Williams of Overland Park, Kan., Robert "Bobby" (Karen) Williams of Lawrence, Kan., and Carri Cay (Scott) Casto of Kimberling City, Mo .; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and a brother Ted (Mary) Brunelle of Ironwood.

At his request, there were no services. Following cremation, he was inurned at the Rio Grand Valley State Veterans Cemetery, in Mission, on Sept. 19.

Kreidler Funeral Home Inc., of McAllen, was in charge of arrangements. Sign a guest book at themonitor.com/obituaries.