BRUCE DUVALL
Who is Bruce Duvall? I will have to give major props to anyone who can remember this guy. I have one rule in regards to this blog. If you passed through the ranks of the class of 1989 with me at any point, even if you didn't graduate with me, or graduate at all, I will write about you. This is Bruce.
Bruce came to Clarke at some point in 6th grade. He was put into Mr. Burnstad's class. He looked like a tough kid. He was a member of the black T-shirt crowd.
Why do I remember Bruce? One major thing stands out. At recess the morning of his first day in school, Bruce lit up a cigarette. He got caught, and was promptly suspended. Wow! It took me a year and half at Clarke to earn my first suspension. Bruce pulled it off in about two hours.
To my knowledge, Bruce never came back. If he did, I don't recall it. As far as I know, I've never laid eyes on him since.
I brought his name up in 7th grade once. And Jenny Malley commented, "Bruce was cool." He may have been. I don't know.
Surprisingly, Bruce Duvall is not all that common of a name. So I think I have some new information on him. It appears as if he's lived in Wyoming, Illinois and Michigan - where he resides today. He may be married to a woman named Denise.
posted by TWORIVERSWALRUS @ 10:47 AM
8 Comments:
Burt, although I know Bruce Du Vall, I'm afraid he's not the Bruce Du Vall you're thinking of.
My Bruce Du Vall was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1985, immediately joined the United States Marines, and married his high school sweetheart in 1987. Later that same year he had a baby girl. In 1988 he impregnated his wife again and in 1989, while still on active duty, he was killed just two months prior to his son being born. Bruce died on his 22nd birthday.
The 18th of May will mark 18 years since Bruce's death. His daughter is finishing up her first year in college. His son is counting the days until his junior year of high school is over.
I was Bruce Du Vall's widow. And although I have since remarried and have a wonderful life today, I can't help but wonder how different life would be had he not died.
So I was sitting here on this rainy, dismal day -- minus the small comforts of tears and chocolate, mind you -- and I alllowed myself to indulge in a silly, sentimental whim: I googled "Bruce Du Vall." Your site popped up.
So there you have it -- the answer to your question "Who knows Bruce Du Vall?" I knew Bruce Du Vall. I was his wife. I gave birth to his children. And for the record, Bruce was an extraordinary, caring, and talented individual who was forced to exit this world way too soon ...
azn
Thank you for leaving that comment. A reminder that often the good ones are taken too soon. I hope your children know their dad was a hero to many.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Erin
Wow. That's quite a comment. Thanks for sharing.
I also remember Bruce Duvall that azn speaks of. I was in the Marines with him. I was one of many friends of Bruce's while we were in the Marines.
I think the thing I remember the most about Bruce was him laying on his bed aboard ship and writing to his family back home. You could tell that he really loved his family and couldn't wait to get back to them.
I remember going out on the town with Bruce and having so much fun. I can remember Bruce's smile, and the way that everyone liked him.
I remember that terrible night when Bruce died in a training accident, and how I cried that night, for Bruce and for his family.
I remember asking God to protect him and keep his family safe through the hard times.
I remember escorting him back to his family in Seattle, and not really knowing what to say.
I remember meeting his family and thinking how much of a loss it must have been for them to lose such a wonderful person.
I remember his family giving me a tour of Seattle and being so kind to me.
I am a better person because of Bruce and as I sit here because I can't sleep.
I remember thinking of Bruce every year for the past 18 years, but never getting the courage up to try to find his family again.
So I sit here with tears running down my face writing this because I remember him and miss him.
Bruce Duvall was one of the bravest, kindest, caring person I have ever met, and I will never forget him.
So to Bruce I salute you where ever you are and say Semper Fi.
To his family I wish I could ease the pain you have felt for him through the years, and to try to remember the good times you had because those are what matter the most.
I would really like to meet his children to see how they are doing, and to meet his family again.
So azn if by some chance you read this again could you contact me at rockybixby@hotmail.com I live in Portland, OR.
i have been trying today to Fb contact family members about this tragic accident,i too was there on the beachhead when those zodiacs overturned and i heard radio traffic come over that marines were in trouble, i only wanted to put myself out there cause of a message i seen from bruce duvall jr when i tried researching this because i always since that night in shoalwater bay who the marine was and what he may have been like, we too were on the water and the sea's were way to big and they shouldnt have been launched from the ship, so i did not know bruce but i was on the navy assault boats attatched to the uss belleauwood till after sydney then i was attatched to the duluth for these op's and the transit back to the states. jerry collins EN2 (SW) Collins USN formerly
my email is jhd1200@aol.com and iam n FB under jerry collins antioch,ca.
I was also there in shoalwater Bay Australia I heard it when it came over the 46 that 15 Marines and were in the water due to high surf and the zodiacs, I was on lcu 1651 transferred from the Bellwood to the Duluth from Australia back home, I have been in the surf zones loading Marines from ship to shore for 4 years those waves and swells at night scared the crap out of me even and I've been into rough Waters on the LCS so I remember Bruce from time to time I googled him to try and leave a message somewhere, if you remember I think we just left Sydney or McKay Australia and went to shoalwater Bay and we were doing night ops and then this happened I'll never forget that night, jhd1200@aol.com is my email if you ever want to contact me my name is Jerry Collins I was a second class E5 in the Navy on the belleauwood and transferred to the USS Duluthafter Australia
Hello- I'm Bruce's biological daughter. I would love to learn more about him so if you would like to connect, my email is jaclyn.duvall.cox@gmail.com. Thank you.
Post a Comment
<< Home