EDWARD J. BROMS, JR., LCDR, USN
Edward Broms, Jr. '65
Lucky Bag
From the 1965 Lucky Bag:
EDWARD JAMES BROMS JR.
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Barney hails from the land of steel mills and deep snow. After graduation from Meadville High School with honors, he came to the Academy to find a completely different way of life than that of home. He learned quickly, and soon became active in the Brigade Activities Committee. Since he enjoyed this extra curricular activity, he pursued it further and became a vital part of the Public Relations Committee, of which he eventually became Chief Announcer. His keen sense of humor brought him many friends and will be a big asset in his career. Barney never had much trouble with academics or with having a good time.
EDWARD JAMES BROMS JR.
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Barney hails from the land of steel mills and deep snow. After graduation from Meadville High School with honors, he came to the Academy to find a completely different way of life than that of home. He learned quickly, and soon became active in the Brigade Activities Committee. Since he enjoyed this extra curricular activity, he pursued it further and became a vital part of the Public Relations Committee, of which he eventually became Chief Announcer. His keen sense of humor brought him many friends and will be a big asset in his career. Barney never had much trouble with academics or with having a good time.
Loss
Edward was killed in action on August 1, 1968 when his aircraft was shot down during a strike on Dong Dun, Ha Tiny Province, North Vietnam. He was a member of Attack Squadron (VA) 66, flying from USS Intrepid (CVS 11).
Other Information
From Virtual Wall:
Broms and the four attack bomber aircraft rolled in on the target as planned However, during pullout, Broms was heard to transmit, "Puffs (flak) all around me." No other radio or visual contact was made with LTJG Broms and an extensive electronic and visual search was started. The search was called off with negative results and the opinion of the review board there was a low probability of survival.
When 591 American prisoners of war were released in 1973, Broms was not among them. The Vietnamese denied any knowledge of him. Broms was listed as missing in action until 1975 when the government declared him dead, although his body had not been recovered.
The family vigil began early and continued with the family until September 2011.
In 1993, remains an aircraft and of missing Americans were found at a crash site in Vietnam, but due to limits of DNA testing, the remains were not identified.
In 1995, Broms, mother, June Broms McCaskey, was notified that, based on evidence found at that scene, her son had been killed in action. "I believed after reading the report, that was what happened," Marjorie Waddell, Broms' sister, said at the time.
However, positive identification of Broms' remains were still not determined until September 12, 2011 - after improvements in DNA testing and 36 years after his plane went down. Waddell said plans for a burial would be made at a later date.
Almost a year later, The Official DoD Announcement of the return of his remains to the family for funeral and burial with full Military Honors was issued. Burial was in Arlington National Cemetery on September 7, 2012.
A newspaper from 2011 noted that Edward had at least one sister, Marjorie Waddell, a niece, Elizabeth Waddell, and a nephew, 1LT Andrew Waddell, USMC.
Edward has a memory marker in Pennsylvania; he is also listed at the Courts of the Missing in Hawaii.
Photographs
From the July-August 1975 issue of Shipmate
Remembrances
I remember Barney well. We partied and played golf in Jacksonville before we deployed to Vietnam. I was in VA-106, a sister squadron to VA-66 aboard Intrepid. I was a part of the "Alpha Strike" on the day he did not return. I heard him radio us that he "had us in sight", but then he never rendezvoused and was not heard from again. RIP Barney. I am glad they found you and honored you at Arlington. One of your squadron mates, Charlie delPizzo joined you last September. JOHN W. WILCOX, SCOOTERDRIVER@ME.COM, 1/14/15
When Jim was reported missing, everybody in town knew. We prayed for him. My brother Jim was killed shortly there after. Meadville lost some great guys. I miss them all. MARY RUDD DIETRICH, MEDIET@WEBCOMET.COM, 10/9/05
Lt Broms 8-1-68 ....m.i.a. just taking a moment to remember Jimmy. He was a neighbor of mine at one time; some thirty five years ago today he was lost. A day that would touch and change many lives of those who knew him.... had things been different today I would be proud to call him my brother as a few years ago his mother married my father. Jimmy is still remembered daily by his mother. T G MCCASKEY, 8/1/03
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