Faces Bio

Edwin Stephen Brague, Jr. was born on February 25, 1943 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.  His home of record is Ridgewood, NJ.  He was the only child of Edwin StephenBrague, Sr. and Elisabeth J. Brague. After attending the Maywood Avenue School he graduated from RidgewoodHigh School in 1961, and then attended the Rutgers University ROTC Program. Hewas a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and the marching band. Braguegraduated from Rutgers in June 1965 with a degree in general agriculture.  His hobbies and interests included geologyand playing cards.  He had his pilot’slicense and liked to fly planes.

Heentered the US Army in 1965, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant (1LT).  He entered Vietnam in September 1966 and waskilled in action on January 7, 1967, while flying support for the infantry inKontum Province, in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.  Brague served as an aerial command post pilotwith the 2^nd Battalion, 327^th Infantry, 101^stAirborne Division.

Bragueleft behind his parents and his wife of a little more than one year, Barbara A.Brague. 

Amongthe medals he was awarded were the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross(1^st Oakleaf cluster), Air Medal (1^st – 7^thOakleaf clusters), the National Order Medal, and the Fifth Class GallantryCross with Palm.

Thereis a memorial at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, dedicated to thegraduates who were killed or missing in action from the Vietnam War.  Brague’s name is listed among those killed inaction. Rutgers University created the E. Stephen Brague Memorial Award to begiven to an Alpha Gamma Rho brother each year. The Maywood Brague MemorialAward which is still awarded to the highest achieving science student in the 8^thgrade. Lt. Brague is buried in Lot 615, Section A in Fern Knoll Burial Park inDallas, Pennsylvania.

Sources:Elisabeth Brague (mother), newspaper clippings, “At Death He Was 25 Years Old”by Christopher C. Stout and NJVVMF.