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 Paratrooper
Pair Missing
Two Orlando
paratroopers, Pvts Keith T. Bryant and Edgar Saunders Saunders,
who lived in the Conway section, have been reported to relatives here as
missing on D-Day over France. The men entered the army together at Camp
Blending, went through their paratrooper training together and were
reported missing on the same date.
Bryant is the son of Mrs. G. Livingston, Route 5. and was 20 years
old. Saunders, 21, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Saunders, Conway, and
both soldiers have wives in the Orlando area at this time. Mrs. Goldie
Bryant on South Bumby Avenue, with their two children, William, 2, Judy,
t.
Pvt. Bryant attended Orlando high schools and formerly worked for a
bottling company here before enlisting. Pvt. Saunders' wife, Mrs.
Charlene Saunders, lives his parents on Pershing Avenue.
The two paratroopers went top Ft. Benning and Camp McCall [sic]. N.
C. together for training and also to a training base in Ireland, before
their D-Day mission.
[Orlando Evening Star, Orlando, FL, 27 Jul 1944, Thu, Page 1]
Allies Liberate
Keith Bryant
Pvt Keith T. Bryant, 21, paratrooper, who has been a
prisoner of
Germany since D-Day was released April 20 and is now under U.S. army
control in a hospital somewhere in Europe, according to word received
yesterday from the war department by his wife, Goldie Bryant, Bumby ave.
Pvt Bryant is a native of Orlando, son of G. D. Livingston, Conway,
and attended Orlando senior high school. Before entering the
service he was employed by the Nehi Bottling Co. here.
[The Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, FL, 11 May 1945, Fri, Page 20]
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It's 60-day leave for
Paratrooper Keith F. Bryant,
who arrived home recently after months of harrowing experiences In the
ETO and is spending his furlough with his mother. Mrs. G. D. Livingston
who lives on Rt. 5. Orlando. Bryant was with the 508th Parachute
Infantry, 82nd Airborne division. He went overseas in December of 1943.
jumped in Norway [sic, s/n Normandy] on D-Day and was captured five days
later. He was reported missing in action in July 1944, then was reported
a prisoner in August of that year. He spent ten and one-half
months in Nazi, and in
 that
time lost 40 pounds. He escaped from the Nazis when he being marched
back into Germany when the Americans were getting too close, and two
days later met up with the Yanks of the 11th Armored Division of Gen.
Patton's army. He went on with them and fought three days. then was sent
back to a French hospital suffering from malnutrition and bronchitis,
the latter resulting from exposure, solitary confine- confinement with a
diet of bread and water for attempting to escape, and refusal to work in
the coal mines. He was forced to work in the mines, and on Christmas eve
a German civilian who was kind to him brought him a pie. some cookies
and two apples. Bryant wears the Presidential Unit citation. Paratrooper
wings. Good Conduct ribbon, Purple Heart the ETO ribbon with one
battle star, the Invasion Arrowhead and the Combat Infantryman badge
with wreath. On the day he was captured he suffered a concussion and
several shrapnel wounds. A brother. Sgt. Gordon Bryant, is nose
gunner on a B-24 in the Pacific theatre. The boys attended the
Conway school, Cherokee Junior High and OHS [Orlando High School].
[Orlando
Evening Star, Orlando, FL, 19 Aug 1945, Sun, Page 8] |
 MR. KEITH T. BRYANT
Services
for Mr. Keith Theron Bryant. 22. of Conway, who was injured fatally In
the highway collision in which Mr. M. F. Starr* died, will be held Sunday
at 4 pm. from the Conway Methodist Church with interment In Conway
Cemetery with full military honors. Carey Hand Funeral Home Is tn charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Bryant served overseas with Paratroop Company C. 508th
Infantry. He was held by the Germans as a prisoner-of-war for 11 months.
A member of the American Legion Legion and Veteran of Foreign Wars,
Mr. Bryant is survived by his mother, Mr. Julia Livingston. Orlando; his
father, O. O. Bryant, Birmingham; his grandmother, Mr. W. F. McCafferty,
Miami, and two brothers, Gordon V. Bryant. Apopka, and George D.
Livingston Jr., Orlando.
[Orlando Evening Star, Orlando, FL, 08 Nov 1946, Fri, Page 3]
*the obituary for Mr. Starr appeared directly above
Bryant's and contained more details of the accident which killed both of
them..
 Mortuary .
MR. M. F. STARR
- Funeral service for Mr. Madison Frank Starr. 40. of Rt.
4 . who was killed Wednesday In a truck-auto collision on Cheney
Highway. 14 miles east of here, will be held at 4 p m. Saturday m the
Carey Hand Chapel.
Mr. Starr had resided In Orlando Orlando the last eight years,
coming here from Kissimmee [FL]. Survivors Include his widow, Viola: a son.
Albert, now stationed in Germany with the U. S. Army; his mother. Mrs.
Maggie R. Starr, and a brother, H. C. Starr, also of Orlando.
[Orlando Evening Star, Orlando, FL, 08 Nov 1946, Fri, Page 3] |
