Raymond Brunelle: A Tale of Resilience in the Korean War

Raymond F. Brunelle’s story is one of extraordinary courage, marked by an uncanny escape, horrific injuries, and an enduring sense of duty. His experiences as a young Private First Class in the Korean War left him with scars, both visible and invisible, but his resilience defined him long after the battles ended.

In late March 1952, 18-year-old Brunelle was stationed with the 40th Infantry in the snow-laden hills of Korea, tasked with guarding his unit. The young soldier was soon ambushed by a Chinese soldier, who, after a brief hand-to-hand struggle, called for reinforcements. Within moments, two other soldiers arrived, and Brunelle found himself restrained. The enemy leader, wearing a white armband, ordered him up the treacherous hill at gunpoint, as a bitter cold wind whipped through the mountains.

But Brunelle, drawing from his memories of Japan, where he had lived before, made a snap decision. He remembered the fish and rice diet that had sustained him there, but he knew he couldn’t survive on that alone. His survival instinct took over. As they neared the top of the hill, he jerked his arms free, sending his captors tumbling into the snow, and with a somersault, he rolled down the slope to escape. “I’m so happy that I have this,” Brunelle later remarked, holding up a long-forgotten newspaper clipping from Foster’s Daily Democrat, which served as the only documented proof of his brief captivity (Rollinsford, 2011).

The episode left Brunelle with an indomitable will, but his luck was about to run out. Just two months later, in April 1952, during a routine patrol, Brunelle’s best friend, Larry Rodgers, stepped on a mine, and the explosion threw Brunelle to the ground. Shrapnel embedded itself deep in his body, severing his left arm and causing widespread burns. “I woke up and the nurse said, ‘Oh my God, you’re alive!’ I thought, ‘Yeah, of course I am alive,’” Brunelle recalled, reflecting on the grim moment when doctors had thought him dead (Brunelle, 2022).

What followed was a grueling two years of surgeries and hospital stays. The damage was severe: gangrene overtook his left limbs, and doctors worked tirelessly to save what they could. During his long recovery, Brunelle questioned his will to live. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to come home as disfigured as I thought I was,” he admitted (Brunelle, 2022). Yet, he survived, defying the odds and earning a discharge at just 20 years old, his body forever altered but his spirit unbroken.

Despite his injuries, Brunelle continued to serve in various capacities, eventually becoming an integral part of the Pease Greeter program, where he welcomed home military personnel. In this role, he shared his story with younger generations, offering them a poignant lesson in remembrance. He also crafted small bags with stars cut from retired American flags, gifts he handed out with a simple message: “Here, so you never forget” (Brunelle, 2022). These stars, each representing the sacrifices made by soldiers like him, became symbols of his enduring commitment to honoring his comrades.

Brunelle’s memories of war, especially his capture and subsequent escape, remained largely unrecognized for decades. It wasn’t until 2011 that a family member discovered the long-lost newspaper clipping, which confirmed his brief but harrowing experience as a POW (Rollinsford, 2011). This revelation came too late for Brunelle to be formally recognized during his time in service, but it offered him the validation he had long sought.

Now, at 88, Brunelle reflects not on the medals he never wanted or the recognition he never sought, but on the life he was able to rebuild after the war. “I did what I had to do,” he humbly said in a 2019 interview, recalling his actions as nothing more than a soldier doing his duty (MoAA, 2019). Yet, for those who have heard his story, it is clear that Brunelle’s heroism lies not just in his bravery on the battlefield, but in his perseverance through years of hardship and his dedication to ensuring that the sacrifices of those who served are never forgotten.

Raymond F. Brunelle’s life is a testament to resilience, a living history of courage, sacrifice, and the unyielding strength of the human spirit.

Works Cited

Brunelle, Raymond. “Korean War POW formally recognized: Closure comes to the vet after old article surfaces.” Fosters Daily Democrat, 23 Aug. 2011, fosters.com/story/news/2011/08/23/korean-war-pow-finally-gets/49926624007/

Brunelle, Raymond. “Korean War veteran prisoner of war Raymond Brunelle.” Fosters Daily Democrat, 29 May 2022, – fosters.com/story/news/local/2022/05/29/korean-war-veteran-prisoner-of-war-raymond-brunelle/9702254002/

“Raymond Brunelle.” The Granite Slate, Dec. 2019, – moaa-nh.org/Newsletters/The_Granite_Slate-Dec19.pdf