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JAMES HENRY BRODT was born and raised in
Blue Earth, MN, the third child, but only son,
of Chester and Sybil Brodt. Jim’s personality
and leadership were apparent as a student at
Blue Earth High School. He was elected president
of his class his senior year, played on the
football and baseball teams, and participated
each year in the class play. Jim received an
award from the American Legion honoring
his courage, character, service, companionship,
and scholarship.
After surviving Beast Barracks, Jim was
assigned to Company H-2. We remember
Jim for the twinkle
in his eye, his ready
smile, and easy-going
disposition; he was
fun to be around. But,
beneath all this, there
was a serious side. Jim
was serious about his
training at West Point
and did well enough
in academics to select
Armor, his branch of
choice. In addition,
Jim’s ranking in leadership
led to his selection as a corporal his Cow
year and supply sergeant in his First Class
year. He also was the company representative
on the Class Ring Committee.
After Basic Officer Training at the Armor
School at Ft. Knox and Airborne Training at
Ft. Benning, his first assignment was with the
82d Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC, as a
platoon leader with the 44th Tank Battalion.
During the summer of 1955, he renewed a
relationship with Leason Chance Bovard of
Cocoa, FL, who had been a bridesmaid in a
wedding where Jim was best man. Never one
to let a pretty girl go unnoticed, Jim tucked
her into his memory bank for future reference.
After she visited Ft. Bragg, Jim was immediately
smitten with her charms, and they were
married in Cocoa, FL, in 1956. Classmate
Bill Acers, serving with Jim in the 44th Tank
Battalion at the time, was best man.
In the fall of 1956, Jim and Leason moved
to Ft. Carson, CO, to join the 8th Infantry
Division, which was being transferred to
Germany under Operation Gyroscope, a division
rotation overseas. Jim was assigned to
the Division Reconnaissance Squadron in
Nurnberg, and there twin daughters Leslie
Ann and Catherine Croix were born. Jim then
decided to resign his commission, and in late
1957, he and his family settled in Cocoa, FL.
Jim soon became dissatisfied with civilian life,
however, and longed to return to the colors.
Upon being re-commissioned, he attended
the University of Michigan and earned his
master’s degree in mechanical engineering in
1962. By that time, the advisory part of the
Viet Nam War was heating up, and Jim volunteered
for service with Special Forces. Jim’s
letter, in which he volunteered
for service in
Viet Nam, is typical of
his patriotism. In it,
he states, “I returned
to active duty to serve
my country.”
Jim got his wish.
As a captain, he was
assigned to the 1st
Special Forces Group
in Okinawa, which
sent A teams, one of
which Jim commanded,
to Viet Nam for six-month TDY tours.
Jim’s team was in Quang Ngai province in
the Central Highlands of the Republic of Viet
Nam, working with the Vietnamese to build
their presence in the area. Jim plunged into
the job with his usual enthusiasm and gusto.
Not only were the Vietnamese he was advising
fighting the Communist Viet Cong (who
were often as much terrorists as soldiers), but
they also were improving the lives of the highland
tribesmen, Montagnards. Four months
before his death, Jim wrote home, “I’m proud
to be here and participating, even though it’s a
minor role. Last week, the Viet Cong overran
one of our outposts and burned a village about
two miles away. They’re a ruthless bunch of
killers, to say the least …. It’s gratifying to be
able to help these people, to see their progress
… I’m real proud of my team here.” During
this assignment, Jim met his death on 29 May
1963. Jim had been scheduled to come home
a few weeks earlier but missed field duty due
to minor medical problems. He returned to
his team to complete the six-month TDY assignment.
This was typical of Jim: patriotism
and dedication to duty.
Jim’s team was ambushed by the Viet
Cong during a patrol in the last weeks of his
tour. The details of the ambush are somewhat
vague, but from what can be pieced together,
Jim’s radio operator was wounded during the
ambush. Jim returned to rescue him from
the killing zone and, in doing so, was killed
himself. Jim’s selflessness and courage were
in keeping with the finest traditions of West
Point and make us all proud to have been
his friend.
Jim’s funeral was in Cocoa, FL, his adopted
home during his brief stint as a civilian.
He is buried in nearby Memorial Gardens,
Rockledge, FL. The city of Cocoa has fond
memories of him, and his name is engraved
on a monument honoring the members of
the community who gave their lives in our
nation’s wars. A Special Forces Camp in Viet
Nam was named Camp Brodt in Jim’s honor,
and his class ring was returned to West Point
by his widow for display in the Cadet Library.
Jim’s widow later remarried COL Perry Huey,
USAF. Sadly, she developed Alzheimer’s disease
and died. She is buried next to Jim at
Memorial Gardens.
Jim was one of the first of our classmates
to die in Viet Nam, a war that now seems so
long ago and far away. He died for a cause he
believed in, and we remember him for his
dedication and patriotism, for the twinkle in
his eye, and for the good times we shared. I
remember him with the following verse:
Green grows the turf above you
Friend of our happier days
None knew you but to love you
Nor spoke of you but to praise.
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