Page 96 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2017- Online Magazine

Alex Bruni Serving Those BRanCH

Who Served Army

Written by Isaiah Lucio Lopez,
Development Coordinator at Lubbock Meals on Wheels

martly this point in history. Even Mr. Bruni’s service - those
dressed three years he spent in Queens - has not gone without
Sin slacks recognition, “Most people are polite. They thank
and a sport me for my service. I can’t get over how many young
coat, Mr. Alex people have done that.”
Bruni settled
in to retrieve Mr. Bruni is first and foremost a patriot, always
some memories. championing his brothers in arms, “I was proud of
He began to them. I’m always proud of them.” He thinks about
expound on them often, and he cared about this country enough to
the experiences enlist during one of the deadliest wars in history.
that spanned
being a “Buck Because of his family’s military background, Mr.
Private” to a Bruni moved around a lot but has finally settled down
1st Lieutenant. in Lubbock where his daughter lives. He spends his
Mr. Bruni’s answer to why he joined the military was time helping with several ministries at his church and
simple, “You feel it in your heart,” he said. “I owed visiting at the V.A. When speaking to Mr. Bruni, his
something to this country, and I wanted to pay it back patriotism is evident. The pride he has for our country
for all of the wonderful benefits it had given me.” and what it stands for is contagious. He pointed
towards a flag, folded and in a case. It had been draped
The military was never a second thought for Mr. Bruni. over the coffin of his father who was buried in his
He attended military school starting at the age of ten. He Navy captain uniform. “You see that flag?” he asked,
was part of a family that had the military deeply rooted “That is what it’s all about.”
in their history. “My father was a Navy captain, I have
an older brother who was a full colonel in the Army,
and I had a younger brother who was a lieutenant
commander in the Navy.” Mr. Bruni believed he had an
obligation to serve, too.

He challenged himself as he attended Infantry Officer
Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. “I told
myself I would try to graduate [in the] top three,” Bruni
said. He was successful in doing so. This allowed him to
be in the driver’s seat of his future in the Army. “I ended
up running a base post office in Queens, New York,”
Bruni said.

He did not elect to join the infantry heading to Vietnam,
a decision he wishes he could have reversed. In his
almost three years of service, Bruni stayed stateside
during the war. “It was hellish living in New York
having graduated honored and distinguished, because I
felt horribly guilty about the fellas that ended up going
to Vietnam, several of whom died, who were good
friends of mine. I believe I had made a mistake,” he said.

Mr. Bruni along with several million others who
served during Vietnam never saw combat, but he is
still proud of his role, and of his country. On the eve
of Independence Day, he expressed that pride, “I cry
when I see that flag - ‘the Star-Spangled Banner’. I wore
my uniform every day, proudly.” The celebration of
our independence is fitting and proper to honor all of
the sacrifices past generations have made to bring us to

96 Lubbock Senior Link