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 Stephen Brague, Sr. and Elisabeth J. Brague. After attending the Maywood Avenue School he graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1961, and then attended the Rutgers University ROTC Program. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and the marching band. Brague graduated from Rutgers in June 1965 with a degree in general agriculture. His hobbies and interests included geology and playing cards. He had his pilot’s license and liked to fly planes.

He entered the US Army in 1965, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant (1LT). He entered Vietnam in September 1966 and was killed in action on January 7, 1967, while flying support for the infantry in Kontum Province, in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Brague served as an aerial command post pilot with the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division.

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

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

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

Sources: Elisabeth Brague (mother), newspaper clippings, “At Death He Was 25 Years Old” by Christopher C. Stout and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024