John Taylor VanBrunt, Jr. was born March 12, 1912 in Monmouth County, New Jersey the son of John Taylor and Annie (Ronan) VanBrunt.

He graduated from Middletown Township High School. After high school, he worked at Monmouth Hosiery Mills in Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

VanBrunt married Mary V. Herden in 1936. The couple lived with Mary’s parents, Otto and Mary Herden, in Shrewsbury, New Jersey in 1940.

During WWII, VanBrunt served in the Naval Reserve as a coxswain. A coxswain is a landing craft pilot.

On June 6, 1944 (D-Day), COX VanBrunt was aboard landing craft LCS-31, aka LCF-31, in the assault on the beaches of Normandy. LCF-31 was to provide anti-aircraft cover for the assault. When enemy aircraft attacks didn’t develop, LCF-31 was redirected to the beach with the first wave of the attack. She was shelled and sunk about 800 yards off the coast. Of the 72 man crew, 54 men perished, including COX John Taylor VanBrunt, Jr. His body was recovered that night by LCF-12.

COX John Taylor VanBrunt, Jr. was interred in Normandy American Cemetery in Normandy, France.

COX VanBrunt was awarded the Purple Heart.

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References

“John Taylor VanBrunt”. The Freehold Transcript and The Monmouth Inquirer. July 28, 1944, p.14.
“H-031-1: Operation Neptune—the Amphibious Assault on Normandy 6 June 1944”. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
Williams, Greg H. (2020). The U.S. Navy at Normandy. McFarland and Company, Inc. Jefferson, North Carolina. p.231.
“LUCKY LARRY LAMPTON”. Northern Express. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
“COX John Taylor VanBrunt, Jr”. Find A Grave. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
“UNITED STATES NAVAL CASUALTIES”. NAVAL-HISTORY.NET. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
“John Taylor Van Brunt Jr”. HonorStates.org. Retrieved May 5, 2021.

John T VanBrunt