Though I have finished transcribing DB's diaries, many of you remain "friended" to this journal. This post is to let you know how the story ends.

On January 2, 2008 -- the 67th anniversary of her marriage to DB -- Sheila Bramlett, DB's wife and the Sheigo of these diaries, passed away. Below is a transcript of her obituary in the Shreveport Times.

SHREVEPORT, LA - Sheila Caldwell Bramlett, 85, died January 2, 2008, of complications from her long and courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma.

Born in Shreveport, Mrs. Bramlett was a life-long resident. She graduated from Byrd High School in 1938, and from Louisiana State Normal (Northwestern) in Natchitoches in 1942. It was in college that she met the love of her life, David Allen Bramlett. They married on January 2, 1941. They were an inseparable couple for the next 50 years. She missed him dearly every day since his death in 1991, and she has now joined him in Heaven.

Mrs. Bramlett dedicated her life to helping others as a devout Presbyterian and as a public school teacher. She participated in numerous civic and service organizations including leadership roles in both the Cub and Girl Scouts. She enjoyed a long relationship with The Glen Retirement Community as a volunteer seamstress. She was recognized with Honorary Life Membership Awards from the P.T.A. at A.C. Steere School and from the Women of the Church of First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport, where she was also named Deacon Emeritus.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, Clifton and Lucille Caldwell; her sister, Lucille McKinley of Alabaster, Alabama; and her brother Clifton Caldwell of Houston, Texas. She is survived by a brother, Dr. James Caldwell of Savannah, Texas, a sister, Jane Covington of Santa Barbara, California; three children: Janelle and husband Tom Hampton, of Dallas, TX; Jerry Bramlett and wife Margaret, of Mobile, AL; Jim Bramlett and wife Lynne, of Menlo Park, CA; six grandchildren: James Hampton and wife Lourdes, of Dallas, TX; Lewis Hampton and wife Jonina, of Plano, TX; Michael Bramlett, of Boulder, CO; Ryan Bramlett and wife Jill, of Denver, CO; Elizabeth Bramlett, of Daphne, AL; and Sarah Hampton, of Atlanta, GA. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren.

The family expresses their continuing gratitude for the loving care of her primary physician during her illness, Dr. Robert Massingill, as well as the loving support of the many friends she made in Shreveport over her lifetime.

A memorial service will be held at 3 pm Sunday, January 6, in the Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church. Officiating will be her friend and pastor, Rev. Bryan McDowell. Visitation will be held at Osborn Funeral Home from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturday, January 5.

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport or the charity of your choice.

Before she died, Sheila was presented with a bound, printed book version of the transcripts posted here on this site, along with your comments. It gave her great pleasure to see that others were interested in what DB had done.

Somehow it seems appropriate to close this post in the same way that DB often closed his diary entries.

Nite, Sheigo.

In order to make it easier to locate particular dates in DB's diaries, I have created links to the archive post lists. If LiveJournal ever changes their database so that I can list the entries on their actual dates of composition in the 1940s, I will be alter them so that I can use that much more basic system. Until then, this is the best way to look up posts by date.

Note that there is a skip in dates between October 1, 1943 and May 12, 1944, because DB ran out of room in his first journal and did not get a replacement for quite some time.

October 2, 1942 - January 11, 1943 January 12, 1943 - January 27, 1943 January 28, 1943 - February 20, 1943 February 21, 1943 - March 06, 1943

March 07, 1943 - April 08, 1943 April 09, 1943 - April 15, 1943 April 16, 1943 - May 20, 1943 May 21, 1943 - July 24, 1943

July 25, 1943 - August 19, 1943 August 20, 1943 - October 1, 1943 May 12, 1944 - June 13, 1944 June 14, 1944 - December 31, 1944

Awards

For Heroic Action June 6, 1944 -- Bronze Star -- General Order #62 para 4 Hq 1st U.S. Inf Div. dated Aug 12/44

For Heroic Action June 10, 1944 -- Silver Star -- General Order #47 par. 2 Hq 1st US Inf Div. APO#1 US Army dated 24 July, 44. #

For Wounds rec'd. June 16, 1944 -- purple Heart Gen. Order #3 par 6 Hq. 18th Inf. APO#1 US Army dated July 17/44. #85417

LB Notes: This is not a proper entry. DB used this page of his diary to list awards. It is not a complete list of the awards he won during WWII.

Wounded at Stalberg, Germany.

LB Notes: This is DB's last true entry. This wound is the one that sent him back to the United States. I believe he was shot through the hand while crawling into an enemy tank.

The weather has been rather cool at night with alternate Showers of rain during the early morning.

It has been impossible to keep up a Diary since we have been moving so fast.

At present the Co. is in Belgium. The Bn is in Holland; The 1st + 2nd Bn are in Germany + Personnel still in France.

We gave been in Holland + I have gone several miles into Germany.

Cities in Belgium to Remem. are Charleroi + Liege. Quite a Big time in the latter place.

Latest mail from Sheila -- a Sept 5th letter.

I'm the only Officer left in this Co. who left England with it.

Still in semi-rest position near La Chappel France.

Receive Sheigo Aug 11th letter.

next move will be by truck probably 150 to 200 mi trip. Must be Paris or in opposite direction to Bresh.

Lt Hodnette still missing. Lt Sykes KIA on 15th of Aug. Lt Stringer, Lt Nelson, Lt Gears, Lt Baucom, Capt. Coffman still in Hosp. All Co. "I" officers.

Got another Lt. (Williams this am. officers now -- Capt Hess, Lt Coway, Lt Millbury + Lt Williams.

Have party in my little dug out home. Lots of fun.

Go to June with Russell + Hess. Have lots of fun. Return + have egg supper.

Eat hot breakfast at 8 a.m. Position -- high hill over-looking pocket containing remains of 17 German divisions.

Receive Sheigo Aug 6th letter + one from Mother Caldwell. Write letters

LB Notes: After a long break, DB resumes his journal on this date.

Bombers (Jerry) over again least nite -- bombed near by positions.

Position -- Mortain, France Shelled by enemy but no casualties.

Receive Sheila's July 29th letter -- Written one wk. ago tonite. Good service.

Mail Sheigo Pkg. Write lots letters.

May move out by truck tomorrow.

Hot Breakfast + dinner for a change.

Position = Mortain France.

Enemy Shelling -- 4 Wounded in Co. including Lt. Gears. Boy oh boy they were close.

Write Sheigo.

Bn. Takes Juvigny, France at 9:30 a.m. My Co take 19 Jerry prisoners.

Move at 10:00 to Defensive Position overlooking Mortain, France.

Everybody tired + sleepy.

Start moving at noon + really move at dusk by trucks toward St. Barthelmy.

Point is halted at Juvigny France. Get 2 hrs stop before attacking town.

LB Notes: This entire entry has a series of X marks and scratch-outs covering the writing. DB apparently wrote his July 28 entry here, at first, and then decided to re-write it on the proper page. The crossed-out text reads as follows:

Co I attacks town of Marigny at 7 A.M. Heavy fighting on outskirts of the city all day long. Enemy has MG., mortars, + artillery + small ammo. 47 I Co. men wounded + (6 KIA) + two officers (Lt Nelson + Stringer of Co I) wounded.

move through

Moved out at 7 pm yesterday for heaven only knows.

Reach assembly area about 2 a.m. Attack South at 7 a.m. A no. of Jerry taken prisoner. Cal. Sisson of 1st Bn wounded. Capt. Cameron killed.

We hit at 12 midnite -- Strong enemy force -- 12 K Co men lost -- we retreat 800 yds. + wait 2 hrs.

Go to Protestant Services at 1100 Hrs.

Write 6 letters after Chow. Receive several

Will probably Move out tonite.

Jerry over will planes lash nite -- no damage one shot down.

No activity on ground

7:15 p.m. one Jerry fighter show down -- I fired the 50 Cal. at em. some fun.

Receive July 16, 17 + 20 Air Mails from Sheigo.

Write letters.

LB Notes: In the first line, DB clearly means to say "over with planes last nite" but that is not what he wrote.

Co I leads the attack on the town of Marigny. We clean town but hit all Hell 500 yds s. of city. A well organized defense of Mortars, Artillery MG + small arms plus anti Tank guns. My Co. fights all day -- try to Crack this line with aid of Tanks but no go. My Co has 6 killed + 40 S.W.A during day of fighting. 2 officer of I Co Lt Nelson + Lt Stringer SWA. Jerry gave us Hell all day + nite.

28th Take obj. which is main road + turn West + pust 2 mi. -- at 3 p.m. advance to Camprano + set up defense

LB Notes: Above the word "attack" in the first line DB has scrawled "27th" to indicate that what he is writing about in the first part of this entry took place the day before. I do not know what "SWA" means but the handwriting is quite clear. In the last line DB writes "pust" but clearly means "push" instead. "Camprano" is a best guess.

Attack at Dawn - Bn in Reserve for Regt. but we do a lot off fighting all day.

At midnite leading elements have to retreat from edge of Marigny We are to hit again at Day break.