This is the very first post on Camp 59 Survivors concerning Brayno Reome. 

However, I first was in contact with Brayno’s grandson Andrew in 2013—a full decade ago—and I have been in communication with Andrew and his father James since then. I quoted Andrew concerning his grandfather’s reluctance to speak about his war experiences in a 2018 post, “To Talk or Not to Talk.”

I’m eager to post more about Brayno in the future. Here is Andrew from 2013:

“My name is Andrew Stockton. I live in Cicero, New York, and I recently came across your web site while searching for information on my grandfather, who was a prisoner of war during World War 2. 

“Brayno Reome was my mother’s father.

“Although there is not a Brayno Reome listed on your prisoner list, I observed a “Tex” Reome of Malone, New York, as listed in a deck of cards [see “Dual Purpose Deck of Cards”], which I assume to be my grandfather. He [seems to have gone by] a nickname during that time which he probably wished to forget after that experience.

“My grandfather lived in Malone during his time of military service. He was captured and held in a prison camp in Italy and escaped with some other prisoners, was located, and returned to America. 

“He passed away in 1999. 

“He left behind the medals that he received 47 years late. They include a bronze star, a POW medal, and other medals. He also left my mother a handwritten journal he kept during his time of service, including his time as a prisoner of war. As you can imagine it is in rough shape.”

In addition to the medals and journal, the family has Brayno’s military prayer book, a photo album, and newspaper clippings. The text of some of the news clippings is below.

Andrew is currently transcribing his grandfather’s journal.

James Stockton, wrote to me, “I will definitely send along any names or locations Andy finds as he goes through the journal. I seem to remember [Brayno] telling that one of the guys he either escaped with or met up with while on the run was another American soldier he referred to as ‘Smitty,’ and I thought he said he was from Tennessee. 

“I traveled throughout Italy and Europe in late 1974 for about six weeks. One of my older brothers was stationed in Munich at the time and I stayed with him but traveled by rail all over by myself or sometimes with my older sister. I visited Dachau concentration camp, and also Hitler’s getaway compound in Berchtesgaden. I’ve always been a history buff and find this information about the Camp 59 survivors really interesting. I wish now I had talked to Brayno more about his experiences, but like a lot of WW2 vets—my father included—he didn’t talk about it much.

”He told us he was helped out by some local families during the time he was hiding out from the Germans.

“One story he told me about his capture was that the day before there was a British major who met with his outfit at their camp. Then, in the early morning, he was awakened by a German soldier who had a rifle in his face yelling ‘Roust.’ He then saw who he had thought was a British major now wearing a German officer’s uniform. The officer greeted him with a smile and a ‘Hi, Sergeant.’ And he gave Brayno a map to point out other U.S. positions. Brayno told him he didn’t know how to read a map. The German looked at him and said, ‘A sergeant in the U.S. Army doesn’t know how to read maps?’ Brayno just said ‘No, sir.’ And that was that.

“My wife says her father was born in Malone, New York, which is just a few miles from Canada. She said he didn’t speak English, only French, when he started school. Brayno’s wife Dorothy—my wife’s mother—was from Fort Covington, which is right on the U.S./Canada border. They actually had a unique bar there at one time that was half in the U.S. and half in Canada.

“My wife doesn’t know much about her father’s family background, but assumes they must have come from Canada at some point since they all spoke French ( the Canadian version). We still miss Brayno and her brother, and the good times we had listening to the music they played.“

Reflecting on his grandfather’s Camp 59 nickname, Andrew wrote, “The Tex thing is funny, because he hated his real name so much. I’m sure he would be happy to see he is remembered by a nickname.”

“At home he never went by the nickname Tex.”

James added, “Perhaps guys in the service gave him the name Tex because he was an accomplished musician. He could play any stringed instrument and sing as well. We had many parties where he and my wife’s brother would break out the guitars, banjo, fiddle, or mandolin and play and sing. 

“He was called Frenchy by friends because of his French-Canadian ancestry. He was known to most in our hometown of Cortland [New York] as Frenchy and had his own business doing exterior/interior painting and papering. He was called Bronk by all his family members. The name Bronk is just a French nickname for Brayno.”

Andrew concluded, “His time in the military was always such a mystery to me, as he didn’t like to talk about it. But gave me sugar-coated stories when I was a young kid. I saw from the news articles he weighed about 97 lbs. when he got back with the Allied troops. I can’t imagine the horror they went through. Such a small world, being able to connect with you about this stuff.

“Finding that there is a website dedicated to men like him and the experience they went through helps me maintain memories of the great man that was my grandfather. I only wish that he was here today to see that he and his fellow soldiers have still not been forgotten. He would really appreciate what you’re doing with the site.”

Newspaper articles

Vet Gets Another Overdue Medal

By RICHARD PALMER 
Cortland Standard · November 8, 1991

New York state’s highest military medal, the Conspicuous Service Cross, was presented to Brayno “Frenchy” Reome by veterans officials Monday at a ceremony at his home at 11 Comando Ave.

This is one of several awards Reome has received recently through the efforts of local veterans service representatives recognizing his World War II military service which he never received.

At a special ceremony Nov. 10 at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2354, Reome was presented with the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Prisoner of War Medal, Army Reserve Overseas Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal. These are awards given by the federal government.

Reome has been recommended for the Purple Heart and the congressional Medal of Honor. To qualify for the Service Cross, he had to have received the Bronze Star, according to Theodore R. Doty, county veterans service officer.

Doty and James Zoghibe, state veterans counselor from Syracuse, presented the Service Cross to Reome on behalf of Gov. Mario Cuomo.

“I think it’s wonderful. I haven’t been forgotten,” Reome said, adding, “It was an honor to receive it.”

Reome, known by his friends as “Frenchy,” lived in Malone when he enlisted in the Army in 1940. While serving in North Africa in 1942, he and other members of his company were captured by the German army and spent the next two years at various prisoner of war camps in Africa, Sicily and northern Italy.

During this time, Reome said he was tortured when he refused to cooperate with the enemy. 

Reome credited Gary A. McMillen of McLean, a Vietnam veteran, with compiling and filing the proper paperwork to help him get his awards. Richard Parker of Cortland, service officer for the Disabled American Veterans, also assisted in the effort, Reome said.

The following article is likely from a local newspaper serving Malone, New York:

Malone Sgt., Captured In African Campaign, Returns to Duty in Italy

Mrs. Matilda Reyome [note that the Reome surname is misspelled throughout this article], 215 Park Street, has word from the War Department informing her that her son, Sgt. Brayno Reyome, missing on December 24, 1942 and later reported a prisoner in Italy, has returned to his unit of the American Army in Italy.

Sgt. Reyome, captured during the North African campaign, was transferred to a prison camp in Italy. On September 8 of last year, Mrs. Reyome had a letter from her son, who was still a prisoner. It was the last word she had from him.

In the interim she learned that he had escaped from prison camp on September 14, at the same time that Cpl. Hubert Dewey, son of Mrs. Fay E. Dewey of No. Lawrence, had escaped. According to Mrs. Reyome, Cpl. Dewey, who had since been home and returned to duty, said that he and the Malone sergeant had been separated after their escape. Dewey added that when he had last seen Sgt. Reyome he was in the Italian mountains, attempting to round up the men in his command who had escaped with him, some of whom were too ill or too weak to keep up with the others. 

Mrs. Reyome believes that as the American Army drove further into Italy her son effected contact with it.

Sgt. Reyome, who joined the armed forces on Nov. 8, 1940, has been overseas since August, 1942.

POW cards for Brayno Reome and Hubert Dewey kept by the Italians during their internments

Note that the cards for Brayno and Hubert show that the two POWs were transferred to Camp 98 Sicily and also to Camp 59 Servigliano on the same days.

SCHEDA PERSONALE P. G. [PERSONAL CARD of PRIGIONIERO DI GUERRA, prisoner of war]

Cognome e nome [Surname and name]: Reome, Brayno

Paternità [Father]: Edward
Maternità [Mother]: Reome, Matilda
Grado [Rank]: Sgt. [Sergeant]
Matricola [Service number]: 12005032
Arma-Corpo [Service unit]: Infantry
Data e luogo di nascita [Date and place of birth]: 16 October 1919
Nazionalità [Nationality]: American
Stato civile [Marital status]: Single
Religione [Religion]: Catholic
Professione [Occupation]: Carpenter
Domicilio [Residence]: Lower Park Street, Malone, New York
Data e luogo di cattura [Date and place of capture]: 23 December 1942, Tunisia

Giorno/Mese/Anno/Variazione
[Day/Month/Year/Change]

28 December 1942 Guinto a questo campo proveniente dalla Tunisia [coming to this camp from Tunisia] CC 98
23 January 1943 CC 59

SCHEDA PERSONALE P. G. [PERSONAL CARD of PRIGIONIERO DI GUERRA, prisoner of war]

Cognome e nome [Surname and name]: Dewey, Hubert

Paternità [Father]: —
Maternità [Mother]: Jennie
Grado [Rank]: Corp. [Corporal]
Matricola [Service number]: 2005009
Arma-Corpo [Service unit]: Inf. [Infantry]
Data e luogo di nascita [Date and place of birth]: 13 June 1915, USA
Nazionalità [Nationality]: American
Stato civile [Marital status]: Single
Religione [Religion]: Prot. [Protestant]
Professione [Occupation]: Farmer
Domicilio [Residence]: North Lawerence, New York USA
Data e luogo di cattura [Date and place of capture]: 2 December 1942, Tunisia

Giorno/Mese/Anno/Variazione
[Day/Month/Year/Change]

28 December 1942 Guinto a questo campo proveniente dalla Tunisia [coming to this camp from Tunisia] CC 98
23 January 1943 CC 59