Leelanau County MI Archives Photo Tombstone.....Brey, Albert Joseph ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Harold & Linda Saffron lindaj50@charter.net July 13, 2006, 3:20 pm Cemetery: Maple Grove - Empire Name: Albert Joseph Brey Date Of Photograph: July 10, 2006 Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/leelanau/photos/tombstones/maplegroveempire/brey52658gph.jpg Image file size: 77.3 Kb Albert Joseph Brey b. 18 Feb. 1917 d. 27 June 2000 COL US ARMY WORLD WAR II - KOREA --------------------------- Social Security Death Index Albert J. Brey SSN: XXX-XX-XXXX Last Residence: 49630 Empire, Leelanau, Michigan, United States of America Born: 18 Feb 1917 Died: 27 Jun 2000 State (Year) SSN issued: Michigan (Before 1951 ) --------------------------- TRAVERSE CITY RECORD EAGLE --- July 2000 Col. Albert J. Brey Died June 27, 2000 EMPIRE - A love for his faith, country and family was the passion which shaped the life of Colonel Albert J. Brey. A native of Caspian, Mich., Col. Brey lived in both Empire, Mich. and Port Richey, Fla. He also lived previously in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. He died peacefully of cancer at the age of 83. Col. Brey served in World War II during the European Campaign as commander of an Army Corps of Engineers engineer battalion. He was decorated with a Battle Star three times. He left the military in 1946 and opened a confectionery store with his wife and best friend, Bette Jo. "A.J. was a friend to all and a protector and provider," said Bette Jo. In 1948, at the onset of the Korean conflict, he was recalled to active duty. Attached to the 1st U.S. Marines, he participated in the Inchon landing in September, 1950, and earned a U.S. Presidential Citation. Continuing to serve in Korea until 1953, he received numerous other decorations including the Bronze Star, two commemorative ribbons, the Korean Presidential Citation and six more Battle Stars. After the Korean War, Col. Brey became a military attach? at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France. An avid photographer, he was often praised for his vivid photographs of Paris at night. His military career continued at the Pentagon between 1958 and 1962 where he was Chief, Intelligence Branch Mapping Division, Office of the Chief of Engineers. Later, he was assigned to Iran where he oversaw the building of a small city for Iranian soldiers and their families. After his return from Iran, Col. Brey was Professor of Military Science at the University of Detroit. He concluded his military career between 1969 and 1971 in Fort Lee, Va. at the U.S. Army Quartermaster Center and Fort Lee where he served as Director of Facilities Engineering. As a result of his service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. Throughout his life, Col. Brey was a devoted and practicing Catholic and served as an usher at St. Philip Neri in Empire, Mich. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 2, at the church, where a vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, July 3, at the church. Col. Brey is survived by his wife, Bette Jo; daughters, Ingrid K. Brey and Sonya Yvonne Stanz; one grandchild, Zachary Stanz; five sisters; and two brothers. Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW Cherryland Post 2780 and the Hernando-Pasco Hospice in Pasco County, Fla. The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/leelanau/photos/tombstones/maplegroveempire/brey52658gph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb